Being Brown and Bold

Cheetie Kumar is the chef/owner of Ajja, a restaurant in Raleigh's Five Points neighborhood that draws inspiration from the diverse foodways and cultures, vibrant spices, and cooking techniques of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and beyond. Ajja opened in June 2023 and is a James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. Ajja was also named an Esquire Best New Restaurant and Eater's Best New Carolinas Restaurant.  An India- and Bronx-raised Southerner and musician, Cheetie earned two James Beard Foundation Award nominations (and five semifinalist nods) for “Best Chef: Southeast” for her multi-cultural menus that blended the flavors of South Asia and the surrounding regions with local agriculture at the beloved Garland, which closed in 2022. Ajja builds on the legacy of Garland and continues telling the rich story of North Carolina's growers, farmers and purveyors in a vibrant indoor-outdoor neighborhood restaurant. Cheetie is active in food advocacy and serves on the board of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, the Southern Foodways Alliance and several North Carolina-based organizations. In fall 2023, Cheetie joined World Central Kitchen's Chef Corps, a global network of culinary leaders who champion World Central Kitchen's work providing fresh meals following crises.

The Mantey twins are a set of identical twins based in Ohio. Moving to the U.S. from Ghana in 2014, this dynamic duo has built an impressive social media presence with an estimated 1.6 million followers. Additionally, one of them is a future medical doctor and the other an engineer? From dancing and singing to photoshoots and modeling, the Mantey Twins bring an air of excitement, confidence, and joy to all they do, pairing talent with wonderful personalities and authenticity in their craft. Instagram TikTokArticle: Youtube - And Follow the host: Jes on IG https://www.instagram.com/jessoulfood/https://www.instagram.com/jessoulfood/

Maya Kaimal is an entrepreneur & Cook book author who has been an early inspiration for the South Asian culinary field in the US. Raised in Boston then Boulder, Maya's passion for food and cooking blossomed at a young age. From watching Julia Child's The French Chef with her mother, Lorraine, to tasting her father Chandran's vibrant South Indian dishes, Maya's interest in food was piqued. Her curiosity in spice, taste and cooking developed during trips to her father's home in Kerala as Maya learned to cook with her Aunty Kamala. Maya worked at various magazines in New York and she saw an extraordinary gap between what she grew up eating and what the western palate thought Indian food was. One realization and three cookbooks later, Maya's desire to educate and create hasn't stopped. She is now dedicated to making Indian food that's accessible to Americans, but true to her roots. In 2003, Maya launched her namesake company with her husband, Guy Lawson, out of their Brooklyn apartment after seeing a lack of quality Indian products in grocery stores. With her collection of family recipes, she works to create convenient Indian food that tasted as good as homemade. Maya lives in Upstate New York with her husband, twin daughters, and their noisy dog Instagram: @mayakaimal Website: https://www.mayakaimal.com/ To follow Jes, go to IG @jessoulfood

Lisa Mattam is the Founder and CEO of Sahajan, the leading Ayurvedic, clean beauty brand. Since founding the brand in 2015, Lisa has grown it into a global force with an international presence. . In 2023, she spearheaded Sahajan's global partnership with leading luxury hotels: The St. Regis, The Ritz, J.W. Marriott, and W Hotels, placing it as the exclusive skincare brand in 400 properties worldwide. In 2024, Sahajan launched at Sephora Canada becoming its first Ayurvedic Skincare brand. Under Lisa's leadership, Sahajan has repeatedly been recognized for its excellence, most recently receiving awards such as the 2023 Cosmopolitan Clean Beauty Award and a 2023 Oprah Daily Editor's Choice Award. Both Lisa and Sahajan have become media fixtures, featured in outlets including Vogue, PopSugar, Glamour and more, with Forbes Magazine dubbing Lisa a “pioneer in the beauty space,” for bringing Ayurvedic beauty to the forefront. Previously, Lisa spent over a decade working in Pharmaceuticals, which inspired her dual approach to Sahajan, blending clinical science with the power of Ayurveda—an integral part of her South Indian heritage. Which is why I am so excited to have this conversation. And outside of work, Lisa lives in Toronto with her husband and her two children. Website: https://www.sahajan.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/sahajanskincare/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sahajanskincare Follow Jes on IG for more podcast info:  @jessoulfood 

Meherwan Irani (Chai Pani) & Vishwesh Bhatt (Snackbar) are both James Beard Award winners for their restaurants, chef abilities and cookbook. They are also a voice for the South Asian community as they have brought regional and personal Indian flavors at the forefront of culinary conversations. Local ingredients, ancient techniques and aromatic spices have made their kitchens some of the most popular in the country. They share their stories of growing up with cultures from several parts of India and the world. Listen to a couple of friends as they share light and serious moments of their lives and their careers. IG: @kissmybhatt1 , @snackbaroxford @meherwanirani @spicewalla https://botiwalla.com/ Follow Jes for more Podcast info and foodie fun  @jessoulfood 

Sajani Amarasiri is the founder of Kola Goodies. She is an immigrant female founder on a mission to create a more culturally representative and equitable wellness industry, bringing together the best of her roots in Sri Lanka and life in America. Sajani was born and raised in Sri Lanka and came to the US at 18 for college, then worked in building tech supply chains at Microsoft and Amazon. She leveraged that experience with her unique insights to her culture to create the first wellness company to directly source from, and give back to the communities today's trendy ingredients and rituals originate from. She founded Kola Goodies which, directly sources from small farmer collectives in South Asia, IF you are not following her on the socials you need to because she is such a delight. Enjoy Kola Goodies: https://www.kolagoodies.com/pages/story Follow Kola Goodies on IG:  @kolagoodies  Follow Jes on Instagram @jessoulfood

Brittany Muddamalle, known on the socials as Almost Indian Wife, has thousands of followers who check in for her daily humor and relatable content. Brittany has dedicated the last decade to helping multiracial families navigate and celebrate their diverse cultural backgrounds. Drawing from her own biracial heritage and her husband's Indian roots, Brittany understands the unique challenges and joys of interracial relationships. Together with her husband she has 4 kids, 2 dogs, and a whole lot of chaos as they navigate two cultures! Website: INSTAGRAM Women's Group: Follow Jes on Instagram  @jessoulfood 

Sarah Nahas Hormi is my guest today!  If you are a fan of Food Network, you have seen her work. She is the queen behind the scenes on many shows as the Culinary Producer.  I met her working on Chopped during the pandemic.  She comes from a dual heritage home, and now is raising mixed culture children with her husband.  As she lives in the melting pot of NYC, she navigates culture in her home as well as in the media. I totally admire her and can't wait for you to listen to this conversation. IG: @saranhs Watch Chopped on Food Network Follow Jes on IG @jessoulfood Listen to the Being Brown & Bold Podcast on Spotify & Apple Podcast

2024 AMAZING RACE WINNER!!! Cesar Aldrete  is a talented chef and food stylist with 16 years of experience. Born in Texas and raised in Mexico, Cesar now calls New York City home. His first job in NYC was at the 3 Michelin star restaurant Daniel. He has styled food for top magazines, international brands, and popular Food Network TV shows, bringing his creative touch to everything he does. Cesar has also earned awards in the Culinary Olympics in Luxembourg and competitions in New Zealand. Recently, he added a big win to his list of achievements by taking home the top prize on "The Amazing Race" alongside his boyfriend Ricky.  Amazing Race - Watch here Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickyandcesar/ https://www.instagram.com/beardedfoodie/ https://www.instagram.com/cesarald/  Youtube Linkedin Follow the host, Jes, on Instagram  @jessoulfood 

This is a fun conversation! Joel Muddamalle serves on the preaching team at Transformation Church in Indian Land, SC and is a frequent speaker for conferences and events. He just released his first book, “The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Joel and his wife enjoy a full house with their four children and two dogs. If he doesn't have a theology book in hand, you can be sure he's coaching one of his kids in a sport, or doing his best to keep up his hoops game on the basketball court. Website: https://muddamalle.com/ Instagram: @muddamalle Joel's latest book: The Hidden Peace Follow his wife on IG @AlmostIndianWife Connect with Christian Women at Proverbs 31 Ministries: We talk about Annie F. Downs and her podcast: https://www.anniefdowns.com/podcasts/ Learn how to make Hyderbadi Biryani: Follow Jes on IG  @jessoulfood 

Mackenzie & Keenan are my guests! Known as Mack&Keen on the socials, Mac (Mackenzie) and Keen (Keenan) are culture vloggers committed to sharing cultural differences and widening perspectives, in a fun way! They try their best to fully integrate themselves into different cultures by learning the languages, wearing the clothing, and trying to live daily life as (much as possible) like a local. Mackenzie is from USA and Keenan is from the UK. More recently they have spent 3 months in Kerala, India. They have fallen in love with the welcoming culture and are so excited to share their experiences in Kerala. Instagram: @macnkeen YouTube:  @Unstuk   TikTok: @macnkeen Catch the BBB Podcast on Apple Podcast Spotify and follow the host @jessoulfood on IG, Jes Thomas

You have got to meet Chef Palak Patel. In the food world, she has done it all - classically trained chef, restaurateur. Culinary instructor, private chef. You might have seen her on TV, whether it was winning Food Network's Chopped , Beat Bobby Flay or as a finalist on Food Network Star season 14. She's done other shows, TV news appearances, like the TODAY show, even showcasing Diwali celebratory dishes on Food Network. And not to mention publications including Forbes, Huffington Post, People, Women's Health, Thrive Global, Mashable, Epicurious, Bon Appetit, Los Angeles Times, India Abroad, and made the cover of Atlanta's Simply Buckhead magazine as a rising star to watch in 2021 and beyond. Currently the exciting news is the release of her new plant-based cookbook called "Food Is Love: Plant-based Indian Inspired Recipes To Feel Joy and Connection. Instagram: @chefpalak Website:  Book Info: Food is Love Food Network Digital Original Series : Diwali Follow Jes on Instagram @jessoulfood and find out about all the other inspirational guests!

Widza Gustin, owner of 180H4 Cuisine. "Shef Wiz"  was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Widza graduated with a Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts from the International Culinary Center formerly known as the French Culinary Institute. Before getting into the culinary world, her journey began in the corporate world selling auto insurance. Everything she learned about the art and value of quality customer service has contributed to the success of her culinary career. Among her internships was a stint at the Food Network  working on shows like 'Worst Cooks of America.'She became the  Chef and Director of Client Services at Sound Lounge, NY's #1 independent audio production company. Here, Widza catered to celebrities like Ethan Hawke and Derek Luke!  Now as a freelancer, Widza contributes to Food Network, has worked with Gordon Ramsey and is even a Culinary Producer for Food Network's Chopped!  Vice Website:  Instagram: @chefwidza Youtube -  Linked In The KitchnFood Network https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/creamy-lemon-poppy-seed-ice-pops-16929723

Mr. Christopher is an American who has been part of the Malayali community for over 7 years. He is a rapidly rising social media figure who goes online by Mr. Christopher and “your Nalla Vellakkaaran.” He focuses on creating cross-cultural content with a particular focus on Malayalam language and Malayali culture (both local and abroad in the NRI community). He is driven to share the beauty, knowledge, and humor of the community that gave so much to him over the years. He also aspires to promote positive exchange between Indian and American creators, and ultimately to bring a touch of humanity, authenticity, and gratitude to the global Indian community. Follow him on Instagram @Mr.Christopher._ For more from Being Brown & Bold, follow @jessoulfood

Simon Majumdar is a world-renowned broadcaster, food writer, speaker, author and cook who is dedicated to “Go Everywhere, Eat Everything.” It is a journey that has taken him to all fifty states and dozens of countries around the world. He was a restaurant critic for Time Out Los Angeles and has written hundreds of articles all over the internet and many publications as well as, three books: “Eat My Globe” (2009), “Eating for Britain” (2011), and “Fed, White and Blue” (2015). You probably have seen him on Food Network as Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions, Alex vs. America, Iron Chef America, Supermarket Stakeout, Guy's Grocery Games, Cutthroat Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay, The Next Iron Chef (Food Network), . He is also the creator, writer and host of the hit food history podcast, "Eat My Globe: Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Know About Food.” Listen to Simon's podcast: Eat The Globe https://www.eatmyglobe.com/ Find him on Instagram  @SimonMajumdar  Follow me @jessoulfood on IG We talk about @maneetchauhan of Chauhan Ale & Masala House and restaurant & a regular judge on Food Network Channel as well as 2 time winner on Tournament of Champions. We also talk about Vishwesh Bhatt and his restaurant, Snackbar in Oxford Mississippi @kissmybhatt on IG

Ajay Chopra is a renowned Indian chef, consultant, and media personality. From hosting the popular show MasterChef India to successfully launching restaurants around the globe, Chef Ajay Chopra has made a lasting impact on the hospitality industry. Born into a Punjabi family in Lucknow, Chef Ajay Chopra's passion for diverse flavors ignited at a young age, shaping his love for food. With a prestigious gold medal from OCLD and extensive experience working at esteemed establishments, he founded Zion Hospitality. Chef through Zion Hospitality provides expert guidance to hotels, restaurants, and cafes. Chef Ajay Chopra's influence extends beyond his culinary ventures. On his YouTube channel, he shares the finest recipes from different regions of India, presented with a creative touch and his own unique cooking style. Through his series "The Big Daddy Chef," he encourages men to explore their culinary skills at home and create cherished family moments through food. With his unwavering passion, creative spirit, and extensive expertise, Chef Ajay Chopra continues to inspire aspiring chefs and food enthusiasts alike You can find him on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook @chefajaychopraX/Twitter - MChefAjayChopra

Pooja Bavishi is the Founder and CEO of Malai, an artisanal ice cream company with flavors inspired by nostalgic, aromatic spices and South Asian ingredients, based in Brooklyn, New York. She “founded Malai because desserts bring people joy and she wanted to be in the business of delivering happiness.. She won on Food Network's Chopped Sweets Pooja went to college in her home state at UNC-Chapel Hill, an M.S. from the London School of Economics,and an M.B.A. from NYU. She and her ice cream has been written up in everything from Inc. Magazine to the NY Times. And if you haven't tried her ice cream, you are missing out! IG: @malai_icecream, @pooja_bavishi_ https://www.malai.co/ EATERDC: https://dc.eater.com/2023/10/2/23899013/nyc-essential-ice-cream-shop-malai-dc-coming-attractions Marketplace News: https://www.marketplace.org/2024/01/05/for-this-brooklyn-ice-cream-company-2023-felt-like-the-first-year-were-back-on-track/

Jyoti Chand (aka Mamajotes on socials) is an author, influencer, funny mom, and advocate for self-care, self-love, and maternal mental health. She has a background in stand- up comedy and improv, which explains why her videos are so hilarious. So many women find her relatable because of her honesty on the socials. She shares the reality of motherhood and influences her audience to find the joy in their lives and shares all the things that make her life better & easier. Jyoti has a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline UniversityAnd exciting news, her first book, Fitting Indian, will be releasing November 2024. She is working on her second book amongst a plethora of other projects. Jyoti was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles and now lives with her husband and 3 children in the suburbs of Chicago. Info & LINKS: On Instagram @thesoberdesi @mamajotes @jessoulfood We talk about: Born Confused #1 - Tanuja Desai Hidier They Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta

Giselle Bonetti is a sensational mulit talented woman who has worked in various fields: Real Estate Agent, Business Owner for a Luxury  Concierge Services, Photographer, Child-focused international ministry and probably most well known for her cheffing skills as seen in the Netflix Cooking Competition, EASY BAKE BATTLE and won the whole thin and got the name, “Queen of flavor”.  She has thousand of followers on IG and can also be seeing on YouTube.  Find her on IG @cookingwithgiselle @goodthingsbygi @justgsells

MANWELL REYES was born in Frankfurt, Germany, Manwell moved to the United States when he was ten years old, but grew up all around the states - in Texas, Kansas and Florida. In 2003 he started a band called Group 1 Crew with friends Blanca Reyes and Pablo Villatoro. After being discovered on MySpace in 2006, the band was signed to Warner/Word records and the group recorded and toured together until 2016. He then parted ways to explore other creative avenues. At the end of 2017, Manwell started a new group called PANDA$, which was also quickly signed to Capitol Records in LA. Two years later in 2019, he decided to start a podcast, Nights at the Round Table, and launch a solo career, which eventually led him to his partnership with Resin8 Music. His music has been placed in everything from network promos, ad campaigns (XBOX), and most recently, in the latest NFL Shop & Fanatics 2023 Campaign! He is married and has a new baby and we are excited to hear about this chapter of his life. Follow him on Spotify and IG @manwellreyes. https://linktr.ee/manwellreyes?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7f4e365d-080b-40c2-8897-a589f2833e2c

Here's Jessny Joseph.  You might know her from Instagram as a digital content creator for her bodybuilding and most recently diving into her Malayalee heritage.  What you may not know about is her bicultural background, her science degree and her current career as a coder.  She's had quite the journey growing up in Las Vegas and settling in TX. Follow her on IG: @jessnyjoseph You can also listen to this podcast form on SPOTIFY & Apple Podcast.

A former sommelier and fine-dining professional, Sarah Thomas is now the co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at Kalamata's Kitchen, where she brings together her lifelong passions for both food and books. The daughter of two south Indian immigrants, Sarah grew up in the rural town of Somerset, Pennsylvania, and was surrounded by food from a young age. Her parents very much kept their Indian culture alive through the food they cooked, and Sarah would spend summers in Kerala visiting her grandparents, forming some of her earliest food memories. Sarah's love for food is what eventually led her to the hospitality industry. After helming the wine program at Bar Marco and launching the nationally-recognized Wine Room at Bar Marco, she spent nearly six years as a sommelier at 3-star Michelin Le Bernardin, where she obtained the prestigious Advanced Sommelier certification. Along with food, books played a special role in Sarah's upbringing, eventually leading to a Masters in literature from the University of Cambridge. Like many first generation kids, Sarah grew up with what she felt were two conflicting identities, with her strong Indian heritage seeming to contrast against the mostly white rural town where she lived, and literature became a way for her to escape into another world. Through her storytelling work with Kalamata's Kitchen, Sarah hopes to create a confident character that other children of color can see themselves in, while also encouraging all kids to look at different foods and cultures with a sense of curiosity and compassion. Sarah has authored two books in the Kalamata's Kitchen series, with an animated series in development. IG: @sarahthomas @kalamataskitchen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSTB0frR_CI&list=PLYnCjZ8ouCFSob7fl6W3CHx1MO3Kiq7I2 The Today Show: https://www.today.com/recipes/kalamatas-chaat-adventure-t260701

Hetal Vasavada is a Jersey native who has adopted the Bay Area as her home. She gained popularity after competing on the show MasterChef. She wrote the cookbook, ⁠Milk and Cardamom⁠, which was named one of the top cookbooks of 2019 by The Washington Post and San Francisco Chronicle. Her  recipes have been featured in The New York Times, ⁠Food and Wine⁠, Bon Appetit, Tasty and more! Her online bakery sent yummy treats including her famous Gulab Jamun cake around the country. You can find her on Instagram and  watch her cooking demonstrations as well as  her dosa making husband & fabulous daughter. I've been inspired by her food, her travels, family  and honesty about doing real life. Website: https://milkandcardamom.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkandcardamom/

 Reena Ninan is a journalist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Good Trouble Productions, a media company focused on creating content with purpose. As a TV journalist, she anchored for ABC, CBS, and Fox News. She also created two top-rated podcasts: Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting and HERO: The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women with Foreign Policy and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Her family is originally from Kerala, India. Reena began her career as a reporter in Baghdad.  She was sent to cover the Saddam Hussein trial.  The day she arrived her hotel was car bombed four times in ten minutes.  That moment launched her international reporting career. She soon became Middle East Correspondent for Fox News where she reported from Lebanon to Libya. She was seven months pregnant when she traveled to meet Hezbollah officials in the suburbs of Beirut. Reena also covered the Mumbai Attacks for Fox News.. During her time in the Middle East she interviewed US President Jimmy Carter, Hamas militant leader Mahmoud Zahar,  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. She has covered wars in Gaza, Benghazi, Lebanon, and Iraq.  In 2012 she became White House Correspondent for ABC News where she covered the Obama White House. She also traveled with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Reena anchored World News Now and the early morning show American this Morning. She later went on to anchor the CBS Saturday Night Weekend News and for CBS' digital network, CBSN. She is most passionate about foreign affairs, news, and content innovation. Follow on Instagram: @reenaninan @goodtroubleprod @asklisapodcast @news3net  

Renji Bijoy, the founder of Immersed, a Techstars startup partnered with Facebook, HTC, & Microsoft to build VR Offices, which has raised $12M to date. Renji is part of 2021's Forbes 30 Under 30, received a Master's degree from Georgia Tech (#3 Computer Science graduate school in the US) in Computer Vision + Machine Learning, was a Techstars portfolio founder (top 10 of 10,000 candidates, top 0.1%), and was the lead software architect @ GreatBigStory.com (growth-hacked to 3M followers in 2 months)! Based in Austin, TX he leads his company with compassion and works hard for his team and family. He enjoys time with his church family, playing basket ball in the early hours of the morning and watching The Office when he gets a break! LINKS: Forbes 30 under 30: https://www.forbes.com/profile/renji-bijoy/?list=30under30-consumer-technology&sh=cc3876b79421 Twitter: https://twitter.com/renjibijoy?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renjibijoy/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/renji.bijoy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@renji.bijoyImmersd : https://immersed.com/

James A. Mathew is CEO of The Outer Voice Company – a groundbreaking South Asian American entertainment group that operates across music, media, and events. He is a recording artist and songwriter himself, as well as a global brand fellow for Nike. Raised outside of Chicago, James is a recent graduate of Harvard College, where he served as the 38th Student Body President. https://theoutervoicecompany.com/ IG: jamesamathew

Keith Sarasin is a renowned chef, culinary expert, and cookbook author who has dedicated over a decade to studying the art of Indian cuisine. With a deep passion for the food and culture of the Indian subcontinent, he has honed his skills through extensive research and study, Sarasin is the author of four cookbooks that offer a wealth of recipes and tips on topics such as meat cooking and preparation, the art of dehydration, and seasonal recipes using the freshest ingredients from local farmers. In addition to his books, he is currently filming a documentary-style show, "Finding India," which chronicles his personal journey as a chef, from overcoming tragedy to rediscovering his passion for cooking Chef Keith Sarasin hosts  Aatma, a one-of-a-kind pop-up restaurant that offers a unique tasting experience  showcasing the vibrant flavors of the Indian subcontinent using modern cooking techniques and styles.  And the way I know Keith from a podcast he recorded during the pandemic called More Than Masala, co-hosted with Ragini Kashyap and they walk through the world of spices.  + INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/keithsarasin + TIKTOK ► https://www.tiktok.com/@chefkeithsarasin + FACEBOOK ►  https://www.facebook.com/chefkeithsarasin + TWITTER ► https://twitter.com/KeithSarasin + AATMA RESTAURANT! ► https://www.aatmarestaurant.com/ + MORE THAN MASALA PODCAST ►https://apple.co/3ssy38P

 Chef Vijay Kumar. He grew up on his family's farm in a small town near Madurai, located in the Southern part of India. Vijay helped his mother and grandmother in farming and cooking. It was during this childhood upbringing where his passion for fresh ingredients and cooking arose. Vijay graduated in Hotel Management and Catering Technology in India. He worked in some of the best hotel kitchens in India before working on Cruise Ships for several years where he perfected his style of food art and presentation with unique knife skills and the use of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. When Vijay came to the United States, he worked at Michelin restaurants in CA until 2021 when he moved to  New York City.   He's been at Semma serving heritage Southern Indian cuisine inspired by his upbringing, which has been named a Top Ten New Restaurant of the Year by Bon Appetit, one of the Top 50 Restaurants of the Year by The New York Times, and a Michelin star making it the only Indian restaurant in the United States with this honor.

Sam Fore is a Sri Lankan-American chef and recipe developer based in Lexington, Kentucky. Her pop-up, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, crisscrosses the country to bring her -Sri Lanka meets the South -dishes to diners far and wide. She started the pop-up in 2016 after traditional Sri Lankan brunches in her home outgrew her dining room.  Fore's cooking is a reflection of her Sri Lankan upbringing in the American South; her dishes include her spin on Southern classics as well as new riffs on her family's time-tested recipes. Her recipes can be found in multiple national publications and across the web. In 2021 she joined the cast of Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, which you can watch on PBS. In 2023, Fore was honored by the James Beard Foundation Awards as a Finalist for Best Chef: Southeast. Fore plans to open the Tuk Tuk Snack Shop in Lexington, Kentucky by Fall 2023  Find her : http://www.tuktuklex.com/ Instagram: @tuktuklex @kolagoodies is her milk tea drink of choice

Riji Raja, founder of Affirmation Darling, a wellness stationery brand built on powerful affirmations. She originally grew up in Kuwait. After living in TX, she and her husband moved from Dallas to Los Angeles to pursue acting.  With the high cost of living in SoCal, their living situation quickly fell apart, forcing them to downsize from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom to an apartment shared with ten other people before finally living in their car. They were homeless for two years, but thanks to a mission-hiring company, they were able to sign a long-term lease in 2019 on a new apartment.   This took a toll on their mental well-being which is the inspiration behind the social impact stationery business project called “Affirmation Darling”. Her flagship product is AffirmActions™, a box of cards with Affirmations + Actions for Artists & Creatives.  She advocates for young adults from underserved & disadvantaged communities facing homelessness & mental health issues by donating her stationary for each one sold. INSTAGRAM: @riji.raja https://youtu.be/XxQS_9d3su https://unrestrictedtheatre.co.uk/ex-homeless-actors-launch-inspiring-new-business-to-help-others/

Preeti Waas is the chef-owner of Cheeni Indian Food Emporium in Raleigh, NC.  From a young child in India fascinated by the alchemy of baking to a James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist in 2023, one thing has never changed for Preeti - the gratification and joy of feeding people. She is a self-taught cook and baker who is always curious - and always hungry. https://www.cheeniraleigh.com/ on Instagram: @cheeniraleigh

Jes Thomas speaks with Margaret Pak on Being Brown and Bold Podcast A self-taught chef with a lifelong passion for food, Margaret worked in the corporate world for over a dozen years before delving into the food industry professionally. In 2017, she started as a Prep cook at Chiacgo's Korean-Polish restaurant, Kimski. On the side, she hosted a series of popups inspired by the cuisine of her husband's home, Kerala, the southwestern coastal state of India. In May 2019, together Margaret and Vinod created Thattu - a food stall inspired by the cuisine of Kerala. In 10 short months of operating, Thattu was nominated as the 2020 James Beard Semi-finalist Best New Restaurant and recognized by Food and Wine Magazine for Best New Restaurant. After closing, Margaret and Vinod self-published a zine, Everyday Sadya, and continued hosting pop-ups across Chicago while scouting a location for Thattu's permanent home. The first brick-and-mortar restaurant will debut in early 2023. Instagram: @thattuchicago On https://thattu.com/ there's a direct link to buy our zine - EVERYDAY SADYA Twitter Eater Chicago Article on Thattu

Tarun Sinhat.  A home cook and Taco Bell fanatic, he's grown to follow his passions over the past decade. HeI was a bit lost creatively trying multiple art forms but what he always fell back on was cooking. It was his comfort zone that let him to relax and forget about what was outside the kitchen. His  love for filmmaking and comedy intertwined with cooking resulted in his  current niche activity of pairing Taco Bell and wine.

Maneet Chauhan is an award-winning chef, author, television personality and founding partner and president of Morph Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a recipient of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Award for her role as a permanent judge on Food Network's “Chopped.” In addition to judging roles on Food Network, Maneet also competes at the highest level and was the 2021 winner of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions II, where she was able to donate winnings of $40,000 to help different restaurants survive the pandemic.Chauhan is the author of two cookbooks, Flavors of My World and her most recent, Chaat: The Best Recipes from the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India, When she's not in the kitchen or traveling, chef Chauhan can be found at home in Tennessee, with her husband, Vivek Deora, their 2 children.

Shruthi Parker is a digital content creator with thousands of followers on social media. She has built trust with her followers by using her voice which is authentic, passionate, sassy, informative, vegetarian, in-love, and well-traveledShe shares about motherhood, marriage, travel, eats, thoughts, style, and faith! She, her husband and three children live in Austin, TX. Follow her on Instagram  @thehonestShruth  https://thehonestshruth.com/

Monica Sunny is the founder and CEO of The Chai Box, an ethical and sustainable tea company that specializes in hand-blended loose-leaf chai blends and small-batch chai concentrate. Previously, Monica Sunny worked as a human organizational consultant for Chick-Fil-A where she designed training models, conducted ROI analyses and built competency models for the company's hiring practices.  The journey of creating The Chai Box started when Monica had her three boys and wanted to instill the love of Chai.  Her family started sharing this ritual with family and friends which ultimately led to the creation of The Chai Box. What started as a side-hustle in her basement has now grown to a full operation in Marietta, GA. In 2021, The Chai Box was selected as one of Oprah's Favorite Things. And most recently, Monica was given a grant and mentorship opportunity with the Tory Burch Foundation and Stacy's Rise Project. Website: https://thechaibox.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechaibox/?hl=en @thechaibox Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-sunny-88383620a/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechaibox/ Chai Roll-Up Recipe: HERE Chai Apple Turnover Recipe: HERE

Eliza Keyton is an education professional who has worked across the US, UAE, South Korea, and Vietnam since 2009. She is fond of languages and culture, particularly after her father married her Serbian Stepmother and was introduced to the melting pot of Chicago on family holidays. After meeting her Malayalee husband in 2017, She began studying Malayalam and used her language training to make study materials to fill in the gap of accessible resources to learning this language. She currently works as a teacher trainer and educational consultant in Hanoi, Vietnam. In her free time, she advocates for mother tongue education and equality in the realm of English language teaching. Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@Learn-Malayalam Instagram: www.instagram.com/eli.kutty Website: www.elikutty.com Newsletter Signup: Discord: www.discord.gg/learnmalayalam https://jessoulfood.wordpress.com/being-brown-bold-podcast/

Today I am chatting with Kevin Wilson. He is known as the CEO of chai, which is the beverage that launched him onto the social media celebrity scene. He currently works as the Digital/ Social Media Co-ordinator for Andrews University. As an ordained minister in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, "Chaplain Chai" is passionate about helping people think meaningfully about life so that they can live their lives meaningfully. He describes himself as a “Third-Culture-Kid” who grew up in Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United States. When he's not creating content for his alma mater, he spends time nurturing a growing tribe of half a million chai-loving friends across TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, by using chai as a medium for storytelling. He also cohosts the "Faith and Chai Podcast" where he creates space for conversations at the intersection of South Asian culture, theology, and meaningful living. He is married to his best friend of 10 years and his fur-children Phoebe and Leo.

Catherine is a social media influencer, digital content creator, and columnist based out of Mumbai and the US. After moving to India in 2016, what started out as a platform to share her migration from New Jersey to Mumbai has since garnered appreciation and love from all around the world. Her page centers around genuine and relatable videos showcasing food, style, lifestyle, and the everyday South Asian experience. This unique take on life on the other side of the pond has recently garnered her a 4-part column in Harper's Bazaar India called #girlonthemove, discussing her experience of life in India as an expat. When not making content or writing, you can find her perusing the aisles of fashion expos, eating delicious chaat, or attempting to work on her grammatically incorrect Hindi. Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=483tTfJpVcs&ab_channel=BennyDayal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinedayal/?hl=en Harper's Baazar:https://www.harpersbazaar.in/authors/catherine-dayal

Today I am chatting with Anjali aka Beextravegant! She is a full-time content creator with close to a million followers across social media. She has a successful online cooking course focused on teaching people Indian and Vegan cooking. She is also a freelance content creator, specializing in short format videos She has over 500K subscribers to her YouTube channel, She loves sharing food and her culture with personal stories! She says, “People love to call me Dr. Butterfingers because I'm a clumsy gal!” Watch us on YouTube: Find out more about BBB & Anjali: Jes Soul Food (wordpress.com)

BOLD: showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous. Being Brown, I see the world through a different lens. As I encounter other brown friends, I find commonality. But in our differences, I find strength in hearing about the ways they have persevered by being bold. This podcast is a storytelling platform that highlights brown folks doing amazing things in their corner of the world.