James Beard Foundation Thanksgiving Holiday Table Winner: Lena Le
Lena Le found her way to food in a roundabout way. She spent her high school and college years in the United Kingdom before returning to Vietnam to help with the family business of importing and exporting scrap metal. She followed her parents' wishes and began a career in math and business before turning her attention to teaching English (after obtaining two qualified teaching certificates from Cambridge University and American Institutes).
She spent five years teaching English and cultures to all ages and opened her own English Center. "There, we did not just learn and share the language," she said, "but also we did a lot of social work and charity events to raise funds for orphanages and abused women and children." Her happiest times would be when, after hours, she would cook for herself.
Le relocated to the United States to be with her husband and continued to teach English online and through YouTube. She plans to continue teaching, hoping to have her own cooking show where she can teach viewers about Vietnamese Cuisine, how it evolved over time and how it is influenced by other cuisines and hoping to one day have her own restaurant.
"First and foremost, it is going to be a huge honor for me to cook for James Beard Foundation, so the experience is unspeakable," said Le. "I hope to expand my networking with fellow students as well as chefs and/or James Beard Foundation's members."
For more information about the event, please visit our James Beard Foundation Thanksgiving Holiday Table page.
Lena Le Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Houston
Program Areas
Baking & Pastry
Use your talent and passion to turn desserts into works of art. You’ll explore everything from plating to preparing confections to managing a commercial kitchen.
Culinary Arts
Starting with fundamentals like kitchen tools and culinary techniques, you’ll explore more than 20 of the most popular international flavors and techniques.
Culinary Management
Prepare to run both the kitchen and the front of the house, using your passion for food and your head for business to create a memorable dining experience.
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