Ayesha Nurdjaja
AYESHA NURDJAJA, CHEF/PARTNER, SHUKA + SHUKETTE
A Brooklyn native of Italian-Indonesian heritage, Ayesha Nurdjaja’s entrepreneurial spirit first led her to pursue a business degree at Pace University. Shortly after receiving her degree, Ayesha realized food was her true passion and subsequently enrolled in the Institute of Culinary Education. She worked her way up the ranks at various New York City restaurants including Lidia Bastianich’s Felidia and Missy Robbins’ A Voce before opening her first restaurant, Shuka, in SoHo with Vicki Freeman and Marc Meyer of The Bowery Group in 2017. There she earned a devoted following for her vibrant Eastern Mediterranean fare. After stepping into the Culinary Director role for the restaurant group, Ayesha opened Shukette in 2021 as Chef/Partner, to rave reviews. The restaurant was named among the top 100 restaurants in New York City by Pete Wells of the New York Times in 2023. She was recognized as a James Beard Award: Best Chef New York semifinalist in 2023 and finalist in 2022.
When she’s not at the restaurants, Ayesha enjoys a nice glass of gin, traveling everywhere from the Amalfi Coast to the Aegean Sea and discovering antique pieces for her ever-expanding jewelry collection.
