Recognizing Cultural Contributions:

Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Month

To recognize the historical and cultural contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we use May to celebrate all that they do. What started as a day to commemorate the first Japanese immigrant arriving in the United States became a month to celebrate all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Food brings people together. The United States is a melting pot full of cultures that contributes to the nation’s success. We must learn to appreciate different cultures as they add music, traditions, customs, and food. However, there are not many forms of representation for minority chefs. As of 2022, white people made up 59.4 percent of chefs, followed by Latinx at 17.8 percent, African Americans at 10.4 percent, and Asians making up the lowest percentage at 9.1 percent.

Even with the low percentage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in culinary arts, they have made breakthroughs. Here are a few of the chefs’ breaking barriers.

Cristeta Comerford

This Filipino-American made history by being the first woman and person of Asian origin to be the White House executive chef since 2005. Cristeta Comerford began her career in hotels such as the Sheraton and Hyatt Regency before working as a chef at two restaurants in Washington, D.C. In 1995, after spending six months traveling, she was recruited to work as a White House assistant chef. After the executive chef Walter Schieb III resigned in 2005, Comerford has appointed to the position. She continues to work as an executive chef in the White House today.

Robynne Mai’i

Creating history and breaking barriers is just one way to describe Chef Robynne Mai’i. Chef Mai’i is the first female chef from Hawaii to win the James Beard Award. The James Beard Award recognizes achievements in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and the broader food system. Mai’i studied culinary arts at Kapiolani Community College and, upon graduating, pursued a master’s degree at New York University. In 2016, she moved back to Hawaii to open a restaurant with her husband, Fete.

Sheldon Simeon

After acquiring a love for cooking from his parents, Sheldon Simeon grew up to pursue a successful career in the culinary arts, now known for embodying Hawaii’s past and future through food. Simeon attended the Pacific Culinary Institute and obtained an internship at Walt Disney World. When returning to Hawaii, he attended Maui Culinary Academy. He competed on season 10 of the hit food competition Top Chef in Seattle, Washington, where he won the fan favorite title as the finalist. Today he owns and operates Tin Roof, a Maui’s Kahului restaurant where he serves lunch-style dishes in take-out bowls.