Tim Flores, raised near Chicago by Filipino immigrant parents, began his culinary career at GT Fish & Oyster before transitioning to the kitchen, where he met his future wife and business partner, Genie Kwon. Kwon, a New Orleans native, had a notable pastry career at places like Eleven Madison Park and Nobu 57. After helping open the Michelin-starred Oriole, they launched Kasama in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village in 2020, a modern Filipino restaurant and bakery. Kasama became the first Filipino restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star, earned 4 stars from the Chicago Tribune, and was named to Esquire’s Best Restaurants in America. The couple was named to Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2022, and in 2023, Flores and Kwon won the James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes award. In 2025 Kasama earned a second star for their tasting menu from the Michelin guide.