Chef and designer Kee Chan began his culinary career at Suntory, a prestigious international Japanese fine-dining restaurant in Boston. In the 1990s, he transferred to the Chicago branch of the same establishment. In 1996, he and his brothers founded HEAT CATERING, pioneering the first sushi catering service to supply sushi to hotels, catering companies, and supermarkets. The following year, they launched MIRAI SUSHI, which featured an upscale club on the upper level in Wicker Park. By 2001, they introduced "HEAT SUSHI," recognized as Chicago's first fresh-kill sushi restaurant.
Long before the Chicago sushi scene began to flourish, Founder and Executive Chef of Macku Sushi, Macku Chan began his career at the city’s very first sushi hotspot, Hatsuhana. After quickly ascending the ranks to executive chef, Chan went on to head up the opening team at Mirai. As Mirai’s executive chef, Macku not only put his cutting precision and artistic culinary proficiency to the test, but also perfected the art of wine and sake pairings to enhance the flavor of his creations. From Mirai, Macku went on to stun Chicago diners with the unique, “live sushi” concept at Heat. As founder and executive chef of Heat, Macku Chan took the Chicago sushi experience to the next level and continues to innovate sushi dining with Kaze’s “sushi with toppings” concept.
Born and raised in Singapore, Chef Christian Sia's culinary journey began in some of the city's finest establishments, including the top-rated Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar and the prestigious Jaan Par Andre. He later ventured to Chicago to pursue culinary studies at Kendall College before honing his skills in restaurants across Atlanta and Charlotte.
In 2013, Christian returned to Chicago to work at the Michelin-starred Moto Restaurant until the unforeseen closure before heading to Palm Springs, California, where he led the team at the renowned L’ Horizon Resort & Spa. There, he spearheaded the successful openings of Glitch Bar & Arcade and Infusion Beach Club in 2019.
In 2022, Christian joined The Press Room as the Restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine, showcasing his passion for food and cultural fusion. His culinary expertise and leadership experience have culminated in his latest venture, Jook Sing, promising an exciting new chapter in his culinary career.
Dan De Los Monteros founded DLM Photography & Design in 2009 and is based in both Chicago and Denver. Specializing in architectural, real estate, food & beverage, portrait, bands, drone, and product photography/videography. Dan graduated from SAIC (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) in 2006 with a BFA in Photography and Visual Communications.
Yuya, a Japanese American based in Chicago, is a versatile photographer and videographer specializing in fashion, music, and restaurants.
Yuya has created content with various brands such as Nike, White Claw, Pepsi, Vogue, etc., and artists such as Sara Landry, Waka Flocka, Aziz Ansari, Deadmau5, Justice, Gesaffelstein, and many other artists.
He also dabbles in music production, working in both the commercial and fashion industries. He worked various brand such as Nike, Starbucks, White Claw, Pepsi, etc.
