Reem's journey of love and Courage

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.

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• The "2018 Chef of the Year" according to San Francisco Magazine.

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• "2017 Rising Star Chef" according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

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• "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