Kai Molica’s journey from coffee counter to Chez Philippe Photography by Elly Weisenborn Kaia “Kai” Molica’s ascent in the culinary world has been rapid—but it doesn’t feel accidental. Talk to Kai for even a few minutes and a pattern emerges: curiosity, repetition, and a willingness to start at the bottom and stay long enough to learn. This 26-year-old rising star from Springfield, Missouri, has been working in Memphis since 2019, starting out as a barista at The Hub.