2026 Worlds of Flavor Presenters

Introducing confirmed chefs and food experts for the 2026 Worlds of Flavor®. This lineup features visionary, influential culinary voices representing and inspired by Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, from a broad range of the industry, including independent restaurants, pop‑ups and bars, to university and fine dining. Get ready for three immersive days of deeply informative ideas and techniques, unforgettable flavors, and unmatched networking opportunities.

Lizzy Bartlett Senior Director, Technomic (Chicago, Illinois) — **Lizzy Bartlett**
Senior Director, Technomic (Chicago, Illinois)

Aleishe Baska '05 Associate Professor—Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **Aleishe Baska '05**
Associate Professor—Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Junsoo Bae '12 Chef and CEO, SSAL (San Francisco, CA) — **Junsoo Bae '12**
Chef and CEO, SSAL (San Francisco, CA)

Jaume Biarnes Executive Chef, Yondu Culinary Studio (New York) — **Jaume Biarnes**
Executive Chef, Yondu Culinary Studio (New York)

Gabriel Boyer ‘06 Assistant Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio — **Gabriel Boyer ‘06**
Assistant Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio

Jennifer Breckner Director—Programs and Special Projects, The Center for Food and Beverage Leadership, Culinary Institute of America at Copia — **Jennifer Breckner**
Director—Programs and Special Projects, The Center for Food and Beverage Leadership, Culinary Institute of America at Copia

Esther Choi Chef and Owner, Mŏkbar (New York, NY) — **Esther Choi**
Chef and Owner, Mŏkbar (New York, NY)

Kyle Connaughton Chef and Co-Founder, Single Thread (Healdsburg, California) — **Kyle Connaughton**
Chef and Co-Founder, Single Thread (Healdsburg, California)

Robert Danhi ’91 Chef, Television Host, and Educator (Los Angeles and Melaka, Malaysia) — **Robert Danhi ’91**
Chef, Television Host, and Educator (Los Angeles and Melaka, Malaysia)

Maya Okada Erickson Writer, TV Personality, and Chef, Langbaan (Portland, OR) — **Maya Okada Erickson**
Writer, TV Personality, and Chef, Langbaan (Portland, OR)

Nemo Glassman Founder and CEO, Food Tech Trading, Sakana Blue (Kyoto, Japan) — **Nemo Glassman**
Founder and CEO, Food Tech Trading, Sakana Blue (Kyoto, Japan)

Lih Guah Co-Founder, Chef, Journe (Singapore) — **Lih Guah**
Co-Founder, Chef, Journe (Singapore)

Viet Hong Chef-Owner, CieL, (Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam) — **Viet Hong**
Chef-Owner, CieL, (Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam)

Yoshinori Horii Owner, Sohonke Sarashina Horii (Tokyo, Japan) — **Yoshinori Horii**
Owner, Sohonke Sarashina Horii (Tokyo, Japan)

Kazushi Iwane Kubara Honke Group Co., Ltd. (Fukuoka, Japan) — **Kazushi Iwane**
Kubara Honke Group Co., Ltd. (Fukuoka, Japan)

Khir Johari Food Ethnographer, Author (Singapore) — **Khir Johari**
Food Ethnographer, Author (Singapore)

Robert Jones '20 Vice President—Strategic Partnerships, Industry Leadership, and Impact, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **Robert Jones '20**
Vice President—Strategic Partnerships, Industry Leadership, and Impact, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Do-Seop Kim Leader, Korea Cuisine Research Team, Korean Heritage Agency (Seoul, Korea) — **Do-Seop Kim**
Leader, Korea Cuisine Research Team, Korean Heritage Agency (Seoul, Korea)

Ji Hye Kim Chef and Owner, Miss Kim and Little Kim (Ann Arbor, MI) — **Ji Hye Kim**
Chef and Owner, Miss Kim and Little Kim (Ann Arbor, MI)

Ian Kittichai Chef, Restaurateur, Author, and TV Personality (Bangkok, Thailand) — **Ian Kittichai**
Chef, Restaurateur, Author, and TV Personality (Bangkok, Thailand)

Ema Koeda ‘05 Food Wine Bridges (Tokyo, Japan) — **Ema Koeda ‘05**
Food Wine Bridges (Tokyo, Japan)

Elaine Koh '13 Assistant Professor—Culinary Institute of America, Singapore — **Elaine Koh '13**
Assistant Professor—Culinary Institute of America, Singapore

Ethel Koh ’17 Co-Founder, Chef, Journe (Singapore) — **Ethel Koh ’17**
Co-Founder, Chef, Journe (Singapore)

Jaime Koh, PhD Adjunct Professor, Culinary Institute of America, Singapore — **Jaime Koh, PhD**
Adjunct Professor, Culinary Institute of America, Singapore

Monica Lee Author, Chef and Founder, Beverly Soon Tofu (Los Angeles, CA) — **Monica Lee**
Author, Chef and Founder, Beverly Soon Tofu (Los Angeles, CA)

Emily Lim ‘14 Chef and Founder, Dabao Singapore (San Francisco, CA) — **Emily Lim ‘14**
Chef and Founder, Dabao Singapore (San Francisco, CA)

Gregory Lodato '25 Graduate Student—Culinary Institute of America at Greystone — **Gregory Lodato '25**
Graduate Student—Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

Martin Matysik Associate Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **Martin Matysik**
Associate Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Arnold Myint Chef and Owner, International Market (Nashville, TN) — **Arnold Myint**
Chef and Owner, International Market (Nashville, TN)

Don Nguyen Chef and Co-owner, Khói (Houston, TX) — **Don Nguyen**
Chef and Co-owner, Khói (Houston, TX)

Nini Nguyen Chef and Cookbook Author (New Orleans, LA) — **Nini Nguyen**
Chef and Cookbook Author (New Orleans, LA)

Alexander Ong Director of Culinary Excellence, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA) — **Alexander Ong**
Director of Culinary Excellence, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA)

Mai Pham Author, Chef, and Owner, Lemon Grass Restaurant, Star Ginger (Sacramento, CA) — **Mai Pham**
Author, Chef, and Owner, Lemon Grass Restaurant, Star Ginger (Sacramento, CA)

Yvonne Ruperti '95 Assistant Professor—Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Institute of America at Greystone — **Yvonne Ruperti '95**
Assistant Professor—Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

Junko Sakaguchi Owner, Kyoyamato (Kyoto, Japan) — **Junko Sakaguchi**
Owner, Kyoyamato (Kyoto, Japan)

Eric J. Sauber ‘07 Assistant Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **Eric J. Sauber ‘07**
Assistant Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Michael Scott Chef, WaSho United LLC(JETRO)/Independent (Dallas, TX) — **Michael Scott**
Chef, WaSho United LLC(JETRO)/Independent (Dallas, TX)

Hiroko Shimbo Principal Chef Instructor, Japanese Concentration Program, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **Hiroko Shimbo**
Principal Chef Instructor, Japanese Concentration Program, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Haera Shin Author, Beverage Expert (New Orleans, LA) — **Haera Shin**
Author, Beverage Expert (New Orleans, LA)

Mutsuko Soma Chef and Owner, Kamonegi (Seattle, WA) — **Mutsuko Soma**
Chef and Owner, Kamonegi (Seattle, WA)

Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones Chefs and Co-Founders, Bo.lan (Bangkok, Thailand) — **Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava** and **Dylan Jones**
Chefs and Co-Founders, Bo.lan (Bangkok, Thailand)

Sam Tran Chef and Owner, Gia (Hanoi, Vietnam) — **Sam Tran**
Chef and Owner, Gia (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Naoyuki Yanagihara, PhD Executive Chef, Yanagihara School of Traditional Japanese Cuisine (Tokyo, Japan) — **Naoyuki Yanagihara, PhD**
Executive Chef, Yanagihara School of Traditional Japanese Cuisine (Tokyo, Japan)

JongJip Yang ’11 Associate Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **JongJip Yang ’11**
Associate Professor—Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Hajime Yoneda Chef-Owner, Hajime, (Osaka, Japan) — **Hajime Yoneda**
Chef-Owner, Hajime, (Osaka, Japan)

Helene York Adjunct Faculty—Sustainable Food Systems, Culinary Institute of America, New York — **Helene York**
Adjunct Faculty—Sustainable Food Systems, Culinary Institute of America, New York

Save your seat at the table for Worlds of Flavor 2026.

Don’t miss your chance to spend three days with the chefs, educators, and food professionals reimagining East and Southeast Asian cuisine. Spots are filling up fast, reserve yours today.

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2026 Worlds of Flavor Presenters

Save your seat at the table for Worlds of Flavor 2026.

NOVEMBER 4-6, 2026 | NAPA, CA