Famed Chefs & Tastemakers Gathered in Orange County
Orange County, California is known for its diversity with the third-largest Asian American population in the U.S. One in five residents is Asian. With this tremendous growth and presence, it is no surprise that Asian-owned businesses highly impact the county’s cultural fabric, particularly in the culinary arena.
The Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc. (OCAPICA) hosted a successful Tastemakers of Orange County event on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at the Segerstrom Center For The Arts in Costa Mesa, California.
Photos Courtesy of Lisa Hu Chen
The event featured twenty-four influential restaurants with the attendance of their founders and executive chefs. Many accomplished chefs and restaurateurs present have created cult-like establishments such as Leonard Chan of Shuck Oyster Bar, Amar Santana of Broadway and VACA, James Hamamori of Hamamori, and Allan Tea, whose family owns the Capital Seafood chain, of Hello Kitty Cafe.
FEATURED CHEFS & ORANGE COUNTY’S MOST POPULAR RESTAURANTS:
Takashi Abe & Ted Lee | Blue Fin
Bill Bracken | Bracken’s Kitchen
Ivan Calderon | Taco Mesa + Taco Rosa
Leonard Chan | Shuck Oyster Bar
Greg Daniels | Chef Greg Daniels
The Gaviña Family | Gaviña Coffee
James Hamamori | Hamamori
Brian Huskey | Tackle Box
Dean Kim | OC Baking Company
Ed Lee | Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
Shachi Mehra | Adya
Sandro Nardone | Bello
Dee Nguyen | Break of Dawn
Kristin Nguyen | Garlic and Chives
Sonny Nguyen | 7 Leaves Cafe
Henry Pineda | Modern Filipino Kitchen (MFK By Aysee)
Shelly Register | A Market
Amar Santana | Broadway by Amar Santana + Vaca
Jason & Rebecca schiffer | 320 Main
Max Shultz | Sessions West Coast Deli
Rainer Schwarz | Driftwood Kitchen + Hendrix
Greg Stillman | Leatherby’s Café Rouge + Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Tarit Tanjasiri | Crema Cafe + Crema Artisan Bakers
Allan Tea | Hello Kitty Cafe
Photos Courtesy of Lisa Hu Chen
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance was established in 1997 with the mission to build a healthier and stronger community by enhancing the well-being of Asians and Pacific Islanders through inclusive partnerships in the areas of service, education, advocacy, organizing, and research.
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