Reem Assil

Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef based in Oakland, CA. She is the owner of Reem’s California, a nationally acclaimed restaurant, inspired by her passion for Arab street corner bakeries and the vibrant communities that surround them. Reem was a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: West in 2018 & 2019, Thrillist's and San Francisco Magazine’s “2018 Chef of the Year", San Francisco Chronicle's “2017 Rising Star Chef” and StarChefs "2019 Rising Star Restauranteur". Prior to her culinary career, Reem spent a decade as a community and labor organizer and brings her experience in building community through her food enterprises, believing in the power of food to build strong resilient and connected communities.