‘Insecure’ Star Issa Rae Talks Houston Eating places, Gumbo, and Nando’s

It’s truthful to say that Issa Rae has her palms in slightly little bit of all the pieces.

The award-winning Insecure creator landed in Houston for a short 5 days in mid-January throughout one of many first stops of her An Night with Issa Rae tour. Held on the Interest Heart for Performing Arts, the evening felt like a celebration — of Black pleasure, Houston, and Rae’s many accomplishments, which run the gamut from tv, hair care, and wine. The filmmaker’s latest film, One in all Them Days, a comedy starring actress Keke Palmer and singer SZA, debuted at no. 1 throughout its opening weekend (Rae popped into a number of theaters round Houston to greet followers for the premiere).

Because it seems, Rae isn’t any stranger to the meals and beverage world. (“I’ve at all times mentioned if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now, I’d wish to be a waitress or a bartender,” she mentioned on the Houston occasion.) She’s partnered with Los Angeles-based unbiased espresso chain Hilltop. She and her crew lately opened the jazzy Los Angeles restaurant and lounge Somerville in November — her ode to Black Los Angeles’s residents, and, in 2023, she launched her personal Prosecco line Viarae in shops nationwide, pairing the debut with artsy, well-produced promotional movies to suit each ingesting temper.

Megan Sumpton

However simply as An Night with Issa Rae was a fascinating sit-down with the multi-hyphenate, it was additionally stuffed with affirmations (Rae’s love language, she says) for Houston and its meals scene. Rae, who hasn’t visited Houston since her 2013 guide tour for The Misadventures of Awkward Black Lady, says the town reminds her of her hometown Los Angeles. Each are sprawling cities with “a laidback, cool, loving vibe,” an emphasis on hospitality, and a love of Mexican meals (“I might eat a taco on daily basis,” Rae mentioned). However in contrast to Houston, Los Angeles doesn’t have an abundance of West African delicacies.

Rae, who’s of Senegalese descent, says one in every of her first meals stops in Houston was Dakar Avenue Meals, a Senegalese restaurant tucked right into a strip mall in West Houston. “I used to be fucking that meals up!” she mentioned because the viewers laughed.

Megan Sumpton

In true Houston trend, locals within the viewers had many eating suggestions for Rae. Houstonians within the crowd shouted out their favorites — the enduring Black-owned Breakfast Klub in Midtown, Timmy Chans, and Third Ward bakery Crumbville. It appeared like Rae didn’t want an excessive amount of convincing for a return: “I like this metropolis,” she mentioned. “And I want to come back again.”

Eater Houston sat all the way down to meet up with Rae. Right here’s what she needed to say about her ceaselessly consolation meals, how she makes use of meals as a artistic automobile in her movies and tv reveals, and extra.

This interview has been edited for brevity and readability.

So how did it really feel doing this present tonight?

It was enjoyable. , that is nonetheless type of an experimental present. We’re determining what it’s, and so I’m simply grateful that folks wish to come and see it. It’s one thing that we’re shaping. We’re doing one other one in D.C., but it surely’s simply at all times enjoyable to fulfill the individuals who’ve been supporting me for a really very long time. It’s additionally a strategy to introduce individuals to Viarae, which is type of what it’s all about.

How are you discovering Houston as a meals metropolis, to date? I do know that you simply made it to the Senegalese spot. Do you’ve gotten another locations in your itinerary?

Somebody advised me to go to Laredo Taqueria. I nonetheless wish to strive barbecue. I don’t know the spots! I’d usually hit Eater to be like “The place do I am going?” however I simply didn’t have sufficient time this time. Y’all acquired a Nando’s out right here, so I used to be actually excited to go.

What’s your order there?

I at all times do the half-chicken, and y’all acquired Brussels sprouts, they usually don’t have that within the U.Ok. It’s often smashed peas. I get the chips. I adore it. That rooster is one of the best, and I’m an Additional Scorching lady. I do know Nando’s will not be distinctive to Houston, however I used to be simply stunned y’all have it out right here. I used to be simply telling Kendrick [Sampson] that I’ve to come back again. He’s an actual foodie.

Megan Sumpton

When excited about your artistic facet — movie and TV — what function does meals have, in these facets of your life?

Sometimes, I attempt to use meals to symbolize characters. Cities are at all times characters in my initiatives, whether or not they’re within the forefront and even the background, so with meals, I attempt to set the scene in one of the best ways attainable. You’ll be able to take a look at what any person’s consuming and type of decide or decide somebody’s character or household, or their means, or no matter it’s. There are such a lot of issues that you may immediately do to fill in a personality for individuals instantly — simply by what they’re consuming or what’s on their plate, the place they may go to eat, or in the event that they’re cooking. It’s a relentless dialog once I’m writing. I’ll write particularly about what dish somebody is consuming, simply because I really feel prefer it helps to tell. If I have been taking part in the character, it tells quite a bit on the web page. You’re at all times looking for clues as as an actor, like, what tells you about this explicit individual. So, it performs a giant function, though individuals don’t at all times discover. In Insecure, particularly, it was extra about just like the restaurant scene and showcasing one of the best meals areas and the Black-owned areas in LA that I really feel ought to be highlighted.

With Viarae, why was it essential for that to be one in every of your first ventures into the meals world, apart out of your espresso retailers and eating places?

Simply because it felt so natural to my life-style, to the way in which I wish to have fun, to what that subsequent chapter was. And since I had put it within the present and was continuously seen with Prosecco, it simply felt like I needed to have my very own. There was a lot enjoyable in shaping the branding of a product and beginning one thing from the bottom up that basically appealed to me. Viarae has grow to be like a life-style — I used to be simply in Columbia for my birthday, and it was on the market, you understand. So yeah, it’s a life-style for me at this level.

I like the promotions, by the way in which. I noticed the video of you and Kofi, and I used to be like is that this The {Photograph}? This is sort of a film.

Sure. That was a privilege. He was simply down, in order that was a enjoyable time.

Megan Sumpton

What’s a dish the place you’re like, ‘ Oh my gosh. I’ve to have this?”

My ceaselessly consolation meals will at all times be gumbo. I like gumbo.

Who has one of the best?

My older brother now really has the crown.

Does he put okra in it?

No.

Wow, are you kidding me? I like okra in my gumbo. Okra means gumbo.

No, it doesn’t. Okra does want gumbo. Gumbo doesn’t want okra. Okra wants gumbo for its repute.

Wow.

And my new dish that I’m obsessive about is my husband’s meals. I began cooking, and my husband was like, “I acquired it.” That has been actually nice. That’s my latest obsession — him cooking higher than me and making the meals.

What’s your favourite factor that he makes? Simply curious and being additional nosey.

I’m on a well being kick, and I like roasted rooster, candy potatoes, and a vegetable. In some way once I make it, it’s very plain, and in some way, when he makes it, it’s like probably the most flavorful dish on Earth. I don’t know what he does. He takes too lengthy, but it surely’s value it. He simply provides extra garnishings and seasonings and further greens with it that I respect. It’s a quite simple dish that I do know will fill me up and that I can eat and go.