AIM’s inaugural gala celebration will showcase the extraordinary power of local food to heal the planet.
Held at San Francisco’s historic Swedish American Hall, this evening of culinary excellence will honor four Bay Area star chefs, serving up a farm-forward multiple course menu featuring locally sourced, sustainably grown, and ethically harvested cuisine, paired with live music and regional wine.
Featuring Award-winning Celebrity and Bay Area Chefs
Brandon Jew: is the executive chef and owner of Mister Jiu's, a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco. Mister Jiu's combines the local, seasonal and organic bounty of the Bay Area together with classic Chinese techniques and flavors. His cookbook, "Mister Jiu's in Chinatown: Recipes and Stories from the Birthplace of Chinese American Food," was recognized for a James Beard Media Award. He co-wrote the book with Tienlon Ho. Brandon recently won a James Beard Award for the best chef in California in 2022.
Tanya Holland: acclaimed for her inventive take on modern soul food and comfort classics. Tanya is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, podcast host, writer, and cookbook author. She is an alumna of Bravo TV's Top Chef, season 15. Owner of Brown Sugar Kitchen, in Oakland, California (2008 to 2022), which received national recognition and multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand awards. In 2020, she joined the James Beard Foundation Board of Trustees, and is a frequent writer and chef at the James Beard Foundation.
Emily Luchetti: throughout her career, Emily has been the pastry chef at Stars, Farallon, Waterbar, Marlowe and Park Tavern Restaurants. She is the author of 6 cookbooks. Luchetti’s honors include the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef and induction in their Who’s Who of Food and Beverage. She currently spends her time making jam and bean to bar chocolate and is the food columnist for The Point Reyes Light. Emily serves on the James Beard Foundation Board of Trustees.
Daniela Vergara: is the executive chef at Estiatorio Ornos, a Michael Mina Restaurant. Located in San Francisco, Estiatorio Ornos celebrates the marriage of Greek and Middle Eastern flavors and highlights the cooking preparations and uses of spices from across the region. Daniela joined the MINA Group's fellowship program in 2016 and has worked her way through the ranks of the company including rotations at Michael Mina, MINA Test Kitchen, Trailblazer Tavern and now at the helm of Estiatorio Ornos.
The team of local chefs, in collaboration with Owner and Chef, Arnon Oren, with Anaviv's Catering will curate a memorable experience highlighting California's bounty as we gather at the table.
Special Guest Speaker Elizabeth Whitlow
We have the honor of speaking with the amazing Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. Regenerating the living crust of the Earth has been Elizabeth Whitlow's mission since she was first exposed in the 1990s to the harmful practices of industrial agriculture and the power of building thriving food systems. The term "regenerative" risks becoming the next buzzword as it is adopted by large chemical ag. Elizabeth is leading the charge to ensure that regenerative is intrinsically linked to organic. Regenerative organic agriculture is farming in a way that heals our precious topsoil, draws carbon down, creates thriving ecosystems and equity for those who live and depend on Earth. Above all, her greatest honor is to serve a planet that is in tremendous need of each and every one of us.
Live Music by Moonstruck Band
Moonstruck is the Bay Area's newest events band with a repertoire spanning decades of hits and musicians with experience from Broadway to Bon Jovi. With a growing reputation for being a fun and energetic dance band who deliver an unforgettable and enthralling musical performance, Moonstruck will have everyone on the dance floor until the very last tune.
