Lena Le - Chairwoman

Lena was a former banker, event planner, and accountant before shifting her career to Culinary when she started her new life in the US in 2015. Despite being in the chef role for less than 5 years, she has made an outstanding journey in the food industry. Lena entered the Food Network Cooking Competition and became a Chopped Champion in March 2024 (Truffle episode - S57). She also appeared on Beat Bobby Flay (S35eps5 - On a Roll).

Houston is becoming familiar with Lena's face from her community work during disasters or feeding Houston survivors on holidays. Lena's passion is not just about food or cooking for everyone but also advocating for domestic abuse survivors. Her mom, aunt, and herself are survivors, and because of that, she devotes her entire career to raising awareness about domestic violence and helping survivors get back on their feet by providing them training and jobs at her kitchen: Lena's Asian Kitchen.

Lena is also a James Beard Award Winner (for Thanksgiving Table Event 2018), and was voted as Top 50 Unsung Heroes across Asian Community Worldwide. Recently her business was awarded as Top 10 Rising Star (fast growing small business in Houston) by Asian Chamber of Commerce.