Who We Are
Rose Previte: Owner, Chef, Entrepreneur, Author
Rose opened her first restaurant, Compass Rose, inspired by spending three years traveling to over thirty countries while living in Russia. She later opened Maydan to popular and critical acclaim, which was named one of the “Best New Restaurants in America” in Bon Appétit, Eater, FOOD & WINE, and GQ, nominated by the James Beard Foundation for both Best New Restaurant and Outstanding Wine Program, and the first Middle Eastern restaurant in the U.S. to receive a Michelin Star in 2020. She is author of the cookbook Maydan: Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond and last year won "Restaurateur of the Year” from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. Additionally, Rose co-founded Go There Wines, a company aiming to disrupt the global wine industry by introducing innovative wines made by women and underrepresented winemakers from lesser-known wine-making regions.
Sashi Jayatileke : Co-founder, Entrepreneur, and Food Enthusiast
Sashi, an avid fan of good food, wine, and conversation, met Rose in Russia many years ago. Originally from Sri Lanka, her passion for food and travel naturally made her a regular at Compass Rose. The opportunity to partner with Rose on her newest venture in DC to build community and gather is a natural extension of her work at USAID.
Sashi has worked across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, acting as a trusted advisor to major donors and investors. Her expertise lies in figuring out how to structure deals and share risks so that capital flows into underserved markets—proving that commercial returns and positive development impact can go hand-in-hand. She is driven by a deep commitment to finding scalable, market-based solutions that enhance resilience in communities worldwide.