Maya Okada EricksonMaya Erickson

A San Francisco native, Pastry Chef Maya Okada Erickson grew up with a passion for cooking and a love for homegrown ingredients. Her time in the Bay Area saw her spearhead the pastry program at a number of acclaimed restaurants including AQ and Lazy Bear, the former of which she helped receive their two Michelin stars. After leaving San Francisco she came to Portland, Oregon where she took on the pastry program for the trailblazing and sought after restaurant Langbaan. The desserts she makes represent both her love for her Japanese heritage as well as her inherent playfulness, quirk and love for unexpected and unusual flavor combinations. Her top accomplishments include a place on Zagat’s “30 Under 30 Best Young Innovative Chefs” list, a nomination for Food and Wine’s “Best New Pastry Chef”, SF Chronicle’s “Rising Star Chef”, and Star Chef’s “Rising Star Chef”.