Chef Amber Lin mixes fashion and food at Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
Fashion Plate (Sponsored)
Bolognese and your white T by Alexander Wang shirtdress. A splash of pinot noir and your suede booties. That to-die-for, but unfortunately unsteady, chocolate ganache cake and your new Jimmy Choo bag.
When fashion meets food, the results can be disastrous. That is, unless you are talking about Amber Lin.
The fashionista-slash-foodie traveled the world as a fashion PR executive before trading haute couture for hot cuisine. Soon she'll be showcasing her tasty and stylish dishes at the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Read on to learn more about her, how you can meet her and other amazing women chefs, farmers, and mixologists at the ultra-chic "Girls Got Game +1" brunch on the beach (for free!)
You majored in fashion marketing at the Milano Fashion Institute in Italy. How did you end up in the culinary arts?
I was a Marketing & PR manager for many fashion brands in Taiwan such as Valentino, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and others. I traveled to London, Milan and Paris every year for Fashion Week. But I fell in love with food and wine while studying in Italy. My roommate was a chef who opened the door to culinary arts for me.
How does your fashion background help inspire your cooking?
I absorbed a sense of beauty and creativity from all the talented designers and I channel it into dishes that are beautiful and unique.
What are you most looking forward to in your visit to the islands for the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival?
I have to say everything! It’s my first time in Hawaii, and I’m super looking forward to the beach and hula. You may find me trying that dance on the beach at sunset.
You're known for mixing and matching East and West flavors and ingredients. Can you share an example of your signature kind of dish?
One of my most popular recipes is the Oriental Beauty Tea Tiramisu. Taiwan is very famous for producing some of the highest quality tea in the world. One of my favorites is the Oriental Beauty, so I mix and match the flavors with the classic Italian tiramisu. And I gotta say, it’s the best dessert ever.
What can we look forward to from you at the "Girls Got Game + 1" event at the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival?
It’s a surprise. I’ll be using local ingredients with a little touch of Oriental flavors. Meet me there.
Amber Lin will cook alongside Anita Lo, Jacqueline Lau, Dominique Crenn and many more at the “Girls Got Game + 1” event on September 8 at Shor at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa.
Lei Chic and the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival are giving away two tickets to this star-chef studded event. Enter by August 16.
To buy tickets, or to learn more about the one-time-only experiences starring more than 75 internationally acclaimed chefs, three master sommeliers, 19 winemakers, nine mixologists, a sake brewer and a brewmaster, click here.
