Ahu Hettema & Nili Yildirim
Istanbul Hawaii emerged from a profound journey of resilience and inspiration. A decade of separation from her homeland of Turkey, due to immigration challenges, left chef Ahu Hettema in the depths of despair. In this moment of darkness, her mother Nili Yildirim, a...
Reem Assil
Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef based in Oakland, CA and owner of Reem’s California, a nationally acclaimed restaurant in Oakland and Reem’s California Mission in San Francisco, inspired by Arab street corner bakeries and the vibrant communities that surround...
Nando Chang
Nando Chang is the Peruvian-born chef and restaurateur behind Michelin-starred Itamae AO in Miami. A 2025 James Beard Foundation Award nominee for “Best Chef: South” and three-time semifinalist, he has achieved national recognition for both introducing and redefining...