Chef Profile

Helene Kennan provides a unique artistic twist to the culinary creations she’s perfected as Executive Chef of the Bon Appetit Management Company location that serves the hundreds of guests who visit the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California. Working with Kikkoman Soy Sauce and other natural flavors and ingredients, Helene enjoys creating dishes for one of Los Angeles’ leading cultural institutions.
As a young girl, Helene was first exposed to exotic foods by her aunt – who would cook traditional food from the Philippines, like lumpia. Helene remembers, “My aunt used to serve lumpia with a soy-based dipping sauce that brought the flavor of the lumpia to life.”
Turning this passion for exotic cuisines into a career, Helene studied hotel and restaurant management at Penn State University. She later undertook an apprenticeship with locally renowned Philadelphia chef George Stadler, giving her classical training in all areas of the kitchen and food service management. With positions throughout Philadelphia and California, Helene strengthened her cooking, mentoring and management skills.
Helene began to educate chefs working in the industry, and ran educational seminars in conjunction with local farmers designed to familiarize chefs with newly developed produce and their culinary application. This interest in the cultivation and creative use of indigenous seasonal foods has become her specialty.
For her Grilled Shrimp with Avocado, Sweet Corn and Soy Relish , Helene wanted to accent the natural flavor of the seafood and avocadoes and instantly thought of Kikkoman Soy Sauce. “I use Kikkoman products for consistent quality,” Helene said. “I know when I write a recipe using Kikkoman, people will be able to replicate it successfully.” In another similar fusion of fresh vegetables and shellfish, Helene uses Kikkoman Soy Sauce in her Grilled Summer Vegetables with Soy Butter and Soft Shell Crabs with Soy-Beer Batter (click here for more info.)
We thank Chef Kennan for sharing her innovative salad with us and her insights on the natural flavor enhancing abilities of Kikkoman Soy Sauce.