‘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 every little thing.

The award-winning Insecure creator landed in Houston for a quick 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 night time 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, Considered one of 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 all the time 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 impartial espresso chain Hilltop. She and her workforce not too long ago 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.

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 ebook tour for The Misadventures of Awkward Black Lady, says 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 may 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 considered one of her first meals stops in Houston was Dakar Road 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 vogue, locals within the viewers had many eating suggestions for Rae. Houstonians within the crowd shouted out their favorites — the long-lasting 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 would like to come back again.”

Eater Houston sat right down to meet up with Rae. Right here’s what she needed to say about her endlessly consolation meals, how she makes use of meals as a artistic car 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. You already know, that is nonetheless type of an experimental present. We’re determining what it’s, and so I’m simply grateful that individuals wish to come and see it. It’s one thing that we’re shaping. We’re doing one other one in D.C., nevertheless it’s simply all the time enjoyable to fulfill the individuals who’ve been supporting me for a really very long time. It’s additionally a option to introduce folks to Viarae, which is type of what it’s all about.

How are you discovering Houston as a meals metropolis, to this point? I do know that you just made it to the Senegalese spot. Do you might have some other locations in your itinerary?

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

What’s your order there?

I all the time do the half-chicken, and y’all obtained Brussels sprouts, and so they don’t have that within the U.Ok. It’s normally smashed peas. I get the chips. I find it irresistible. That hen is one of the best, and I’m an Further Scorching woman. I do know Nando’s will not be distinctive to Houston, however I used to be simply shocked 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 fascinated with your artistic aspect — movie and TV — what position does meals have, in these facets of your life?

Usually, I attempt to use meals to symbolize characters. Cities are all the time 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 the easiest way attainable. You possibly can have a look at what anyone’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 would be able to instantly do to fill in a personality for folks 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 after 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 enjoying the character, it tells lots on the web page. You’re all the time looking for clues as as an actor, like, what tells you about this explicit particular person. So, it performs a giant position, though folks don’t all the time 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 considered one of your first ventures into the meals world, apart out of your espresso outlets and eating places?

Simply because it felt so natural to my life-style, to the best way I wish to have fun, to what that subsequent chapter was. And since I had put it within the present and was continually seen with Prosecco, it simply felt like I wished 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 change into 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 best way. 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 endlessly consolation meals will all the time be gumbo. I like gumbo.

Who has one of the best?

My older brother now truly 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 obtained 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 further nosey.

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