Gold House and OpenTable Launch Gold Chef Prize to Uplift Rising Asian Pacific Chefs

SAN FRANCISCO, November 17, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Gold House, the leading cultural ecosystem uniting, investing in, and championing Asian Pacific creatives and companies to power tomorrow for all, and global restaurant technology leader OpenTable, are joining forces to launch the Gold Chef Prize to uplift rising Asian Pacific chefs.

The Gold Chef Prize will spotlight nine rising Asian Pacific chefs and award one the opportunity to be the Executive Chef of the 2024 A100 Honoree Dinner, a celebration of the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific Islanders in culture, ahead of Gold Gala, the seminal and most-viewed gathering of Asian Pacific leaders in North America. In addition, the winner, along with two finalists, will each receive $10,000 in funding for restaurant operations as well as mentorship by leading Asian Pacific chefs. Nine semi-finalists will receive an invitation to Gold House Futures, featuring exclusive invitations to Asian Pacific community events and access to growth and collaboration resources including Gold House’s rich network, and six months of special pricing on OpenTable.

Asian Pacific cuisine, restaurants, and chefs are deeply intertwined with the fabric of American history and culture. The Pew Research Center found that nearly three-quarters of all U.S. counties (73%) have at least one Asian restaurant. However, representation of Asian Pacific chefs within the industry is still lagging. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 63% of chefs and head cooks are white, while only 16% are Asian, and Asian Pacific chefs are still pushing for mainstream recognition and acceptance, particularly for food that is representative of all ethnicities within the Asian diaspora and that is outside of the Asian diaspora. The Gold Chef Prize was born to help bridge this gap by recognizing and rewarding emerging Asian Pacific chefs who have positively impacted the culinary industry and the Asian Pacific community. 

“It is an honor of mine to be on the Selection Committee for the Gold Chef Prize. Our next generation of chefs, who carry on the work and legacies of the past, while weaving in their own personal experiences and visions, is paramount to continuing our journeys forward as Asian Americans in American dining. Our support of their unique voices furthers our collective efforts,” said Brandon Jew, Selection Committee member and award-winning chef of Mister Jiu’s.

The search for the inaugural Gold Chef launches today, with a three-step selection process that kicks off with an open call for head chefs from Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco to apply via a brief questionnaire. Three semi-finalists from each city will be evaluated by select members of the Selection Committee, who will dine at each semifinalist’s restaurant, and aid in selecting the finalists and winner. The Selection Committee is comprised of an esteemed cohort of culinary pioneers and industry leaders, including chefs from MICHELIN-starred establishments, James Beard Award-winners, and renowned industry voices, including:

• Martin Yan, Award-winning Chef and Television Host of Yan Can Cook; James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
• Brandon Jew, of MICHELIN-starred Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco; James Beard Award-winning Chef
• Carlo Lamagna, of Magna Kusina; Food & Wine Award-winning Chef
• Chintan Pandya, of MICHELIN-starred Semma in New York; James Beard Award-winning Chef
• Esther Choi, of Mŏkbar in New York; Award-winning Chef and Television Host and Judge
• Jet Tila, Award-winning Chef, Television Host and Judge, and Official Thai Culinary Ambassador
• Mei Lin, of Nightshade and Daybird; Award-winning Chef and Television Judge
• Shota Nakajima, of Taku and Kobo Pizza; Award-winning Chef and Television Judge
• Stephanie Wu, Editor-in-chief of Eater

“OpenTable is committed to championing underrepresented groups in the restaurant industry – more diversity in leadership positions benefits restaurants, diners and their communities,” said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable. “We’re honored to partner with Gold House, the authority in investing in and amplifying Asian Pacific voices, to recognize emerging chef talent and celebrate the Asian Pacific community’s impact on the restaurant industry.”

“Food is a foundational gateway to understanding and appreciating new cultures while honoring our heritage. Chefs anchor the best of our past while their creations convene communities to center on new ideas and more,” said Rose Yan, Vice President of Marketing at Gold House. “We are grateful to partner with global restaurant technology leader, OpenTable, and our illustrious Selection Committee to invest in Asian Pacific chefs and spotlight the crucial role they play in cultural change.”

The application is open to Asian Pacific executive chefs in Greater Los Angeles, New York City or San Francisco Bay Area, for more information on eligibility or to enter, visit goldhouse.org/gold-chef-prize. Apply by December 15; the finalists and winner will be announced publicly in April 2024.

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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. Under a nonprofit umbrella, our innovative family of companies, 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.

Source: Gold House