Rudolf

1. Tell us something we don’t know about you. 

I hug people and smile a LOT! Haha, I might sound crazy, I love hugging people for their nature (the only ones I know). Now that you’ve been warned about it, don’t be scared of it.  I smile and hug people so much that the chefs and the customers who come into Foodland have given me the nickname ‘Santa’s baby boy'. You can’t make this stuff up, right! And yes, here are some things that I love in particular – my family, food, mid-90s hip-hop, the color pink, people who can laugh at themselves, warm weather. Enough for now! 

2. If you had to pick one dish that you feel is the most offbeat, outlandish, or challenging in Foodland, which one would it be?

Well, I don’t think any of my dishes are offbeat or outlandish. Few might be challenging, but I do think that all of my creations are simply trying to illustrate that our relationship with food is sweet, yet complex. I don’t have a favorite; it’s like asking for a favorite child, but my most complete dish in many ways is Marshmallow Freak Shake, which is an exploration into the humble yet fancy shakes. It evokes the scent of the creamy marshmallows and warm donuts served on a floating froth of lightness. 

3. Which is your favorite cuisine?

I have many… you know it’s hard to choose, right! Umm, Fattoush, falafel, hummus, baklava, shawarma, and tahini… there’s so much to appreciate about Lebanese cuisine. The Lebanese are widely everywhere! They bring out so much of their wealth of culinary tradition with them, meaning many more cultures have come to appreciate their cuisine. And my second favorite would be Italian. It’s undoubtedly delicious. What I love about it the most is its mild flavors based on good quality, seasonal ingredients. It has that perfect balance and emotion to it. Now that I’m talking about food, my mouth’s watering.

4. What do you do when you’re not supervising? What are the hobbies that you indulge in?

Once a month, I volunteer at the local food bank.  This is something that makes me happy. It not only introduces me to new people but also allows me to serve my community. I get to interact with many people with different backgrounds who share my passion for giving back. It’s not just about it. I believe food is something that brings together a lot of people together and what gives you more happiness than giving out food, right?

5. Which is your favorite vacation spot?

My favorite vacation till date would be the Mayan Riviera, Mexico. It is such a lovely place to be in, and the authentic dishes served in the city were so good that I remember the taste till date! We had gone to Chichen-Itza and the bus ride to that place made us familiar with the realities of Mexican life. Old-age people, ladies, and kids with their traditional outfits smiled and waved at us from their homes. Mexico would be a place I would love to go to again and again.