JANUARY EVENT PHOTOS

January’s global theme: Journey

Columbus speaker: Avishar Barua

Avishar Barua is a chef who loves to poke fun at himself as much as he does at the culinary world. Born in Columbus, Ohio, to Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Avishar’s path was anything but conventional. After earning degrees in biology and psychology from Ohio State, he made the logical decision to… become a chef. His culinary journey took him from local restaurants in Ohio to the high-stakes kitchens of New York City, including stints at WD~50 and Mission Chinese Food. He went on to compete on “Top Chef” Season 18 and somehow managed to beat Bobby Flay, much to his own surprise. In 2022, he opened Joya’s Café and Agni and both restaurants were recognized as some of the best new spots in Columbus by Columbus Monthly in 2023. Avishar is passionate about improving the culinary industry, and while he’s racked up awards, including a James Beard nomination, he’s more focused on making the world a better place, one plate of food at a time.

See more photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBYJX9