First of all, I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. It may come as a surprise, but Houston is often cited as the most diverse city in the United States! Adding to Houston’s rich cultural history, my parents both immigrated from different countries; my mother is from Johannesburg, South Africa, and my father is from Beirut, Lebanon. It’s no stretch to say that my parents come from very different cultures. Growing up in such a broadly diverse environment often left me wondering where I fit in.
My parents both went to culinary school, and I definitely inherited their love for food. My favorite TV show growing up was Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and my childhood dream was to eat my way around the world. That’s not to say that there isn’t great food in Houston - if you’re ever in town, make sure to try a bowl of my favorite Vietnamese noodle soup, Pho. My love for food has carried into the present, and stuffing myself full of ramen was high up on my to-do list when I traveled to Tokyo!
Even though Houston was filled with people from different backgrounds, I had trouble finding anyone who felt like me. Having a defined culture and community felt like a secret club that all of my friends were a part of, yet I had somehow missed the invite.
