The Restaurant
Founded in 2014 Olamaie has been at the forefront of Austin’s restaurant scene ever since. It offers a modern interpretation of the flavors of the South and combines creativity and technical excellence to provide guests with unforgettable experiences.
Since opening, Olamaie has received recognition and acclaim from both local and national press. It has received numerous accolades, including Austin American-Statesman's 2015, 2017, and 2019 “Best Restaurant in Austin”.
Olamaie continues to serve as a touchstone for the community in its charitable work and for the industry as a whole.
Michael Fojtasek, Founder and Executive Chef
Michael Fojtasek is the founder and executive chef of Olamaie, Maie Day, and Little Ola’s Biscuits. Michael opened Olamaie in Austin, Texas, in August 2014 after several years honing his craft at some of the best restaurants in the country. Michael was a James Beard Finalist for “Best Chef Southwest” in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs,” in 2015.
As the MaieB group has grown so have Michael’s responsibilities both culinarily, he will also be the Executive Chef for The Albert Hotel in Fredericksburg set to open in late 2024, and as a leading voice in the hospitality community both locally and nationally.
Chef Amanda Turner, Chef de Cuisine
Chef Amanda Turner is a Texas native that has spent fifteen years cooking and creating in the Austin culinary community. During her tenure she has worked for many esteemed chefs and restaurants (Uchi/ko, Odd Duck, Juniper, Jester King, Tatsu-Ya) where she has done a bit of everything including pasta, pastry, whole animal butchery and more. Currently the Chef de Cuisine at Olamaie, Turner was a James Beard semifinalist for Emerging Chef in 2022, as well as the Rising Star Chef for Star Chefs in 2023 and Tastemaker Chef of the Year for 2023. At Olamaie, Chef Turner integrates her many culinary influences (particularly her background in Japanese cuisine) and skills in a whimsical way whilst seeking to reclaim the concept of “fusion”, and continues to showcase the vibrance and depths of Austin’s flora and fauna and the versatility of modern Southern Cuisine and through the lens of the African diaspora.
Jesse Guerrero, General Manager
Jamie Baldinger, Sous Chef
Jonathan Sánchez, Pastry Sous Chef
Sam Favata, Beverage Director
Graham Rossi, Assistant General Manager
MaieB Hospitality
Based in Austin, TX, MaieB Hospitality is an independently operated restaurant and hospitality company. It strives to develop exceptional people that create unforgettable hospitality experiences and bring the community together through food and experiences. At present, MaieB Hospitality operates Olamaie, Little Ola’s Biscuits, Gimme Burger , Maie Day, and Redbud Icehouse (coming March 2024).