The Icons
Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell
Creator + Chief Curator
Chef Ope Amosu
ChòpnBlọk (Houston) Growing up as a child of Nigerian immigrants, Ope Amosu personifies the Afro-American crossroads. His upbringing in Houston, Texas, was similar to many
Chef Susan Bae
Moon Rabbit (Washington DC) Born and raised in Los Angeles, Executive Pastry Chef Susan Bae is a 2024 + 2025 James Beard Foundation Outstanding Pastry
Chef Angel Barreto
Anju (Washington D.C.) Chef Angel Barreto is the executive chef and partner of Anju, a contemporary Korean restaurant in Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle. With over
Chef Sathish Kumar
INDIENNE (Chicago) Born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Chef Sathish Kumar discovered his love for cooking in his mother’s kitchen, first as a distraction
Chef Sashia Liriano
Boulud Privé at the Mandarin Oriental Private Residences Born and raised in the Bronx, Chef Sashia Liriano discovered her love for cooking in her family’s
Chef Kaylin Lloyd
Californios (San Francisco) As Chef de Cuisine of Californios, the acclaimed two-Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco, Kaylin Lloyd brings a deep connection to food, culture,
Chef Jael López
Cenar Pop Up (NYC) Chef Jael López grew up in a Dominican household in Jersey City, where her mother’s cooking; mondongo with white rice, chicken
Chef Makayla Ponce
Alora (Houston) Makayla Ponce is a California-born, Houston-raised chef with eight years of diverse culinary experience. She began her career at the Four Seasons Hotel,
Chef Asia Shabazz
Marcus Samuelsson Group A proud East Harlem native, Asia Shabazz was inspired by her father, the legendary Harlem Pie Man, to pursue a career in
Chef Shaun Velez
Restaurant DANIEL (NYC) Born and raised in the Bronx, Pastry Chef Shaun Velez has built a career defined by precision, artistry, and innovation. A graduate
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Cassandra Felix
Daniel (NYC) Cassandra began her career at The Breakers Palm Beach in 2010 while studying Dance and Fine Arts at Palm Beach Atlantic University. In
Julianny Gómez
Forsythia (NYC) A former public school teacher turned sommelier, Julianny Gómez is driven by a passion for exceptional wines crafted with a commitment to land
SPIRITS
Keyatta Mincey Parker
Pictures and Cocktails + A Sip of Paradise Garden A dynamic force in the spirits and cocktails industry, Keyatta Mincey Parker is the Chief Curating
The Icons 2024
Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell
Creator + Chief Curator
Chef Ileene Cho
The Noortwyck, NYC While in Culinary School Chef Cho interned at The Bazaar by Jose Andres. Upon graduation, she worked across NYC at some local
Chef Emilie Van Dyke
Californios, San Francisco In 2016, Emilie Van Dyke joined the team at Bar Agricole, stayed on for about a year, then staged around the city,
Chef Shenarri Freeman
Cadence, NYC + Ubuntu, Los Angeles A Two-Time James Beard Award Semifinalist, Executive Chef Shenarri Freeman is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education’s
Chef Jahlea Henry
Ten Restaurant, Toronto Jahlea Henry is an Indo-Jamaican Canadian chef whose approach to her work is informed by her affinity for artistry, beauty, science, and
Chef Montana Houston
Restaurant Aleksander, Philly A South Jersey native, Montana Houston, was raised predominantly by a single mother and his sister. As a result, he spent a
Chef Masako Morishita
Perry’s Restaurant, D.C. Masako Morishita grew up in her family’s nearly 100-year-old restaurant and bar in Kobe, Japan. Her first memories of learning how to
Chef Carlos Portela
Orujo, San Juan From his hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico, Chef Carlos Portela founded his life project, Orujo Taller, where he studied Puerto Rican cuisine
Chef Amanda Turner
Olamaie, Austin Chef Turner is a Texas native that has spent fifteen years cooking and creating in the Austin culinary community. During her tenure she
Chef Rasika Venkatesa
Mythily (NYC) Her fondest memories are growing up in Chennai, India and cooking with her biggest inspiration, her grandmother Mythily Ramachandran. At a young age
Chef Akino West
Rosie’s, Miami Chef Akino J. West Chef Akino grew up and began his culinary career in his hometown, Riviera Beach, Florida. His first entrepreneurial venture,
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Arni Cabatingan
Atomix, NYC Arni Cabatingan is a second-generation Filipino American. She developed a deep appreciation for the vibrant energy of dining rooms and the world of
Cassandra Felix
Daniel (NYC) Cassandra began her career at The Breakers Palm Beach in 2010 while studying Dance and Fine Arts at Palm Beach Atlantic University. In
SPIRITS
Andre Sykes
Alpino + Black on Both Sides LLC, Detroit A true agent of hospitality. Andre believes that working hard, especially when no one is watching, is
The Icons 2023
Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell
Creator + Chief Curator
Chef Khaled Albanna
Calliope Restaurant, Chattanooga After spending his childhood in the kitchen alongside his mother in Amman, Jordan, Chef Khaled Albanna acquired invaluable and unattainable cooking skills
Chef Bernard Bennett
Okàn (Bluffton) Bernard’s love of food began when his mother taught him to cook with vegetables grown in his grandmother’s garden. He has over 17
Chef Romann Dumorne
Northern Union (Ogunquit) Romann worked his way up the ranks of the kitchen in a small restaurant in upstate New York before landing an opportunity
Chef Courtney Evans
Leah & Louise (Charlotte) Chef Evans hails from Columbia, SC. Her love of food was initially rooted in her curiosity about the chemical reactions of
Chef Luis Guevara
Carmel (Atlanta) Born in Acapulco, Mexico and transplanted to Atlanta at three years old, Luis grew up in the restaurant industry as his parents worked
Chef Zarah Khan
Rustic Canyon (Santa Monica) Chef Zarah’s educational background in Environmental Science and Forestry led her to a deeper exploration of the stories behind the food
Chef James Linabary
Audrey / June (Nashville) James is the pastry sous chef at multiple-award-winning and acclaimed Chef Sean Brock’s Flagship restaurant Audrey as well as the pastry
Chef Kim Mok
Boka (Chicago) Chef Kim’s life has been defined and shaped by food. She is a second-generation Chinese-American and spent many childhood weekends and summers working
Chef Yoonjung Oh
Jungsik (NYC) Being born and honing her pastry skills in Seoul, Korea, Chef Yoonjung found her way into The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde
Chef Justin Pioche
Pioche Food Group (Upper Fruitland, NM) Justin Pioche is an Ashihii Dine’ who is born for the Bit’ahnii people (Navajo Nation) and the owner of
Chef Faye Poonsiripukdeekul
Bacchanalia / W.H. Stiles Fish Camp (Atlanta) Faye “Poon” Poonsiripukdeekul’s career has been defined by her commitment to investing in her education. Before migrating to
Chef Tre Sanderson
Hotel X, Baro, Vela, (Toronto) Sanderson has over a decade of culinary experience working in some of Toronto’s hottest restaurants. Being a first-generation Canadian with
Chef Christopher Vega
La Pícara (San Juan) Upon graduating from culinary school, Christopher began working at Condado Vanderbilt Hotel under one of Puerto Rico’s most lauded chefs, Juan
Chef Lateisha Wilson
Matador Room at The Miami Beach Edition (Miami Beach) Chef Lateisha gravitated toward cooking from a young age and always sensed that she was destined
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Alisha Blackwell-Calvert, CSW
Cinder House at Four Seasons (St. Louis) Alisha is currently an Advanced Sommelier and is studying to sit for the Master Sommelier examination. When she
SPIRITS
Alexis Brown
LVMH and Serving Life Behind Bars, Chicago Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Alexis noticed the lack of diversity in her profession and
Carlos Marquez Hernandez
Originally from Mexico City, Carlos has been working in the restaurant industry for about ten years. He worked his way up at one of the