Open Kitchen Events is extremely honored to present “Fish Sauce + Mole,” an Omakase-style dinner with Pioneering Chefs Nikki Tran and Fernando Olea on January 13, 2023
“Fish Sauce + Mole” is an original, exclusive, 8-course “Viet-Mex” omakase-type evening of culinary heritage, creativity, and artistry. This truly unique experience will take place at Open Kitchen, located at 227 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Two innovative chefs, Nikki Tran and Fernando Olea, will work together and separately to create a menu featuring three common ingredients that highlight both the differences and similarities of these two powerhouse culinary nations.
Celebrity Chef Nikki Tran has appeared on David Chang’s Ugly Delicious, Phil Rosenthals’ Somebody Feed Phil and most recently the acclaimed Street Food: Asia series. Her maverick approach has earned her the reputation for taking traditional Vietnamese cuisine and incorporating international influences where she sees fit. Chef Nikki reimagines Vietnamese cuisine by adding a Cajun twist, bringing back forgotten dishes, and introducing new ones at her restaurants in Houston, Texas and Saigon, Vietnam.
That creates a perfect collaboration with Santa Fe’s own 2022 James Beard Award-Winning Chef, Fernando Olea. Chef Fernando is known for inventive “New World Cuisine” – his unique interpretations of old world Mexican dishes combined with ingredients from around the world to create exciting flavors that evoke the culinary heritage of Mexico. Famous for his moles, Chef Fernando’s delights include his “New Mexican Mole” created to commemorate Santa Fe’s 400 year anniversary.
Join Chef Nikki and Fernando as they share the stories and distinctive flavors of Vietnamese and Mexican ingredients and cuisine, and how they can combine to celebrate both cultures.
Space is limited.
For more details on this exclusive event, contact Hue-Chan Karels, Chef-Owner of Open Kitchen Events at info@openkitchenevents.com
Chef Nikki Tran, known as Kâu Ba in her native Saigon, lives in both Houston and Saigon. Chef Nikki has childhood memories of being invited to her neighbors’ table to share a good meal. It sparked something within her, and now Nikki dedicates her life to bringing people together through food. She makes every dish with intention, as though she was serving her own family, taking care to select only the freshest, organic ingredients from trusted, local sources. Check out Nikki Tran’s restaurant at Kau Ba Kitchen in Houston and Kậu Ba in Saigon.
Chef Fernando Olea. Originally from Mexico City, Executive Chef and co-owner of Sazón, is the first James Beard regional “Best Chef” winner from Santa Fe since 2005. Chef Fernando creates sophisticated flavors using fresh and locally sourced produce and meats where possible. Chef Fernando received the 2019 Restauranteur of the Year by the New Mexico Restaurant Association and Sazon was recognized by Wine Spectator with an Award of Excellence. https://sazonsantafe.com/about/