Stephen Conklin joined the Hai Hospitality family in 2022 as Chef de Cuisine of Uchi Houston from his previous position as Executive Chef for Bastion Collection while overseeing culinary operations at Café Leonelli and La Table. Conklin received two bachelor’s degrees from Utah State University—one in economics and one in finance. He earned his Culinary Arts diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education. Stephen gained notable and priceless experience from some of New York City’s finest restaurants: Le Bernardin, Irving Mill, and Lincoln Restaurant. Conklin finally touched down in Houston, Texas in 2019 after departing the city he had cooked his way through for 13 years.