Mara is thrilled to announce its upcoming Heritage Dinner on Thursday, November 6 at 6 pm. Heritage Dinner will showcase the legacy of Hmong cuisine and culture through the talents of local culinary visionaries Thony Yang, Diane Moua, Yia Vang, and Marc Heu.
Heritage Dinner will consist of a canapé reception followed by a seated four-course dinner with each dish designed to tell a story. Chefs will lead individual courses, reflecting their personal interpretation of traditional Hmong ingredients, cooking techniques, and flavors. These four talented chefs bring diverse experience and passion to the dinner, having each carved their own path showcasing Hmong food and culture to the Twin Cities’ culinary scene.
Reservations
Tickets for Heritage Dinner will be available on September 15, 2025.
Thony Yang
Chef de Cuisine - Mara Restaurant and Bar
Thony Yang is the chef de cuisine of Mara at the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis. At Mara, Yang focuses on creating a season-forward menu that explores the coastal towns of the Mediterranean while highlighting local and regional purveyors. Before Mara, Yang worked at Spoon and Stable, Bellecour, and Demi, refining his skills as a chef under the leadership of Gavin Kaysen.
Diane Moua
Executive Chef & Owner - Diane's Place
Diane Moua is the executive chef and owner of Diane’s Place, a full-service Hmong American restaurant and event space in Northeast Minneapolis. Prior to opening her concept, Moua worked as the executive pastry chef at Gavin Kaysen’s Soigné Hospitality Group, where she oversaw the pastry programs at Spoon and Stable, Bellecour, and Demi. In 2025, Moua was nominated as a James Beard Foundation finalist for Best Chef: Midwest.
Yia Vang
Executive Chef & Owner - Vinai
Yia Vang is the executive chef and owner at Vinai, a restaurant in Minneapolis that honors the past, present, and future of Hmong cooking. Before Vinai, Vang started Union Hmong Kitchen, which quickly became a community staple in the Minnesota dining scene. Most recently, Vinai was on TIME’s 2025 World’s Greatest Places, and Vang’s series, Relish, won a 2025 James Beard Foundation Media Award for Lifestyle Visual Media.
Marc Heu
Co-founder & Executive Pastry Chef - Marc Heu Patisserie Paris
Marc Heu is the co-founder and executive pastry chef of Marc Heu Patisserie Paris, a French Hmong pastry shop in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood. Before opening the patisserie, he worked at the renowned Dominic Ansel Bakery under the leadership of Ansel in New York City. In 2024, Heu was selected as a semi-finalist for the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef/Baker.