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
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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
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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/
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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
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
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!
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._
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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