Charles Kafoure

I was born in Indianapolis in 1948 to parents of Syrian-Lebanese origin, with each of my four grandparents emigrating from the Middle East to this country around the turn of the 20th Century. My early cultural life was closely tied to the traditions of the societies that they left; a primary element of those traditions is that of food. Our social and family lives revolved around food, and the richness of our lives was enhanced by its careful, studied preparation. In the two generations preceding mine, the cooking was managed almost exclusively by the women in our families. I learned greatly from my grandmothers and my mother, and have carried forward those traditions.

I have had a variety of experience in my life, including a long and successful career in international trade. That allowed me to continue my education in food across many countries and traditions. My diverse cultural experiences, including a period of living abroad, have served to widen my horizons and to make me yet more creative in the kitchen and in entertaining.

I was married to a wonderful woman of the same ethnic background with whom I was able to culturally grow and further learn the kitchen. We have two wonderful, grown children together.