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.