About

Chef Lordfer Lalicon leads Kaya in Orlando’s Mills 50 district, a restaurant that has redefined Filipino fine dining through regenerative sourcing and ancestral flavors. Under his leadership, Kaya became Florida’s first Michelin Green Star awardee, a 2024 James Beard New Restaurant finalist and a 2025 James Beard Semifinalist. He integrates closed-loop systems into his operations by growing calamansi, sweet potato leaves, and other staples on-site and by forging direct partnerships with regional farmers. His cuisine is a love letter to Filipino heritage, sustainability, and the belief that flavor and ethics must share the same plate.