Hue-Chan Karels is a Vietnamese American chef, storyteller, and founder of Alkemē in Santa Fe—a 2024 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.

Born in Đà Nẵng and evacuated to the U.S. in 1975, she pioneers a Culture-to-Table approach, reimagining Vietnamese and Pacific Rim traditions through bold, heritage-driven cuisine.

Hue-Chan leads culinary journeys to Vietnam and is directing Nhà Ta (“Our Home”)—a documentary and cookbook exploring the Vietnamese diaspora through food and myth.