MARY AREGONI

Chef/Panelist

Growing up in Vietnam, Mary Nguyen Aregoni was nurtured by her mother and grandmother's entrepreneurial spirit. There she experienced first-hand the power of enterprising women – pioneers before their time - who had the smarts and commitment to operate a thriving food distribution. A business led by women that brought fresh local fare to the community around them.

Despite their success, Mary and her family had to leave Vietnam when a communist regime took over abruptly. Moving around Southeast Asia, with stints in refugee camps, The Nguyen Family eventually settled in Chicago. There she established a career as a successful IT/Marketing Executive. Yet the flavors of her childhood never left her – it was in her bones.

In 2008, Mary returned to her roots to create Saigon Sisters, a Chicago based Vietnamese restaurant chain that envelops the senses and nurtures the heart. Inspired by the markets of her childhood where she and her sister would eat, play, and sample fresh food under their mother’s watchful eye. Mary’s vision is an old story with a new take. A modernized Vietnamese cuisine with Southeast Asian influences inspired by heritage and wholesomeness.

To her, it’s an honor to share the Saigon Sisters' story with the world. Her commitment to hiring and mentoring women, multi-racial, and LGBTQ employees to move her brand forward is an added-bonus that shows how much she values diversity, community, and the lessons of her past.