Maui’s “Top Chef” Receives Governor’s Commendation

Chef Sheldon Simeon receives the governor’s commendation at the state building. Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

On Tuesday, Maui’s Chef Sheldon Simeon received a special commendation from Governor Neil Abercrombie at Hawaii’s Capital Building in Honolulu.

“Chef Simeon represented our state well as a finalist in the “Top Chef Seattle” competition,” said Abercrombie. “Today he was commended for his commitment to leadership, innovation and the use of local products, showcasing our island heritage and supporting the local industry.”

Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, Sheldon Simeon’s culinary career began at Leeward Community College’s Culinary Program. This path took  him to an internship at Walt Disney World—Florida, and  led him to Maui where he was hired at Aloha Mixed Plate in 2002. In 2003, Sheldon graduated from the Maui Culinary Academy, and has been the executive chef at Star Noodle in Lahaina for many years.

In the commendation, the governor went on to note that Simeon serves “as a great inspiration to the youth of our community.”

The governor acknowledged the state’s pride in Simeon as a chef and mentor and pointed to a recent quote by Simeon which reflected his passion for his profession and the food industry as a whole: “A chef’s emotional and physical state is reflected in his food; chefs need to put their soul and love into their dishes for diners to taste the difference.”