Chefs & Friends: Yes, Chef! featuring Zain Ismail

Chefs & Friends returns to Omni La Costa in 2026 with fresh inspiration. The evolved series brings together Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon and Executive Chef Emily Brubaker—fresh off her championship win on NBC’s Yes, Chef!—for an exclusive culinary collaboration.

Each dinner in the series showcases a shared vision: refined, seasonal cuisine inspired by the chefs’ distinct styles and the stories behind the ingredients. With surprise guests, artful plating, and an ever-evolving menu, Chefs & Friends is a celebration of culinary creativity, camaraderie, and unforgettable flavor.

Chef Zain’s menu:

Amuse

Pani Puri

spice cured hamachi, plantain puree, lychee & passion fruit pani, mango

2nd

Bouillon Cresson

chicken broth, cabbage, mushroom, watercress

3rd

Seared Diver Scallop

pickled chile , tamarind lentil jus, cilantro

4th

Shrimp & Chicken Skin Dumplings

savory tomato rougaille, crispy chickpea, mint & citrus relish

5th

Dholl Puri

confit duck, curry potato, pickle butter beans, herb chutney, cilantro blossom

6th

Black Tea Coconut Trifle

coconut cake, black tea pudding, pistachio dust, muscovado sugar tuile