Our Team

Intentional Hospitality

At Ama, we believe that the most profound nourishment begins with the people behind the plate. Our restaurant is an homage to the caregivers and mentors who first taught us how to feed and nurture a community. Led by the James Beard-nominated team from Comfort Kitchen, our crew is a collective of storytellers, artists, and hospitality professionals dedicated to reclaiming ancestral techniques and celebrating underappreciated ingredients. Our team works with a shared intention: to create a space in Allston where global flavors meet local soul, and where every guest feels like they’ve finally come home.

Shelley Nason
Culinary Director

Chef Shelley brings an abundance of care and creativity to the table, spearheading the research, development, and testing of all menu items and leading our catering and private event efforts. She is deeply committed to bringing food forward in ways people haven't thought about before, developing dishes that tell the story of their history, create connections, and beautifully transcend cultures. Shelley ensures every bite reflects the stories and roots we honor.

Renato Rodriguez
Food & Beverage Director

Renato is our Director of Food and Beverage who leads our operations with focused care and precision. Leveraging over 15 years of executive experience, he possesses deep expertise in directing all F&B operations—from managing budgets and inventory to achieving sustainable profitability targets for our restaurants and bars. Renato excels at leading large teams, cultivating exceptional dining and guest experiences, and ensuring every detail, from compliance to service flow, is managed with reliability and warmth.

Rachael Collins
Chef de Cuisine

Chef Rachael is a seasoned culinary professional defined by technical precision and mentorship. With expertise in both culinary and pastry arts—including a formative tenure at Juliet Restaurant—she specializes in blending creativity with operational efficiency. Her mastery of menu development, butchery, and cost management ensures the kitchen remains both artistic and sustainable. A two-time cancer survivor, Rachael’s resilience informs her disciplined leadership. She is also the proud mother of her curious toddler, Frida, and is dedicated to balancing the industry’s high-octane environment with a vibrant family life.

Jen LaForge
GM/Beverage Director

Jen LaForge has been immersed in the hospitality industry since claiming Boston as her home in 2008. In that time, her focus has been primarily in the cocktail sphere. For the past decade Jen was the general manager of Blossom Bar, curating the bar program and leading restaurant operations. More recently she has expanded her reach with an independent venture, Freepour Hospitality; a food & beverage project exploring the boundaries of the hospitality experience within the city of Boston through food & beverage consulting and pop-up activations.

Ashanti Davis
Digital Storyteller

Ashanti knows that the best stories are built on care. As Digital Storyteller, she weaves this understanding into every frame and narrative across social media, illuminating the restaurant’s gift of nourishment and community as the ultimate act of care. With over a decade as a caregiver—both within her own family and professionally as a nanny—she's learned that true caregiving lives in the small gestures: the meal made with someone in mind, the quiet presence that says "I see you," and the ritual that transforms the mundane into something sacred. Her work reveals the delicate choreography of hospitality, where every element works to make people feel held, seen, and cared for around the table.

Biplaw Rai
Founder

As a Nepali-born culinary entrepreneur and CEO, Biplaw's mission is deeply rooted in building community through food. With a passionate commitment to culture and connection, he co-creates intentional, collaborative spaces where people can gather and feel a sense of belonging. Biplaw advocates for equity in the food industry, using his platform to educate audiences on community-building and the powerful intersection of cuisine and culture. His work extends to being a Restaurant Fellow for the Boston Ujima Project, helping to build cooperative wealth within working-class communities of color.

Nyacko Pearl Perry
Founder

Nyacko is a transformational change leader who fosters a soulful community by exploring how groups and social systems thrive. Drawing on over a decade of experience as an organizational development consultant and executive coach, she is committed to helping our organization operate with profound equity and intention. At Comfort Kitchen and throughout the group, Nyacko focuses on the heart of our operations: nurturing strong teams, developing sustainable business strategies, and building foundational success for our long-term growth.

Join Our Team

Ready to bring your love for hospitality to the table?Click the button below to submit your details and becomepart of the Ama team.