Guests are invited to enjoy a fun evening dining, sipping, and learning as Chef Steve Jou prepares a four-part small plate menu. Participants will learn new recipes and taste freshly prepared courses paired with wine.
Schedule: Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Fee: $100 (Members $95)
Deadline: One week before session
About Chef Steve Jou
Chef Steve Jou was born and raised in Taiwan, surrounded by the rich traditions of Chinese cooking. For him, food has always been more than just nourishment—it is a passion that has shaped his life from the very beginning. Some of his earliest memories are of his home filled with the warm, comforting smells of his family’s cooking, sparking a love for the art and soul behind every dish he creates.
His journey truly began with his grandfather, a bold entrepreneur who moved the family to Incheon, Korea, nearly 70 years ago. There, he opened Pyng-Ho, a bustling Chinese restaurant that became an iconic gathering place, serving up to 1,200 guests at a time. Growing up in that vibrant kitchen, Steve absorbed everything—the skills, the flavors, the rhythm of a bustling restaurant in full swing. Those experiences formed the foundation of his culinary career.
The family’s story took another turn when they moved to Costa Rica. Steve spent two unforgettable years there, discovering new ingredients and blending fresh flavors into his cooking—bridging two cultures that transformed his culinary creations to another level.
However, his appetite to learn more eventually led him to the U.S., where he spent ten transformative months in San Francisco, honing his craft and expanding his culinary creativity. It wasn’t until he found himself in the warm, welcoming community of Decatur, Georgia, that everything truly came together.
On December 26, 1979, Steve opened Pyng Ho in Decatur—a tribute to his grandfather and the generations of culinary tradition that shaped him. Over the next 40 years, Pyng Ho became more than just a restaurant; it became a home for the community, a place where authentic Chinese flavors met the innovation of his past in Costa Rica, Korea, and San Francisco, where countless memories were made around the table.
When Pyng Ho closed its doors on December 21, 2023, it marked the end of an era—but also the start of something new.
Now, Steve has embraced a fresh chapter as a personal chef, bringing his decades of experience and deep love for cooking to a more intimate level. Every dish he creates reflects his journey—from Taiwan to Korea, Costa Rica, and the U.S.—blending tradition with new inspiration to bring joy to every meal.
As he moves forward, he carries with him the legacy of Pyng Ho and all the lessons he has learned along the way. His passion for cooking is as strong as ever, and he is excited for this next adventure—connecting with people in new, personal ways and celebrating the universal language of food and the happiness it brings to life.
