Gold House and OpenTable Reveal Semi-Finalists for Gold Chef Prize Highlighting Asian Pacific Culinary Talent

Photo Credit: Gold House

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - Gold House, in collaboration with OpenTable, has announced the nine semi-finalists of the Gold Chef Prize, a competition designed to celebrate and elevate Asian Pacific chefs within the culinary industry. This initiative comes in response to the underrepresentation of Asian Pacific individuals in head chef positions, with only 19% achieving this status compared to 59% of their white counterparts, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The competition, which initially invited chefs from Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco, has narrowed down to three semi-finalists per city. These chefs have been recognized for their exceptional talent, impact on the culinary industry, and dedication to promoting Asian Pacific representation. The semi-finalists will benefit from special offerings from OpenTable and an invitation to Gold House Futures, which includes exclusive access to community events and resources for growth and collaboration. The competition will continue until three finalists are chosen, each of whom will receive $10,000 in funding and mentorship from prominent Asian Pacific chefs.

The semi-finalists are:

Los Angeles:

• Nico de Leon of Lasita, offering Filipino-American cuisine.

• Katianna Hong of Yangban, a modern Korean American restaurant.

• Sujan Sarkar of Baar Baar, known for reimagined Indian cuisine.

New York City:

• Eric Huang of Pecking House, specializing in Taiwanese fried chicken.

• Christine Lau of Chino Grande, presenting Chinese/Latino fusion cuisine.

• Kyo Pang of Kopitiam, featuring Malay cuisine.

San Francisco:

• Matthew Ho of Bodega, serving traditional Northern Vietnamese cuisine.

• Alex Hong of Sorrel, a One-Star MICHELIN restaurant highlighting New Californian cuisine.

• Heena Patel of Besharam, a regional Gujarati restaurant.

"Chefs play a crucial role in reminding us of the past, delighting us in the present, and pushing us towards the future. These nine chefs represent the possibilities that food can play in changing culture, all using their specific life experiences to create food with universal impact. We’re honored to partner with OpenTable to spotlight these chefs and their culinary talents,” stated Rose Yan, Vice President of Marketing of Gold House.

Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, added, "These nine chefs are deeply passionate about sharing their cultural heritage with the world through the meals they create. Their unique approach to their craft shines a spotlight on the diversity that exists within Asian cuisine – and the important role food can play in helping each of us experience and deepen our understanding of different cultures.”

An esteemed panel of culinary icons and award-winning chefs will visit each semi-finalist’s restaurant to assist in selecting the three finalists and ultimately the winner. The winner will have the honor of serving as the Executive Chef at the 2024 A100 Welcome Dinner, celebrating the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific cultural and business leaders.

For more information and updates on the Gold Chef Prize, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouse and @OpenTable on Instagram.

Source: Gold House via Newswire