Chefs Christine Lau, Henna Patel and Katianna Hong Each Awarded $10,000 to Further the Growth of Their Restaurants and Culinary Journeys
SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2024 / Leading cultural ecosystem Gold House and global restaurant technology leader OpenTable are thrilled to announce the three finalists of the Gold Chef Prize, a collaborative initiative to celebrate rising Asian Pacific chefs: Christine Lau of Chino Grande in New York, Heena Patel of Besharam in San Francisco, and Katianna Hong of Yangban in Los Angeles, the ultimate winner.
Gold House and OpenTable partnered to create the Gold Chef Prize to honor rising Asian Pacific chefs. The three finalists will each receive $10,000 in funding, special benefits from OpenTable and Gold House, and more. In addition, Chef Hong, the winner, will also serve as Executive Director of the A100 Welcome Dinner, an exclusive dinner presented by OpenTable for past and present honorees of the A100, Gold House's annual list of the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders. For the dinner, Chef Hong will create an elevated menu featuring Korean American dishes in line with her mission to blend immigrant experiences with modern sensibilities.
Born in Korea, Katianna Hong spent years working in MICHELIN-starred restaurants before opening Yangban as a platform where art, culture, fashion, and culinary expression converge. "Yangban serves as a space for a new generation of Asian Americans. The restaurant's evolution is an ongoing process, a commitment to continuous growth, exploration, and the realization of a culinary vision that goes beyond replication - an endeavor that enriches not only the patrons but the community, culture, and industry as a whole," says Chef Hong.
San Francisco finalist Heena Patel created Besharam, which roughly translates to "shameless" in Gujarati, to pay homage to generations of voiceless women in India and beyond through bold stylings and interpretations of the Gujarati cuisine prevalent throughout her childhood. "When I think of the word ‘Besharam,' I think of what that means for anyone who has had to fight to be shamelessly and fearlessly themselves. I feel a responsibility to be a leader to pave the way for others to believe it's possible to be recognized for who they are," explains Chef Patel.
New York City finalist Christine Lau was inspired by New York City's Chinese Latin American restaurants popular in the 1960s and '70s when building the menu at Chino Grande. A child of immigrant parents, Chef Lau aims to unite different cultures through food. "My food philosophy is about connecting dots, identifying the natural intersections between two cultures whether it be through an ingredient, a technique, a flavor profile or a historical narrative," says Chef Lau.
"Chefs Christine, Heena, and Katianna are breaking down cultural boundaries by storytelling through food," said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable. "In giving them a platform through the Gold Chef Prize, I'm confident their stories will inspire other chefs and diners, too."
"Gold House is honored to partner with OpenTable's all-Gold Women leadership to further our shared mission of redefining the culinary industry, starting with inclusion. Chefs Christine, Heena, and Katianna's culinary talents, restaurants, and spirits underscore the force that food powers in reshaping perceptions about the Asian Pacific community," said Bing Chen, CEO and co-founder of Gold House.
In addition to Chefs Lau, Patel and Hong, the Gold Chef Prize also recognized the following semifinalists:
- Los Angeles: Nico de Leon, chef and owner of Lasita, and Sujan Sarkar, chef and partner at Baar Baar.
- New York City: Eric Huang, founder and chef of Pecking House, and Kyo Pang, founder and executive chef of Kopitiam.
- San Francisco: Alex Hong, chef and owner of the One-Star MICHELIN restaurant Sorrel, and Matthew Ho, chef and owner of Bodega.
The Prize launched with an open call for API chefs in Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco, ultimately narrowed down to three chefs per city. For phase two, the prestigious Selection Committee, including award-winning chefs Brandon Jew, Carlo Lamagna, Chintan Pandya, Esther Choi, Mei Lin, Shota Nakajima, Michelle Uoekema, and Wade Uoekima; and Stephanie Wu, editor-in-chief of Eater, dined at the nine semifinalists' restaurants to select the three finalists and winner.
To learn more about the Gold Chef Prize and the finalists, see more on Instagram via @GoldHouse and @OpenTable.
About Gold House
Gold House is the leading cultural ecosystem that unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific creators and companies to power tomorrow for all. Our innovative programs and platforms include membership systems and events to fortify relationships among the Asian Pacific community and with other marginalized communities (#StopAsianHate); first-of-its-kind investment vehicles and accelerators to propel the next generation of top Asian Pacific founders, creatives, and leaders (Gold House Ventures, Creative Equity Fund); and industry-leading research, consulting, and marketing to promote authentic and affirming portrayals (Gold Story Consultation, Gold Open, Gold List, A100 List). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, and LinkedIn.
About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc., helps 55,000 restaurants, bars, wineries and other venues worldwide fill 1.6 billion seats a year. OpenTable powers reservations, experiences, payments, guest insights and operations, enabling restaurants to focus on doing what they do best: providing great hospitality.
Contact Information
Rose Yan
VP of Marketing
press@goldhouse.org
Jackie Miller
Senior Director, Global Communications, OpenTable
jackiem@opentable.com
SOURCE: Gold House
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