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

It’s honest to say that Issa Rae has her arms in a little bit little bit of all the things.

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 Middle 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, One in every 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 at all times mentioned if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now, I’d need 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 group just 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.

However simply as An Night with Issa Rae was an interesting sit-down with the multi-hyphenate, it was additionally filled 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 may eat a taco each day,” Rae mentioned). However not like 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 style, 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 right down to meet up with Rae. Right here’s what she needed to say about her eternally consolation meals, how she makes use of meals as a artistic automobile in her movies and tv exhibits, 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 sort of an experimental present. We’re determining what it’s, and so I’m simply grateful that individuals need 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 satisfy the individuals who’ve been supporting me for a really very long time. It’s additionally a method to introduce folks to Viarae, which is sort of what it’s all about.

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

Somebody informed me to go to Laredo Taqueria. I nonetheless need to attempt barbecue. I don’t know the spots! I might usually hit Eater to be like “The place do I’m 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.Okay. It’s normally smashed peas. I get the chips. I find it irresistible. That hen is the very best, and I’m an Additional 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 facet — movie and TV — what function does meals have, in these features of your life?

Sometimes, I attempt to use meals to signify 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 simplest ways potential. You may have a look at what any person’s consuming and sort of decide or decide somebody’s character or household, or their means, or no matter it’s. There are such a lot of issues you can 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 could 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 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 specific individual. So, it performs a giant function, though folks don’t at all times discover. In Insecure, specifically, it was extra about just like the restaurant scene and showcasing the very best meals areas and the Black-owned areas in LA that I really feel ought to be highlighted.

With Viarae, why was it necessary for that to be one in every 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 way of life, to the best way I wish to have a good time, 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 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 actually appealed to me. Viarae has turn out to be like a way of life — I used to be simply in Columbia for my birthday, and it was on the market, you already know. So yeah, it’s a way of life 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 eternally consolation meals will at all times be gumbo. I like gumbo.

Who has the very 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 hen, candy potatoes, and a vegetable. One way or the other after I make it, it’s very plain, and one way or the other, 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, but it surely’s value it. He simply provides extra garnishings and seasonings and additional 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.