Top Chef Season 18 Headshot Sasha Gruman

Sara Hauman

HOMETOWN: Vista, CA

CURRENT CITY OF RESIDENCE: Portland, OR

OCCUPATION/PROFESSION: Head Chef, Soter Vineyards

Chef Sara grew up in Vista, CA, a small town in north San Diego County. After graduating high school, Sara moved to the south of Spain where food became an obsession and ultimately fueled her decision to return to the states to attend culinary school. At the age of 22, Sara relocated to San Francisco and worked with Brandon Jew at Bar Agricole which shaped her simple approach to food. In 2013, Sara returned to Spain to work at famed restaurant Asador Etxebarri. This experience propelled Sara into her first head chef position at Huxley in San Francisco where she garnered many accolades and awards, including a 3-star review from the San Francisco Chronicle, Eater Young Guns, Zagat 30 under 30, and a James Beard semi-finalist Rising Star Chef in 2016 and 2017. Chef Sara was also named Rising Star Chef for the San Francisco Chronicle while working as chef de cuisine under Melissa Perello at one-Michelin starred restaurant Octavia and also reconnected with Brandon Jew at one-Michelin starred restaurant Mister Jiu’s. She currently works as the head chef at Soter Vineyards in Carlton, OR and resides in Portland.