Guest Chef: Chef Ann Ahmed
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Discover the vibrant and deeply personal flavors of Southeast Asia with Chef Ann Ahmed—James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur recognized for redefining Laotian American cuisine in the United States. Drawing from her journey from Laos to the Midwest, Ann’s cooking tells a powerful story of heritage, resilience, and cultural expression through bold, layered flavors.
Join us for an immersive culinary weekend at The Loren at Pink Beach, blending community, culture, and cuisine.
Four-Course Dinner with Wine Pairings
June 20 | 7:00pm
$255 per guest
Farm Tour & Cooking Demonstration
June 21 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
$125 per guest
All prices subject to 17% gratuities.
ABOUT CHEF
Chef Ann Ahmed is a nationally recognized chef, restauranteur, and cultural voice reshaping the Laotian-American culinary narrative in the Midwest. She is the founder of Kamma Hospitality, a growing hospitality group named in honor of her grandmother, and the Chef & Owner of three acclaimed restaurants: Lat14 Asian Eatery, Khâluna, and Gai Noi.
Born in Laos, Ann came to the United States as a child with her mother, a refugee sponsored by Ann’s uncle in Minnesota. Ann’s culinary journey began in her mother’s kitchen, cooking alongside the women in her family who survived war-torn Laos and rebuilt their lives in Minnesota. At 25, she opened her first concept, Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine, which helped introduce Laotian flavors to local diners through a vibrant and personal lens. Though Lemon Grass has since closed, it set the stage for the success that followed.
In 2018, she launched Lat14, an elevated concept inspired by the cuisines of countries along the 14th latitudinal parallel, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Khâluna, which opened in 2021, offers a serene and luxurious dining experience rooted in Southeast Asian flavors and hospitality, and was named one of Eater’s “Best New Restaurants in America” in 2022. And in 2023, she opened Gai Noi, named after a beloved variety of sticky rice native to northern Laos, where her family is from. The restaurant has quickly become a national standout, earning a place on the New York Times’ “Best Restaurants of 2023” list in its first year.