Food is a universal love language, creating a connection that everyone enjoys. That ‘language’ is a bridge for our health, a means for people to socialize, and a way we celebrate with others. Our guests this week emphasize the connections that sharing meals provides, and we are so happy to share their stories with you.
Partners since birth, our first guest Stephen Servis owns Servis Events with his twin brother Nicolas. Stephen joined us on the show to discuss how both he and his brother became chefs through some pivotal decisions made earlier in their lives. Years later, Stephen and his brother built a reputation based on being heavily tattooed twin Chefs. Post pandemic, they decided to try something new and found WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) while staying with at a farm to work. This led them to another farm, located in Maine, where the seeds for Servis Events were planted and began to bloom. Now, they’re back in Bucks County, sourcing the most nutrient-rich ingredients from local farms, providing a multi-course Chef’s Tasting Menu to individuals looking for their services as private Chefs through Servis Events.
Our next guest helps Center City celebrate Vietnamese cuisine and culture, along with so much more at Miss Saigon. Chuong Nguyen is the Operating Manager and one of the co-owners of Miss Saigon in Philadelphia. The multi-level restaurant and bar offers an elevated take on Vietnamese street foods; providing menu options that are served family-style to encourage patrons to experience a variety of the tastes and flavors of the culture’s cuisine. In addition to celebrating Vietnamese cuisine, the venue also provides a celebration full of PRIDE through their cocktail menu: There is a cocktail created for every color of the PRIDE flag! And be sure to reserve your opportunity to eat, drink, and sing inside their private Karaoke room with your friends! And keep your ears peeled through the end of this week’s episode to find out when their first drag show will happen!
Our last guest has brought people together on a global level! Gizem White, who is an expert in Gastrodiplomacy and is the Founder and CEO of the Turkish Coffee Lady located in Alexandria, VA. Gizem’s story began as she desired to share the history–and cups–of Turkish coffee with like-minded individuals. And in 2012, Gizem created a non-profit food truck called The Turkish Coffee Truck, where she handed out free cups of brewed Turkish Coffee. Years later, her efforts brought her media attention and recognition, including an article which stuck and later became synonymous with her brand. So in 2017, she created the Turkish Coffee Lady brand in the U.S. Now, after visiting several countries and cities across the globe, Gizem and her brand Turkish Coffee Lady are considered as a “Friendship building initiative between Turkey and the USA,” according to the US government. I don’t know about you, but the love of a great cup of coffee is a perfect way to bring people together–so stay tuned until the end to hear how you can buy some of her Turkish Coffee Lady blends and enjoy it with some new friends!