Chef and Founder, The CLAU Group; New York, NY

Christine Lau is chef and founder of The CLAU Group. Her 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 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. In July, 2023, Christine created the menu at Chino Grande in Brooklyn, NY where her food paid homage to New York City's Chinese-Latin American restaurants from the 1960's and 1970's. Her dishes have been featured in The New York Times, Eater NY, Food & Wine, and more. Through The CLAU Group, Christine consults 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 (Instagram)