'Insecure' Star Issa Rae conversations Houston Restawrans, Gumbo, and Nando's

It is just to say that Issa Rae has his hands a little at all.

Winning the award Insecure The Creator came to Houston for a short five-day in the middle of January in one of the first stopping him One night with SSA Rae Tour. Held at the Hobby Center for the art of conducting, the night as a celebration – in black happiness, Houston, which many turns on television, Hair Careand wine. The latest filmmaker movie, One of them days,, A comedy pulling the actress Keke Palmer and Singer Sza, debated at No. 1 During the weekend opening (Rae headed a lot of theaters around Houston to greet fans for premiere).

As done, Rae is no stranger to the world and drinks world. (“I always said if I didn't do what I did now, I want to be a waitress or a bartender,” he said to the Houston event Los Angeles-Based Independent Chain Tape Chain Hilltop. He and his team recently opened Jazzy Los Angeles Restaurant and Loung Womerville in November – His bear to Black Los Angeles residents, and, in 2023, he launched his own Prosecco line Viarae In shops around the country, pairing debut with artsy, good promotional videos to suit every moom mood.

Megan Sumbpton

But as One night with SSA Rae An engaged seated with multi-hyphenate, it is also full of affirmations (Rae's love language, he says) for Houston and the food scene. Rae, who didn't visit Houston since his 2013 book book for The mistakes of Awkward black girlsays the city reminds him of his city Los Angeles. Both the raging cities with “a laidback, cool, loving vibe,” a giving of hospitality, and a love of Mexico (“I can eat a taco every day,” says Rae). But not like Houston, Los Angeles doesn't have much abundance in West Africa cuisine.

Rae, from Senegalese descendants, says one of his first houston food cessation was Dakar Street Food, a Senegalese restaurant entered in a Mall Mall in West Houston. “I've rejected that food!” He said as the audience laughed.

In fact Houston style, the local listeners are many meal recommendations for Rae. Houstonians in the crowd screamed on their favorites – Iconic Black-fixed in the midtown club, Timmy Crumbville. It seems that RAe doesn't need convincing for the return: “I love this city,” he said. “And I have to go back.”

Eater Houston is seated to get RAE. Here's what he said about her forever food, how she used food as a creative car in her films and television movies, and more.

This interview is edited for quantity and explanation.

So what does it feel to do this show tonight?

It's fun. You know, this is another kind of an experimental show. We think of what it is, and so I thank people want to come and see it. This is something we mold. We do another in DC, but always fun to meet people who support me for a long time. It's also a way to introduce people to Viarae, which is the kind of everything.

How do you find Houston as a city of food, so far? I know you made it to Senegalese spot. Do you have other places in your itinerary?

Someone told me to go to Leredo Taqueria. I still want to try barbecue. I don't know the places! I usually hit the eater to be like “Where do I go?” But I never have enough time this time. Y'all got a Nando here, so I was excited to go.

What is your order there?

I always do half of the chicken, and gets the Brussels sprouts, and they don't have the UK it usually beats the peas. I got the chips. I like it. That chicken is the best, and I'm a hotter girl. I know that Nando's is not different from Houston, but I just marveled right here. I just told Kendrick (Sampson) that I needed to come back. He is a real food.

If you think about your creative side – film and TV – what is the role in food, in those parts of your life?

Usually, I tried to use food to represent characters. Cities are always characters in my projects, if they are in front or even in the background, so with food, I tried to put the scene in the best way possible. You can see what food and kind of a person determine or judge a person's character or family, or in their ways, or whatever it is. There are a lot of things you can do suddenly to fill an attitude for people right away – what they eat or what they eat or what they feed, where they cook. This is a steady conversation with my writing. I will write specific what is the dish to eat, because I feel it helps to inform. If I play the character, it says a lot on the page. You often try to find signs like an artist, like, what tells you about this specific person. So, there's a big paper, even if people aren't always noticed. on Unsecured, In particular, it is more like the restaurant scene and showing the best areas of food and black-owned areas that I feel highlighted.

In Viarae, why is it important for that one of your first food world efforts, except for your coffee shops and restaurants?

Because it feels organic when I live, as I want to celebrate, what is next chapter. And because I put it on the show and often seen in Prosecco, it feels like I want to have themselves. It is very fun to shape a branding of a product and start something from the ground appealing to me. Viarae becomes like life style – I'm just in Columbia for my birthday, and it's up, you know. So yes, it's a lifestyle for me at this point.

I like promotions, by the way. I saw the video to you and kofi, and I like this The picture? It's like a movie.

Yes. It's a privilege. He's just below, so that's a fun time.

What a dish where you are like, 'Oh my Gosh. I need it? ”

My eternal meal of comfort is always gumbo. I love the Gumbo.

Who has the best?

My older brother today actually has a crown.

Did he put Okra on it?

notes

Wow, are you making fun of me? I love okra in my gumbo. Okera WAYS Gumbo.

No, no. Okera NEED Gumbo. Gumbo should not be necessary Okra. Okra needs the Gumbo for its reputation.

Wow.

And my new dish I think is to eat my husband. I started cooking, and my husband was like, “I took it.” That's very good. That's my most recent obsession – he's cooking better than me and makes food.

What is your favorite thing he did? Only curious and more nosy.

I'm on a health kick, and I love to get a chicken, sweet potatoes, and a vegetable. Regardless of whether I do this, it is very simple, and however, if he does it, it is like the most meaningful dish. I don't know what he's doing. She has been too long, but it's worth it. He only adds a lot of garnishing and intense and extra vegetables I value. It's a simple dish I know I'm filling and I can eat and go.