Jamilka Borges

Executive chef of Independent Brewing Company and Hidden Harbor, raises the bar with her dedication to volunteerism as well as her culinary prowess. Borges regularly volunteers her effort and expertise to help people who need a lift. While she was transitioning from Spoon to her current position as executive chef of Hidden Harbor and Independent Brewing Company in Squirrel Hill, plus cooking dinners at the James Beard House in New York City and various other big-ticket events in Pittsburgh and around the country, Borges worked with her mother, Jenny Muniz, to raise thousands of dollars for Muniz’s charity El Buen Samaritano. The nonprofit is dedicated to providing food and services for communities affected by Hurricane Maria in Borges’ native Puerto Rico. She like to say: “I’m a chef trying to learn, promote and advocate for food access in my community”