Identity, Through the Lens of a Chef | Nyesha Arrington | TEDxBerkeley

Nyesha Arrington explores the concept of identity through food. Chef Nyesha Arrington is an award winning chef & culinary creative with an endless passion for the way ingredients and tradition that bring cultures together. Many chefs fuse Los Angeles’ diverse ethnic flavors in their dishes, but few embody the city’s unbridled creativity like Nyesha Arrington. Her first gigs — as sous chef to her Korean grandmother, “playing restaurant” on playdates and practicing fine arts — were early proof of her multidimensional talent. Arrington has worked under Joël Robuchon at L'Atelier and The Mansion. She was a fan favorite on Top Chef Season 12 and went on to win Knife Fight and Chef Hunter television competitions. Her grit and ingenuity has spawned lauded restaurant projects including past relics LEONA and Native. She is a steward of local produce, a food waste warrior, was named a past Zagat 30 under 30 honoree and above all, a culinary artist. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx