Draft:Jeff Chanchaleune

Jeff Chanchaleune is a Lao-American chef, restaurateur, and community leader. He is the chef-owner of Ma Der Lao Kitchen in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Chanchaleune is a James Beard Award nominee. He received his first semifinalist nod from the James Beard Awards in 2020 for a previous restaurant. Chanchaleune's menu at Ma Der Lao Kitchen focuses on traditional Laotian dishes of Southeast Asia. Chanchaleune's Ma Der has earned national accolades from the New York Times as one of 50 Best Restaurants in 2022, as well as, one of Bon Appetit magazine's 50 Best New Restaurants in the same year. He became a 2023 James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best Chef-Southwest with Ma Der Lao Kitchen, making it his second nomination. He advanced to become a finalist nominee but did not win in 2023. In January 2024, Chanchaleune received his third semifinalist nod for a James Beard Best Chef-Southwest award. In February 2024 his Laotian restaurant earned another accolade from USA TODAY as one of their Restaurants of the Year.

Ma Der Lao Kitchen opened in September of 2021.