Our Chefs

Learn about the chefs who use our knives.

From the Pros.

If you're passionate about cooking and want to make it your career, you know that having the right knife is essential. Get to know these culinary icons and learn more about what it takes to be a pro in the kitchen.

Chef / Filmmaker / Activist

Tu David Phu

Top Chef alumnus & Emmy Award-nominated chef and activist bringing his personal experiences growing up in Oakland, CA to Vietnamese cuisine.

Chef / Restaurant Owner

Carlo Lamagna

Founder & head chef of James Beard-nominated Magna Kusina, bringing modern Pilipino food to Portland, OR.

Chef / Restaurant Owner

Mutsuko Soma

Founder & head chef of Kamonegi, a James Beard-nominated purveyor of fresh soba named best Seattle, WA restaurant in 2018.

Chef / Restaurateur / Activist

Reem Assil

Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef and activist in Oakland, CA. She founded Reem’s California, an Arab bakery fostering community through Arab bread and hospitality. She's earned numerous culinary accolades, including James Beard finalist for Outstanding Chef (2022) and semifinalist for Best Chef: West (2018-19). Prior to her culinary career, she was a community and labor organizer for over a decade. She authored the IACP award-winning cookbook Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora (2022).

Executive Chef

Zarah Khan

Former executive chef at Botanica in Los Angeles, now leading the kitchen at Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, CA, Seattle-born Zarah Khan honed her culinary skills from childhood. Her Environmental Science studies at the University of Washington deepened her understanding of food systems. After farming experience domestically and abroad, she returned to the kitchen, determined to connect people to their environment through food.

As Botanica's head chef, she promotes healthy, appealing food and good vibes. An avid runner and yoga teacher, she previously worked under award-winning chefs Jerry Traunfeld, Tom Douglas, and Matt Dillon. Before Botanica, she was executive chef at The London Plane, where her Middle Eastern inspired, veg-forward cuisine earned her recognition.

Michellin Star Sous Chef

Tetsuro Maeda

Sous chef at world renowned Spanish restaurant, Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain.

Chef / Restaurant Entrepreneur

Francis Ang

San Francisco-born and Philippines-raised chef Francis Ang has made remarkable strides in the culinary realm. With training from the City College of San Francisco and experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, Ang and his wife delved into Filipino cuisine, resulting in the successful pop-up, Pinoy Heritage. His latest venture, Restaurant Abacá, has garnered multiple accolades, such as Esquire’s America’s Best New Restaurant and a semi-finalist position in the James Beard Awards for best new restaurant.

Thank you Chefs

We count ourselves lucky to partner with such amazing people. Your feedback and support means so much to us, and even more so to the knife makers.

Style Guide

Shop by knife style and learn what makes each one unique.