Food has always been more than what lands on the plate.

Chef Nelson German is the Executive Chef and Owner of Oakland’s acclaimed Sobre Mesa and alaMar Dominican Kitchen & Bar, and Executive Chef and Partner at Meski, the Afro-Ethiopian-Latin restaurant in San Francisco co-founded by Draymond Green and Guma Fassil. A proud Dominican-American born in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, Chef Nelson uses soulful, modern cuisine to tell the story of the African and Caribbean diasporas, bringing ancestral flavors and global techniques together.

In 2026, Chef Nelson was named one of TIME Magazine’s 2026 Latino Leaders, joining a distinguished group of U.S.-based Latino leaders recognized for making an impact across their industries and communities.

Trained in some of New York City’s top kitchens, Chef Nelson has become a leading voice in Afro-Latin cuisine since relocating to the Bay Area. He competed on Top Chef Season 18 and has been featured in Food & Wine, The Washington Post, Ebony, and other national outlets. He is a James Beard Foundation–recognized chef and was named one of Plate Magazine’s “Chefs to Watch.”

His first book, Caribbean Cocktails: Drinks and Bites from the Afro-Latino Diaspora, was released June 2, 2026. The book features more than 40 Caribbean cocktail recipes and 20 Afro-Latino-inspired bites rooted in Dominican heritage, pairing rum drinks, tropical flavors, modern mixology, and cultural storytelling. Designed for home bartenders and entertainers, the book brings the flavors, stories, and spirit of the Afro-Latino diaspora into the home kitchen and bar.

At the heart of Chef Nelson’s work is a belief that food and drink are about connection — bringing people together through culture, storytelling, hospitality, and the shared experience of gathering around the table.