Reem Assil is an award-winning Palestinian-Syrian speaker and chef residing in Oakland, California who works at the nexus of cuisine, community, and social justice. Reem employs Arab hospitality as a strategy to develop a strong, resilient community.
Reem creates her vision for a more socially and economically equal world by combining a lifelong battle for justice with nearly 20 years of nonprofit and food business experience.
Reem has received numerous honours, including the following:
James Beard Foundation semifinalist in Outstanding Chef in 2022, and semifinalist in Best Chef: West in 2018 and 2019.
The "2018 Chef of the Year" according to Thrillist.
The "2018 Chef of the Year" according to San Francisco Magazine.
"2017 Rising Star Chef" according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"2019 Rising Star Restauranteur" from Star Chefs.
Reem's California was also given the following names:
The "2018 Top 10 New Restaurants of the Year" according to Food & Wine.
The San Francisco Chronicle's "2019 Top 100"
The Mercury News' "Bay Area's Best 50 Restaurants"
"2019 Best Middle Eastern Restaurant" according to the East Bay Express.
Oakland Townie's "2019 Small Business of the Year"
Reem is passionate about three things: food, community, and social justice.
Reem uses food as a tool to summon the key virtue of her Arab culture — hospitality — in order to construct a strong, resilient, and connected community.
She combines her childhood experience fighting for justice with over two decades of professional expertise in charities and the food industry to create a more socially and economically just world.
Published by She Business Time