Wearing More Than A Chef Hat

One of the things I most appreciate about my career is the opportunity I’ve had to explore other industries and collaborate with organizations that span media, fashion, sports, art, and design. My latest venture, and source of gratitude, is a collaboration with West Elm to co-create a 32-piece capsule collection of furniture, lighting and tableware. It took over a year to bring it to life, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome.

My rather diverse background was the basis for this collaboration, pulling in personal elements of minimalist Scandinavian design, vibrant Ethiopian textiles, and touches of gold and brass to pay homage to the spirited energy of Harlem, my current home. It was such a fulfilling and creative exercise to translate these elements into design. (Now creating "Swediopian" recipes in my kitchens I’m used to…)

As a restaurateur, design has always been a big part of my life and I love using it to influence the ambiance of my restaurants. I often aim for a blend of elegance, artistry, and coziness, typically featuring open kitchens to connect diners with the culinary experience and the incredible people creating their food. Hospitality is always paramount—we strive to ensure every guest feels warmly welcomed and leaves with great memories in our beautiful spaces.

I work closely with both artists and architects when planning a new space, because I cherish the collaborative process where ideas evolve from sketches into vibrant spaces with the help of talented collaboraters. For instance at Hav & Mar , I was thrilled to reconnect with Zebulon Perron for the interior design (we previously worked together on Marcus Montreal) and artist Derrick Adams created the Black mermaids that adorn the restaurant and became central to our identity.

I'm truly grateful for these opportunities to blend my passions and background into meaningful projects that attempt to resonate across industries. Here's to continuing this journey of creativity and hospitality! And please check out my West Elm collection here and let me know what you think!