“We are a group of creatives and third culture kids who decided to create the Asian Night Market we wanted to see in Austin—a shared meet-up and economic space for chefs, artists, makers, pop-up folx, and community organizations.”
Ava Pendleton
Austin Kuih Co.
Since 2021, Ava has offered off-the-beaten-path dining experiences in Austin, Texas via her pop-up, Austin Kuih Co. She often incorporates regionalized and “agak-agak” versions of family recipes from her Indonesian and Malaysian American heritage, as well as her own creations. She specializes in unique menus and beverage pairings for special occasions and celebrations and private dining.
Ava is passionate about community-building through food, and prior to Hawk Luck, curated the Austin edition of Baker’s Box, a collaboration with With Warm Welcome showcasing 18 AAPI Austin chefs and bakers to benefit Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI).
Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI)
AACHI is a nonprofit that serves the local Asian community in Austin by enhancing public health and well-being through language-specific education, advocacy, and healthcare navigation services.
Nicolai McCrary
Penang Shack
Penang Shack started as a one-time fundraiser event to raise money for the Austin Justice Coalition in 2020, by cooking food that Nicolai grew up with from his family in Penang, Malaysia. These days, it’s a series of events that occur all around Austin—from street food pop-ups to tasting menu dinners—all with the goal of celebrating Malaysian flavors and dishes, with the occasional Texas twist.
Sakif Khan
Goodjinn
Sakif Khan is a seasoned chef with extensive experience in pop-ups and catering. With a meticulous attention to detail and a passion for crafting creative takes on traditional dishes, he’s worked to build his culinary repertoire. From his experience in private events to high-profile gatherings, Chef Khan has gathered the skills necessary to throw one hell of a party.
