Sawako Okochi is co-chef and co-own­er of Shalom Japan in Brook­lyn, New York, with her hus­band, Aaron Israel. Sawa’s vibrant culi­nary back­ground is root­ed in her upbring­ing in Hiroshi­ma, Japan. She has worked at some of the finest restau­rants in New York City, includ­ing Chanterelle, Annisa, and The Good Fork. She also pro­duced the Otakara Sup­per Club, which was fea­tured in the New York Times, and appears in Women Chefs of New York and The Jew­ish Cook­book.