Mahdi Naim, Executive Chef of the Grand Bohemian Charleston, has been leading kitchens in fine dining establishments in New York City, Hong Kong and Amman for nearly 20 years. In 2022, Chef Mahdi moved to Charleston, SC, drawn by its beautiful charm, rich culinary history and friendly people.

Born in Amman, Jordan, Mahdi grew up watching his mother make freshly baked breads filled with cheese and meat, fermenting a colorful variety of pickled vegetables, aromatic spice blends, sun dried tomato, preserved lemon, and freshly pressed olive oil and oil cured olives. The smell of freshly baked bread, thyme and olive oil was a constant in his home.

Mahdi earned his culinary degree from the world renowned Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. He also holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Some of the formative influences in Mahdi’s career came from working in the kitchens of Morimoto, Massimo Bottura, Alain Alledretti, Gert de Mengeleer, and Andre’ Chiang.

Mahdi spends his free time with his loving wife Maryrose and two young children Naim and Nora.