Sea of Antiquity

Ippy Aiona is a chef, cookbook author, and Emmy Award–winning television host whose passion for food began at a young age, working in his dad’s Hawaiian restaurant and his mom’s Italian restaurant. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco, he went on to earn numerous accolades, including being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Food & Wine and winning the International Iron Chef competition. He is the owner of two restaurants in his hometown on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and recently released his newest cookbook, Growing Up Hapa, alongside the second season of his award-winning series, Eating Our Roots. With a classic foundation in French cuisine and deep roots in Hawaiian and Italian food, Ippy’s diverse culinary background allows him to push boundaries while honoring tradition.

Master Foodie™ Mara Papatheodorou is a nationally established entertaining specialist. As a culinary specialist and historian, she highlights the diverse stories and connections of cuisine and culture worldwide through facts, flavors, flair and folklore. As a 12-year editor at Bon Appétit Magazine, Mara scouted and produced the “Entertaining with Style” section that highlighted how real people entertain around the world. She was the producer of their award-winning annual international Special Collector’s Editions that highlight Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Mediterranean Islands and the British Isles. She works as a Tastes & Traditions expert with food companies and Master Chefs developing recipes, menus and promotional consumer campaigns.