Discussion begins 6:30PM
Reception to follow
As New York City continues to solidify its status as a global epicenter for culinary innovation, a new generation of visionaries is rewriting the rules of "traditional" Asian cuisine. Join Asia Society for an intimate and insightful evening featuring Mithu Malik (Musaafer) and Jihan Lee (Nami Nori, TBD Gimbap) as they discuss the evolution of the city's gastronomic landscape with artist and writer Esther M. Choi.
We will go beyond the plate to explore how these innovators are applying a modern, metropolitan lens to their heritage. We will examine the intersection of Mithu Malik’s nomadic Indian regionalism and Jihan Lee’s sophisticated bridging of Japanese technical precision with his Korean-American roots. From forgotten spices to the reimagined Gimbap, our speakers are at the forefront of a movement that honors heritage while embracing the relentless energy of Manhattan.
Speakers
Mithu Malik, the only South Asian Woman to hold a Michelin star in the state of Texas, is also the recipient of The Houston Business Journal 2025 Diversity in Business Honorees’ Award, was born and raised in India, where frequent travel due to her father's law enforcement career exposed her to diverse cultures and cuisines. With a strong interest in biology, she pursued a career in pharmacy, becoming a certified pharmacist. However, her deep-rooted love for food, inspired by her mother’s elaborate cooking, eventually led her to shift careers.
After marrying her husband, Shammi Malik, the couple moved to Lagos, Nigeria. Disappointed by the local representation of Indian cuisine, they decided to enter the restaurant business. They initially established Nigeria’s first pizza restaurant by securing a Debonairs Pizza franchise, following Mithu’s comprehensive training in Johannesburg. Her disciplined approach, shaped by her background as a certified pharmacist, proved invaluable as they navigated the challenges of launching a food franchise in a new country.
Jihan Lee is a Chef Partner at Nami Nori, the Japanese restaurant specializing in open temaki with locations in New York’s West Village and Williamsburg, and Montclair, New Jersey. A second generation sushi chef, Jihan spent years working in notable kitchens like Morimoto and Zuma, before joining Masa under chef Masa Takayama, the only 3-star Michelin sushi chef in the country. During his time at Masa, Jihan met his Nami Nori partners – and the trio went on to open Nami Nori in Fall 2019. Nami Nori has received two stars from The New York Times and was highlighted as one of Esquire’s “Best New Restaurant in America 2020”, Robb Report's "10 Best New Restaurants in America" and Bloomberg's "Best Restaurant Dishes of 2019.”
Esther M. Choi (moderator) is an artist, scholar, and writer whose work investigates how images shape cultural value. Choi's artist book Le Corbuffet (Prestel, 2019) co-opts the cookbook format to examine the intersections of culinary culture, image culture, politics, and access, and was nominated for the James Beard Foundation Photography Award. Her photographs have appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Cultured, and The New York Times Magazine. Her critical writing has appeared in Artforum, E-Flux, and Harvard Design Magazine.
Tableau Asia: Artistry on the Contemporary Plate
Host
Tue, Apr 21, 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM (EDT)
To be shared on approval (New York)
30 attendees
Discussion begins 6:30PM
Reception to follow
As New York City continues to solidify its status as a global epicenter for culinary innovation, a new generation of visionaries is rewriting the rules of "traditional" Asian cuisine. Join Asia Society for an intimate and insightful evening featuring Mithu Malik (Musaafer) and Jihan Lee (Nami Nori, TBD Gimbap) as they discuss the evolution of the city's gastronomic landscape with artist and writer Esther M. Choi.
We will go beyond the plate to explore how these innovators are applying a modern, metropolitan lens to their heritage. We will examine the intersection of Mithu Malik’s nomadic Indian regionalism and Jihan Lee’s sophisticated bridging of Japanese technical precision with his Korean-American roots. From forgotten spices to the reimagined Gimbap, our speakers are at the forefront of a movement that honors heritage while embracing the relentless energy of Manhattan.
Speakers
Mithu Malik, the only South Asian Woman to hold a Michelin star in the state of Texas, is also the recipient of The Houston Business Journal 2025 Diversity in Business Honorees’ Award, was born and raised in India, where frequent travel due to her father's law enforcement career exposed her to diverse cultures and cuisines. With a strong interest in biology, she pursued a career in pharmacy, becoming a certified pharmacist. However, her deep-rooted love for food, inspired by her mother’s elaborate cooking, eventually led her to shift careers.
After marrying her husband, Shammi Malik, the couple moved to Lagos, Nigeria. Disappointed by the local representation of Indian cuisine, they decided to enter the restaurant business. They initially established Nigeria’s first pizza restaurant by securing a Debonairs Pizza franchise, following Mithu’s comprehensive training in Johannesburg. Her disciplined approach, shaped by her background as a certified pharmacist, proved invaluable as they navigated the challenges of launching a food franchise in a new country.
Jihan Lee is a Chef Partner at Nami Nori, the Japanese restaurant specializing in open temaki with locations in New York’s West Village and Williamsburg, and Montclair, New Jersey. A second generation sushi chef, Jihan spent years working in notable kitchens like Morimoto and Zuma, before joining Masa under chef Masa Takayama, the only 3-star Michelin sushi chef in the country. During his time at Masa, Jihan met his Nami Nori partners – and the trio went on to open Nami Nori in Fall 2019. Nami Nori has received two stars from The New York Times and was highlighted as one of Esquire’s “Best New Restaurant in America 2020”, Robb Report's "10 Best New Restaurants in America" and Bloomberg's "Best Restaurant Dishes of 2019.”
Esther M. Choi (moderator) is an artist, scholar, and writer whose work investigates how images shape cultural value. Choi's artist book Le Corbuffet (Prestel, 2019) co-opts the cookbook format to examine the intersections of culinary culture, image culture, politics, and access, and was nominated for the James Beard Foundation Photography Award. Her photographs have appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Cultured, and The New York Times Magazine. Her critical writing has appeared in Artforum, E-Flux, and Harvard Design Magazine.