Chef Jeff Chanchaleune is a 2023 James Beard Foundation nominee and 2020 semi-finalist for Best Chef Southwest. He is the chef-owner of Ma Der Lao Kitchen in Oklahoma City. His homage to Laotian cuisine has earned him a spot on The New York Times‘ 2022 list of 50 Best Restaurant in America, as well as Bon Appetit’s 2022 list of 50 Best New Restaurants in America. Jeff has been in the industry his entire life. He spent most of his professional career in Japanese cuisine (20+ years) in Oklahoma City, Portland, and Chicago. The pandemic inspired him to finally cook the food of his family’s Southeast Asian culture.