Ana Sortun & Chris Kurth

Photo Credit: Christopher Churchill

2023

K. Dun Gifford “Local Hero” Award

Hailed as one of the country’s “most creative fusion practitioners,” Ana Sortun was named the Best Chef Northeast by the James Beard Foundation in 2005 and has been lauded as “deeply inventive ” by the New York Times, and “a culinary genius” by Boston Magazine and in Saveur. In 2015, 2016 and 2017 she was a James Beard semi-finalist for Outstanding Chef. In 2020 she was a James Beard finalist for Best Chef, general excellence.

Trained at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine de Paris, Sortun opened Moncef Medebs Aigo Bistro in Concord, and then honed her skills at 8 Holyoke and Casablanca in Harvard Square. She opened Oleana in 2001 where her creative take on the rustic-traditional cuisines of the Middle East and her interpretation of the flavors of Turkey continue to receive rave reviews.

Ana and her business partner, Executive Pastry Chef Maura Kilpatrick, opened Sofra Bakery & Café in 2008. Then, in 2013, Ana, with chef Cassie Piuma, opened Sarma, a Turkish-style meze tavern. 

Siena Farms, owned by Ana’s husband, Chris Kurth and named for their daughter, provides produce to the restaurants and underscores her commitment to fresh ingredients and healthy food. Ana is also involved with Oldways Preservation Trust which fosters good health by supporting the cultural food traditions of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. 

Farmer Chris Kurth got hooked on farming in the mid-90's as a student of biology, philosophy and environmental studies at Williams College, and never turned back.  He loves growing food on the Massachusetts farmland he grew up on, and is so touched by all the support the farm has felt over the years from family, friends, and our amazing community of customers.  When not bouncing between staff meetings, office duties, and field tours, Farmer Chris loves to cultivate carrots for 8 hours straight; bring surprise veggies home for Chef Ana to cook with; watch their daughter Siena ride her horse Legacy around the farm; roughhouse with Legacy's best friend Aggie the Cow; and go on field romps with Farm Pup Rory!