Samia’s culinary journey began in 1991 when she traded her business suit for kitchen whites. She was accepted to the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education in New York City and graduated with a Blue Ribbon. Subsequently, she built her kitchen skills by apprenticing at the Quilted Giraffe, a leading New York restaurant. Graduating from that, Samia went on to work with the Michelin-starred chef, Wayne Nish, at the March Restaurant. There, she contributed to a number of their signature dishes.

After New York, Samia made a professional move to Singapore and opened one of our country’s first multi-concept restaurants, Coriander Leaf, in 2001. The restaurant gained quick recognition as one of Singapore’s best restaurants, and developed a strong cult following amongst established foodies in Singapore. In Coriander Leaf, Samia incorporated a cooking studio where she conducted culinary education and a culinary team building programme, which both have taken off with great success. Her immensely popular culinary classes included traditional and modern representations of dishes across Asia. In 2007, Samia launched The Screening Room, a five-storey venture that married her love for food and film.
“I always say if anyone wants a quick 101 on a culture, what do you do? You taste their food and you watch their movies.” Samia Ahad (Founder)

In 2008, Samia went on to publish her first cookbook, “Simply Samia”. She continued to contribute notable recipes to international publications like Saveur and Cook’s Illustrated and showcased her skills and charisma to the world on two culinary TV shows. Samia’s many talents have not gone unnoticed; in 2010, she was inducted into the Hall of Achievement at the Institute of Culinary Education’s Alumni. There, her name sits amongst notable figures such as Missy Robbins (Food & Wine Best New Chef, 2010), Allison Vines-Rushing (James Beard’s Rising Star), and renowned New York chefs Mark Murphy and Frank DeCarlo. In the following year, Samia was awarded the Spirit of Enterprise 2011 honouree for her entrepreneurial contributions.

A formidable leader and the embodiment of strength and determination, Samia Ahad’s dedication to stay ahead of the curve and enhance her diners’ experiences spearheaded The Coriander Leaf Group’s transformation throughout the years.
PLEASE NOTE:
ONCE YOU HAVE MADE YOUR BOOKING YOU WILL BE CONTACTED AND INTRODUCED TO THE TEAM TO COORDINATE YOUR EXPERIENCE.