Ahu Hettema & Nili Yildirim

Ahu Hettema & Nili Yildirim

May 3, 2024

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

May 3, 2024

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

Apr 1, 2024

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...
Colin Sato

Colin Sato

Apr 1, 2024

Born and raised in Hawaii, Colin Sato is one of Honolulu’s most exciting culinary talents, celebrated for his refined technique, local sensibility, and innovative approach to fine dining. A Saint Louis School graduate, Sato began his journey in hospitality as a...
Belinda Leong

Belinda Leong

Oct 5, 2023

Belinda Leong began and honed her skills as a pastry chef over the span of eight years at Restaurant Gary Danko in San Francisco. She moved to Europe staging at Pierre Hermé in Paris, Bubó in Barcelona, and the two Michelin-starred Noma in Copenhagen. Returning to the...