ROOTED IN THE FEELING OF BEING AT HOME

At Haema Hospitality we bring curated culinary events to you. With backgrounds in top New York City and Hudson Valley restaurants, Hannah and SJ combine professional execution with creative food and genuine hospitality.

Two women, one older with gray hair and one younger wearing a baseball cap, standing behind a table with food, smiling at the camera. The woman on the right is holding a black plate with small food portions, and there are more food items on the table in front of them.
Outdoor culinary events and catering chef, Hannah Wong of Haema, cooking on an open fire in the Hudson Valley.
Two people dressed as Mario and Luigi characters from the Super Mario franchise, with fake mustaches, standing back-to-back with arms crossed in a cozy, rustic restaurant interior.
Chef, Hannah Wong in an apron holding a plate of cooked food in a professional kitchen.
People gathered in a living room with a large wooden table filled with food, including salads, chips, and fruits, and a centerpiece of yellow flowers, at a social gathering or party. 
The Name

Hippocampus haema is the scientific identification of the wild Korean seahorse. It is also a close homonym for the Icelandic word heima, which means “at home.”

The Team

Partners & co-operators Hannah Wong & Sarah Jane (SJ) McLaughlin met while opening The Aviary in Kinderhook, NY in 2022. SJ was born and raised in the upper Hudson Valley, with 20+ years of experience in the industry, including running the acclaimed New World Bistro Bar in Albany for over ten years. As the opening GM & bar manager of The Aviary, SJ designed the restaurant’s beverage program & ran the floor with her trademark humor, grace & effortless hospitality. After graduating culinary school in 2012, Hannah honed her culinary skills in NYC at renowned restaurants such as Daniel Boulud’s dB bistro Moderne, Gramercy Tavern and Battersby, while also doing stints in private events and catering. After helping restauranteur Yen Ngo open Van Đa, a modern Vietnamese restaurant in the East Village, Hannah moved to upstate New York in 2021 to serve as the opening Executive Chef of The Aviary and Morningbird.

The Vision

We are excited to share our unique blend of talents with you! While we look for a brick & mortar, we are available for small private events & pop ups. Please use our contact form to get in touch, or email haemahospitality@gmail.com.

The Food

Expect an eclectic & creative menu of street food-inspired dishes from different parts of Asia! Our dishes are designed with our local community of purveyors & farmers in mind, as we strive to source seasonally from the Hudson Valley whenever possible.

The FARMs

We are blessed to have access to high-quality seasonal ingredients grown and produced in the Hudson Valley. Many of our farmers are not just collaborators but awesome and dear friends, and we believe our food reflects these intimate relationships. Among those we work with: Blue Star Farm, Veritas Farms, MX Morningstar Farm, Farmstead Hudson, Tivoli Mushrooms, Kinderhook Farm, Lovers Leap Farm, Gentle Time Farm.