Who we are
Team
The Makers
Chris Fong
Executive Chef
The culinary program at SÂM (蔘) is led by Chef-Founder Chris Fong. The first cycle is inspired by the Ngũ Bang (五幫); the five Southern Chinese communities that shaped Chợ Lớn, much of Southeast Asia, and the wider Overseas Chinese diaspora: Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka, and Hainanese. Each community brings its own culinary traditions, flavors, and stories, Chris reimagined those bar snacks through a modern bar bites lens while remaining rooted in its cultural heritage.
Gary Su
Head Bar
The beverage program is led by Gary Su, formerly of Testing Room Taipei. His first cocktail cycle is inspired by the philosophy of Root (Căn · 根), a return to his ancestral origins and an exploration of the Hoa people, their traditions, and the everyday rituals that have shaped generations before us. Gary's cocktails draw inspiration from traditional Vietnamese–Chinese tea culture and herbal botanicals, reinterpreting these traditions through modern mixology and ancient herbal infusion techniques.