“Lai" is a self-taught professional cook born and raised in the heart of New York City, one of the major food Meccas of the world. After years of working in Corporate America Lai made the bold decision to embark upon a new career and finally venture into the world of food and fine cuisine. With a newfound vision on the horizon, Lai used her melting pot of cultural backgrounds to create a fusion of Geechee and Caribbean flavors. 

Growing up, Lai spent her childhood summers with her Southern Peach maternal
grandmother from Savannah Georgia, and her maternal grandfather from South
Carolina/Savannah by way of Barbados.  The pairing of her grandparents' cultures has inspired, not only her love for the various delectable bites featured on her menu but also inspired the theme for South Island Kitchen with the Peach representing Georgia and the Electric Blue inspired by the Barbadian flag,
representing the sea and sky of Barbados.
 

While cultivating her Culinary Arts skills, Lai discovered her love for blending seasoning.
Starting with mixing her own blends to eventually learning to dehydrate fresh herbs and
vegetables to combine them into her own blends. It wouldn’t be long before friends began to
ask her to custom blend seasonings for them, and eventually, one suggested she start selling
them.