Pierre Thiam

Pierre Thiam is a celebrated chef, restaurateur, author, entrepreneur and environmental activist. Born and raised in Senegal, he is known for his innovative cooking style, at once modern and eclectic yet rooted in the rich culinary traditions of West Africa. He is the founder of Yolélé, which distributes African food products around the world, including fonio, a climate-friendly and nutritious ancient grain from the Sahel region of West Africa. His critically acclaimed New York restaurant Teranga, located in Harlem and in Midtown, introduces healthy fast-casual fare directly sourced from farmers in West Africa.

Thiam is the author of three cookbooks including his latest, The Fonio Cookbook. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his cooking and advocacy. He is on the board of directors for two global nonprofits, IDEO.org and SOS Sahel, and on the advisory board of the Culinary Institute of America. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife, daughter and dog, Malcom.