Michelin Stars Meet Immigrant Stories. Can You Match the Chef?

August 06, 2025 • Read in 4 minutes

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Dear Hyphenly Readers,

Food often plays a central role in the lives of first-and second-generation immigrants. It's a way to stay connected to their roots and provides a type of comfort that goes beyond distance and time. 

These dishes become a link to cultural identity, belonging, and memory.

Immigrants make up 22% of all U.S. workers in the food services industry, and in states such as New York or California, that figure exceeds 30%. This strong presence has shaped dining culture across the country. 

Nearly 31% of chefs in the United States have a foreign background. And that’s the case of Irene Li!

In the last episode of Immigrantly, Saadia spoke with Irene Li, chef and creator of Mei Mei Dumplings, exploring what it means to prepare food with compassion, guide with fairness, in a conversation about identity, food systems, and more. 

That conversation inspired us to challenge your knowledge of immigrant chefs’ heritage.

Irene Li, the chef that Saadia had in this week's episode, is the youngest winner of a James Beard award and finds inspiration in her roots, which are:

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Where was he born?

Chef Marcus Samuelsson has an iconic restaurant in Harlem (Red Rooster) and several others in NYC, Miami. He is also a TV personality and was born in an East African country

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José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, was born in a country known for tapas and paella:

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Where is Dominique Crenn originally from?

She’s the first female chef in the U.S. to earn 3 Michelin stars with her San Francisco restaurant. Raised in a coastal European city, she’s also married to actress Maria Bello.

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What are the roots of Enrique Olvera?

He’s the acclaimed chef behind Cosme in New York, known for reinventing classic dishes like tacos. He is from a country with deep Indigenous roots, Aztec heritage, and a world-famous street food culture.

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Did you enjoy this quiz? Did any of the answers surprise you? We’d love to hear from you!

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We hope to bring you many more quizzes in the future 😊

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This newsletter was curated by Laïny Jernidier.

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Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.