Chef Diana Tandia's culinary story begins in Northwest Africa, in Mauritania, and flows through some of New York City's most celebrated kitchens. She arrived in the United States to pursue a college degree, found work as a waitress at the legendary French restaurant Daniel, and fell in love with the restaurant business. That pivot set the course for a 20-year career.
After culinary school, she trained under Daniel Boulud, then moved on to Jean-Georges. She spent time traveling through Asia, studying regional cuisines with the same rigor she'd applied to French technique. When she returned, her mission crystallized: to give her home continent its proper place on the culinary map.







