Chef Nayeem Ashraf: Tasting The World With Bangladeshi Food
Original story and exclusive recipe on Behind the Plate with Kenzie Osborne
On one side of the globe, there’s a world of family, traditions, and simplicity. On the other side, there’s a world of busy lives, diversity, and innovation. When you fuse the two worlds together, you can create something truly magical. During these times, it’s not easy to immerse ourselves in a new culture — but, when we sit around a dinner table and share food from another culture, we can experience something amazing.
Bangladeshi Food: Forget The Frills, Just Add Flavour
Chef Nayeem Ashraf was born and raised in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi food isn’t exactly “fine-dining-michelin-starred-quality” — but it’s prepared with love, passion, and ingredients picked straight from the ground.
“There was never deprivation of having the chance to indulge in real, homemade food. My mom was an amazing cook, and I was so fortunate to have been able to grow up eating her meals. She put so much love and passion into everything she made. It wasn’t fancy, but it tasted so good!”
In Bangladesh, it is traditional for women to cook at home while men go to work. It’s almost frowned upon for men to be in the kitchen… Growing up, Chef Nayeem loved watching raw ingredients transform into stunning, delicious meals. He saw how much his mom loved to be in the kitchen, and he wanted to join in on the fun. Due to the tradition of women being in the kitchen, Chef Nayeem’s father wasn’t entirely on-board with the idea of him participating in the “kitchen chores”. But, Chef Nayeem’s passion was too great, and his mom was happy to pass along her culinary knowledge to her eager son.
Breaking Barriers By Breaking Bread… Together
Chef Nayeem and his mom would bond in the kitchen day in and day out. Whether they were filled with cheer, or stressed from a tough day, they knew they’d be able to ground themselves in the kitchen. Cooking provided a sense of peace and the kitchen quickly became a space to create memories they’d cherish forever.
“Cooking with my mom was so important to my upbringing. It’s how we bonded, and I hold those memories so close to my heart. Some days, my dad would come home from work stressed, and my mom would be upset. I knew that as soon as we were in the kitchen cooking, she would be able to smile and forget about her day. It became a way to relieve my mom’s pain, and share my love for my family through food.”
A Table Full Of Hungry Bellies And Delicious Bangladeshi Food
After spending hours in the kitchen, it was time to sit at the dinner table to enjoy their family meal. Sitting at the dinner table wasn’t an “option” — rather, it was a tradition.
“In our culture, it’s a must to have dinner together. It’s our way to bond, talk about life, and reconnect with each other. We all spend our days doing different things — so taking the time to sit down and share a meal allows us to tell stories and discuss what happened that day. Nowadays, it’s not as easy to find the time to get together and enjoy a meal… So, the days when I DO get the chance to share a meal with my family are even more special than they were when I was a child.”
Choosing A Career That Didn’t Sit Quite Right
As Chef Nayeem grew older, his passion for food grew deeper…. Unfortunately, becoming a chef was off-limits as a suitable career. It was tough to find someone who would support a man in the kitchen — so, he decided to pursue a career in business instead.
Chef Nayeem travelled to Canada in pursuit of a career in business. He studied at the University of Windsor, then later transferred to Seneca to complete his undergrad. A career in business wasn’t particularly ideal — but it was a career choice that was accepted in his home country.
While at university, Chef Nayeem took a job as a busser at a local restaurant. It was his first time working in a restaurant, and he wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of running food to-and-from tables. The hours were long and crazy — and he didn’t even get to do the fun-stuff in the back-of-house…
“I didn’t really like serving food… But, it was cool to watch as guests took their first bite of the dishes they were served. It was fun to watch their reactions, and it was amazing to see how the food was able to bring a smile to their faces. I wanted nothing more then to be the one preparing the food — but in reality, I had NO culinary experience…”
From Momma’s Kitchen To The Culinary Industry
While Chef Nayeem certainly knew a-thing-or-two about being in the kitchen with his mom, he was a stranger to the “real-world” of the food industry. His culinary skills may have been somewhat developed — but no restaurant was about to take a resume referral from “momma’s kitchen”…
“I decided to look for a job at a casual restaurant. I landed upon a job opening for a cook at Freshii. It was nothing extravagant, but I had the chance to work hands-on with the food and prepare some simple meals. I continued to work there for a couple of years while working my way through school.
Embracing The Incredible Food Scene In Toronto
Chef Nayeem was loving Canada. He wanted to stay and explore more of the cultures and diversity the country had to offer.
“I absolutely loved Toronto. It was completely different from back home. There were so many cuisines to try, and so many people to meet from all over the world! It was the first time I’d been exposed to Korean BBQ, Japanese food, and South American cuisine. Don’t even get me started on all-you-can-eat sushi, that’s a game changer… I couldn’t believe that I was allowed to order unlimited amounts of sashimi… It was amazing…”
Re-Establishing His Love For Cooking And Bangladeshi Food
Shortly after graduation, Chef Nayeem had to unexpectedly return home (to Bangladesh) to help support his family….It wasn’t easy — but it was necessary, and he knew his family needed the support. When he returned home, he entered a bit of a downward spiral towards depression. He wasn’t happy with running the family business, and he missed his home in Toronto.
As the days went by, Chef Nayeem began to think back to his experiences cooking with his mom. Being in the kitchen always brought him a sense of joy and happiness. He began to spend more time in the kitchen to relieve his stress and take his mind away from the hardships that were going on around.
Leaping Into The “Frowned-Upon” World Of Culinary Arts
Chef Nayeem dreamt of having a career in the kitchen — but he knew it wouldn’t be an easy feat.
“It was frowned upon for me to walk into the kitchen. I wanted the support — I wanted to be accepted in the kitchen. Not only was cooking my passion, but in preparing food for my family, I could take some of the burden off of my mom.”
Eventually, Chef Nayeem took the leap… He wanted to chase his dreams — regardless of the resistance from others around. A few years later, Chef Nayeem enrolled in culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Malaysia. He spent two-and-a-half years training under some of the best chefs, and perfecting his French culinary techniques. After the program, Chef Nayeem had the incredible opportunity to be an intern at restaurant Nobu in Malaysia. Working with Chef Nobu was a dream come true — and he was overjoyed by the opportunity to train under such an acclaimed chef.
Serving A World Of Flavours Through Upscale Bangladeshi Food
After completing his internship, Chef Nayeem moved back to Bangladesh in hopes of becoming a chef at a restaurant. He wanted to create unique experiences for others, and bring his knowledge of the “outside” world to his community in Bangladesh.
“There aren’t many people in Bangladesh who have the opportunity to travel to other parts of the world. I feel so fortunate to have been able to travel to different countries, and be exposed to many cuisines. Being in Toronto really opened my eyes to the diversity of the world. I love learning from other cultures and incorporating their ingredients or techniques into my cooking back home. It’s almost as if I can bring a piece of another country to Bangladesh. Food allows me the chance to share another culture with those who may not have the opportunity to experience them through travelling.”
Elevating Food With Inspiration From Cultures
Chef Nayeem is inspired by the food of the world. There isn’t one cuisine that stands out — rather, it’s the beauty within the diversity of the world that is particularly intriguing.
“Experiencing the flavours of different cuisines is just the beginning. Then, it’s learning about HOW another culture eats, and the celebrations around the dinner table that’s so interesting. Part of the joy of eating Japanese food is using chopsticks. It just wouldn’t be the same if you used a fork… Similarly, watching a live Korean BBQ is so impressive. Again, the experience wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t get to watch that live action.”
Engaging in traditions from other cultures allows you to appreciate differences, and connect with others whom you may have never otherwise connected with. It allows us to bond, break barriers, and see each other in a new light.
“I love bringing cultures together on a plate. Introducing one culture to another is so satisfying. You’re not just serving food, you’re introducing people to another part of the world. That’s what’s so special about it.”
Fusion Is Embedded Into The Base Of Bangladeshi Food
Lucky for Chef Nayeem, fusing together people from different countries is the base of Bangladeshi culture.
“Bangladeshi food is adapted from so many cultures. A lot of our dishes are inspired by China and India. We use a lot of similar spices like turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, garam masala and chili powder. Within the past decade-or-so, Bangladeshi food has become more diverse, and our restaurants are drawing upon inspiration from more cultures around the globe. We use the same spices and flavour profiles, but incorporate them into dishes from various countries. For example, we’ll serve pizza with Bangladeshi spice, or burgers with Bangladeshi spices mixed in. It’s fun to see the fusion and creativity coming to the forefront of our food scene.”
Connect. Inspire. Follow Your Dreams.
Chef Nayeem views the dinner table as a space to connect with anyone and appreciate everyone. He emphasizes diversity and inclusivity both in the kitchen and while sitting around the dinner table. No matter the resistance you may face from others, chasing your dreams will allow you to find true happiness.
Chef Nayeem strives to encourage others to follow their heart — and leave “gender roles” to the side. There aren’t “jobs for women” and “jobs for men”… Rather, there are “jobs that will make you happy”, and “jobs that will not”. Choose the career that brings a smile to your face. When you find the career of your dreams, you can reach your true potential.
Continuing To Break Down Barriers Through Incredible Bangladeshi Food
Behind the plate, Chef Nayeem is breaking down barriers. On the plate, he’s showcasing the incredible diversity the world has to offer. So, in honour of Chef Nayeem’s initiative, I challenge you to sit down at the dinner table tonight and try food from another culture. Expose yourself to a new part of the world, and immerse yourself in an unexplored culture that will make you say WOW.
Thank You!
Thank you so much to Chef Nayeem for taking the time to speak with me today. Your journey, dedication, drive, and passion is absolutely inspiring — and I commend your initiative to encourage others to follow in your footsteps.
Head on over to Chef Nayeem’s instagram HERE to check out his newest culinary creations and discover more about Bangladeshi food!
