Chef, Chino Grande and The CLAU Group; New York, NY

Christine Lau is a New York–based chef and culinary consultant whose Chinese American cuisine is influenced by the multicultural communities of Oakland and the Bay Area in California where she was raised by parents who emigrated from Hong Kong, and in New York City where she lives. Christine first started cooking as a hobby alongside her brother, in order to feed themselves. Since then, she's made cooking a professional pursuit, working at One Market in San Francisco, and Alto, Centovini, and Bar Chuko Izakaya in New York City. In August 2020, just a few months into the pandemic, Christine opened Kimika in New York, showcasing her take on Itameshi. Kimika was named a semifinalist for the 2022 James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant award. Her dishes have been featured in The New York Times, Eater NY, Food & Wine magazine, and more. Currently, Christine, founder of The CLAU Group, is consulting on various projects around the globe and can also be found popping up in cities across America on her quest to connect cultures through food. @chefchristinelau