Chef Lena, former Chopped winner and founder of Lena’s Asian Kitchen, is making waves beyond the television screen with her commitment to authentic Asian comfort food and a mission-driven business model. Now in partnership with Cafe Ion, Lena is set to introduce a range of grab-and-go meal options to Houston’s innovation hub. Her company, which provides employment and culinary training for domestic violence survivors, has roots in both her passion for cooking and her dedication to empowering others. To celebrate this new venture, Cafe Ion hosted a sample tasting and meet-and-greet with Chef Lena herself, where visitors discovered Lena’s Asian Kitchen’s unique flavors.

Growing up in Vietnam, Chef Lena’s love for food came from eating delicious meals. “I was always a happy child when my parents took me out to eat,” she laughs. It wasn’t until she moved to Houston in 2015 that she found herself in the kitchen, missing the comfort of homemade Asian dishes. By 2017, she enrolled in culinary school, driven by two things: a craving to bring authentic Asian comfort food to Houston, and a desire to help survivors of domestic violence—a mission born from her time volunteering at local shelters.

“When I worked at shelters, I saw survivors struggle to hold down jobs because of their trauma,” Lena shares. That realization led to Lena’s Asian Kitchen, a business that not only serves food but offers training and employment to those overcoming hardship. Winning Chopped brought new opportunities, but for Lena, the real victory is making an impact through her food and her team.

Now, she’s introducing her grab-and-go meals to Cafe Ion, bringing flavors inspired by her heritage and community-focused mission to the Ion. “I want to share our culture with everyone, and what better way than with healthy, delicious food?” she says. The grab-and-go meals are healthy options for busy patrons at the Ion—flavorful, nourishing and a little piece of home in each bite. Lena’s Asian Kitchen is 100% dairy free, nut free, gluten free and keto. Customers can pre-order on their website and pickup at Cafe Ion.

Through each meal, Lena is sparking awareness around domestic violence and creating a platform for positive change. “Giving back is my number one purpose,” she says. “Our food will light up your day and keep you going—our goal is to do that for everyone here at the Ion.”

Learn more about Lena’s Asian Kitchen and Lena’s Foundation.