Sheldon Simeon

Born and raised in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, Chef Sheldon Simeon draws deep inspiration from his Filipino heritage, local upbringing, and the multiethnic flavors that define Hawaiian cuisine. He began cooking alongside his parents, a foundation that led him from Hilo High School to the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, and then on to an internship at Walt Disney World. Upon returning to Hawai‘i, he enrolled at Maui Culinary Academy, where his path as a professional chef truly took shape.

Simeon rose to national prominence as a fan-favorite finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 10 (Seattle) and again on Season 14 (Charleston)—winning the coveted Fan Favorite title both times. In 2016, he opened his first solo venture, Tin Roof in Kahului, a modern mom-and-pop lunch spot serving elevated versions of local comfort food like poke bowls, saimin, and kau kau tins. His approach—a seamless blend of innovation, nostalgia, and cultural integrity—quickly earned him a devoted following.

In 2018, Sheldon debuted Lineage, his full-service concept in Wailea, which earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nod for “Best New Restaurant” in 2019. He left Lineage in 2020 to focus on writing his debut cookbook, Cook Real Hawai‘i (Clarkson Potter, 2021), which celebrates the soulful, everyday dishes of his home islands. The book received widespread acclaim from The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Bon Appétit, The New Yorker, and more, establishing Sheldon as a leading voice in modern Hawaiian food.

Since 2022, Sheldon has been nominated three consecutive times for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific by the James Beard Foundation, a reflection of his impact on the national culinary stage and his unwavering commitment to authentic island cooking. His second cookbook, Ohana Style (Clarkson Potter, 2026), is slated for release in Spring 2026 and will explore the spirit of family and hospitality through a collection of deeply personal recipes and stories.

In 2023, Sheldon and his wife Janice took over beloved local institution Tiffany’s in Wailuku, breathing new life into the restaurant while honoring its legacy.

Sheldon has appeared on national platforms such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Saturday Morning, CNN’s Parts Unknown, Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted, and The Globe, and he hosted the acclaimed four-season Eater video series Cooking in America.

He lives in Maui with his wife Janice and their four children, continuing to cook, teach, and tell stories that celebrate Hawai‘i’s people, food, and cultural richness.