Pierre Thiam, African Iron Chef in New York

We met Pierre Thiam about ten years ago in Brooklyn, when he was planning two eateries almost simultaneously. Since then, he has not stood still. He competed against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America, wrote a cookbook, helped put together a festival of African cuisine in Dakar, and much more. I asked him a few questions about the road he travelled. Chef Thiam, photo courtesy Simran Jaising What is your background--where were you born, raised, in what languages? I was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. The official language is French but in Senegal, everyone speaks Wolof. My mother is from the south of Senegal, where Portuguese Creole  is spoken, and she taught me this language, so I grew up speaking these three languages. Grilled Chicken Yassa with Lime and Onion Confit Over Jasmine Rice, inspired by a typical Senegalese dish Photo: Adam Bartos When did you decide that you wanted to be a chef, that you loved cooking? How and where did you train?  I never thought being a chef was an option because I am from a culture where the kitchen is a gender based activity, reserved for women. I was a physics and chemistry student. However, when I came to NY in the late eighties to finish my studies, my first job was  coincidentally in a restaurant. I realized that food was my true calling while working there. Even though cooking wasn't an option when I was growing up, my family always took food matters very seriously.  My mom prepared elaborate meals and she was often experimenting in her cooking. When it became clear to me that this was what I really wanted to do, I apprenticed at several restaurants, learning on the job and moving through different stations in the kitchen. By the mid 1990s, I was Sous Chef at a popular restaurant in Soho. What was your trajectory in the United States? Any lessons learned, or regrets, successes, achievements you are especially proud of? My first kitchen experience was working at "Garvins" as a dishwasher first, then as a prep cook.  Later, I was hired as a salad chef and garde manger, before being promoted to the grill. Several years later, I was a saucier and line cook at "Jean Claude" Bistro (also in Soho). At "Boom" in 1992, I joined the team of executive chef Geoffrey Murray, which was specialized in global ethnic cuisine. After several years, Boom's team opened a branch in South Beach Miami and I was sent there as the chef de cuisine.  Flyer, Grand Avenue Block Party, 2010 Later, we opened an avant-garde African themed restaurant named Two Rooms in midtown Manhattan. After Two Rooms along with longtime friends in Brooklyn, we opened Yolele, an African inspired bistro on Fulton Street. Unfortunately, the partnership faltered and we closed after a couple of years. I also opened Le Grand Dakar, my second restaurant serving contemporary West African cuisine in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. I closed it after a seven year run. My restaurants served as cultural centers, introducing African arts, and live music. Photo: Evan Sung What are your current activities? I am renting a kitchen in Harlem that serves as a base for a line of products I am developing. I also run my catering business from the Harlem kitchen. I consult for 2 restaurants, one of which is opening this summer and another one next year. I travel frequently: last year alone I prepared a dinner in Cuba for the Havana Biennial, and spent 10 days traveling around south Africa for a consulting job.  I've been lecturing around Africa for the need to promote our culinary tradition and ingredients. I received the Responsible Tourism Award at the African Travel Association (ATA) world congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  More recently, I partnered with the Senegalese Ministry of Trade to organize AfroEats, an international food festival in Dakar. I traveled with chefs from the United States, France, Cameroon, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Mexico, for a culinary tour of Senegalese cuisine. In Dakar, the chefs met with nutritionists and food entrepreneurs; for 5 days we were educated on the virtues of eating local African food. In a way, I play an unofficial role of ambassador of African cuisine. Another proud achievement is my cookbook "Yolele! Recipes from the Heart of Senegal" which was a finalist of the Julia Child Award and received the Jury Prize in Paris for the World Gourmand Award. What are your plans for the future? I plan to still spread the gospel of our cuisine while having fun. I am writing a new book. This summer, I am partnering with a charity called Mama Hope and we will open a Pop Up restaurant on Mount Kilimanjaro. For more information: www.pierrethiamcatering.com www.pierrethiam.com www.facebook.com/pierrethiam