Ann Ahmed Owner / Executive Chef

Chef Ann Ahmed’s love for cooking started at a very young age, working in the kitchen alongside her mother whenever she could. She and her family left her birth country of Laos when Ann was two years old. They lived in a Thai refugee camp until she was four, at which point they were sponsored by her great uncle to come live with him in Minnesota, which has been home ever since. Upon their arrival, her mother took multiple jobs to support their family. Because of her mom’s busy schedule, Ann rarely had time to spend with her, so whenever she was home, Ann was glued to her mother’s side, especially in the kitchen! This is where Ann’s love of cooking began, with the little time they spent together in the kitchen. After years of hard work, her mother had saved enough money to invest in a grocery store and deli with her siblings and they purchased the Lao Market on Nicollet Ave. When Ann was in fifth grade, she started working at the Lao Deli in Minneapolis. She loved it so much that in the sixth grade, she wrote her very first ten-page menu for her future restaurant. After graduating from high school, Ann shared with her mother her dream of owning a restaurant. She rejected the idea, explaining why life in the restaurant industry can be very difficult. Instead, she suggested Ann go to college and get a degree – in anything except culinary studies. As such, Ann moved to San Diego and attended San Diego State University, where she later earned a BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in history with eligibility to teach K-6 grades. She started her student teaching only to find that her heart was not in the classroom. One day, out of the blue, her mother called – she had went on a walk that morning, saw a restaurant for sale, and asked if Ann would be interested. Of course, Ann instantly said YES! Ann’s mother was planning to attend Ann’s commencement that week, and instead, headed to the bank to start the process of buying the restaurant which is now Lemon Grass.

Thirteen years later, Ann opened her second restaurant, Lat14 Asian Eatery; inspired by her love of food and desire to share culture. Mostly, she wanted to cook the food that brings people together around the table. Lat14 Asian Eatery provides diners the opportunity to eat their way along the exciting, diverse 14th parallel – without the long airplane trip. Small, shareable plates are inspired by Chef Ann Ahmed’s connections to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, and their neighboring countries, bringing their flavorful cuisines, ingredients, and cultural traditions, to deliver an exceptional culinary experience.