California Official Visitor's Guide 2022 - 12

As often as we can
we sit down and enjoy good
food and great conversation
together. Life is so fast paced.
You sometimes forget to
sit and do that. "
Stephen were married, he had been drafted by the Warriors, and they
had settled in the Bay Area. She began to visit her local growers. " I
did a deep dive and fell in love with food even more. " Their extended
families began noticing her growing passion for cooking and, when
visiting, tasted the difference. " They would ask, 'How do you do this?'
and 'What's this recipe?' " A year after Riley was born, Stephen asked
Ayesha a fateful question: " Hey, why don't you start a blog? "
As she began to document her life with food, Ayesha became
more aware of her new community. " We feel so grateful to have grown
into adulthood out here. When it comes to the food, I think there's this
care and passion about what you're doing. People just want to help one
another. And the emphasis on supporting your community-buying
from your local providers, seafood from your local fishmonger or
produce from your local farm. And people really do pay attention to the
seasonal aspects of cooking. " It's also, she says, this element of finding
Curry's home setup during her virtual
" tour " for The Full Plate cookbook
the best local spots to eat and then enduring lines
because it's local and the best.
" We like Bakesale Betty, " says Ayesha. " It's
a hole-in-the-wall place that puts out chicken
sandwiches a couple of days a week. And the line is
wrapped around the building. And it's not just any
chicken sandwich-they're using local ingredients. "
Ayesha calls out one essential local ingredient:
" They're putting love into their food. "
As her cooking chops developed, Ayesha
discovered new ways to put love into her food. She
says California-based chef Michael Mina-with
more than 40 restaurants, his Bourbon Burger
Bars are across the state-has served as a mentor. " He pretty much
taught me everything, " she notes. " He's been such a rock star in my
life. He's like a big brother. "
Says Mina: " Our partnership started with Ayesha's passion for
cooking. The truth of it is, we are just two people who love food and
love people. "
Ayesha understands the paradox of people faced with hunger
amid the bounty of California-where so much produce thrives.
" What I've come to realize is that it's not about the lack of food
in the community, " she notes. " It's about the resources to get
everything where it needs to go. We are surrounded by farms and we
are surrounded by ranches. And there's so much waste. It's about
creating this ecosystem of everybody working together to solve the
issue. It's a logistics issue. "
As it's always been for Ayesha, her inspiration for the future
comes from being present at home. These
days, her philanthropic energy is derived from
her own kitchen table.
" Not every night, but as often as we can,
we sit down and enjoy good food and great
conversation together, " Ayesha says. " Life is
so fast paced. You sometimes forget to sit and
do that. " She says her kitchen is the center of
their day-to-day lives. " My girls, they love to
help me. So they'll usually have a job or two
in the kitchen when we're cooking dinner.
Canon's usually making a mess, running
amok! And Stephen-he's really great at
pouring the wine. "
And if you're wondering what Stephen
Curry is pouring, well, it's local and recently
named one of the best. In 2016, Ayesha
launched her own winery-Domaine Curry,
working with several vineyards in the region-
and currently enjoys her own Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon.
" We get the meal on the table, " she says.
" And that's all that matters. "
12 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP: COURTESY AYESHA CURRY; THE INGALLS/COURTESY PROPER SANTA MONICA HOTEL; COURTESY INTERNATIONAL SMOKE. THIS PAGE: COURTESY AYESHA CURRY

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California Official Visitor's Guide 2022

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