Writing may begin in solitude, but Mia Chung believes a play ultimately belongs to everyone who helps bring it to life.

The Foundation has officially unveiled its 2026-2027 TasteTwenty cohort, an exclusive group of 20 chefs selected from across the country to headline the highly anticipated Taste America national tour. This annual program spotlights visionary culinary leaders who are actively shaping the future of American dining through immense creativity, community impact, and rich cultural storytelling.

The culinary industry's biggest night just wrapped up in Chicago, and the results are in. Asian chefs, authors, and journalists delivered an impressive showing at the 2026 James Beard Awards, earning recognition across some of the food world's most prestigious categories.

Grab your lightsticks and let’s dive into the most iconic, scream-worthy "AMAsian" moments that proved the future of pop is undeniably global!

Artist Theaster Gates and entrepreneur Heiji Choy Black recently partnered to open Han Cha, a Korean-inspired tea salon, and Yunomi, an evening cocktail lounge housed inside the Arts Bank. Together, the concepts bring Asian hospitality traditions into one of Chicago’s most important cultural institutions.

Across Chicago and Illinois, a new generation of women leaders is helping shape that future. They are advocating for immigrants, empowering underrepresented communities, expanding civic participation, and challenging systems that were not designed with their communities in mind. We spoke with Amanda Hwu, Vân Huynh, Danae Kovac, Amina Barhumi, and Rhea Yap. Together, their stories reveal not only how they arrived at leadership, but also what they believe it takes to build lasting change.

From unforgettable cookbook memoirs to expertly crafted omakase experiences, these trailblazers continue to reshape the culinary landscape. They are serving unforgettable stories on the page and bold flavors on every plate. We are beyond excited to spotlight the chefs, authors, and hospitality visionaries who earned a spot on this year’s prestigious list.