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Chef Jennifer Sebasigari once dreamed of becoming one famous chefbut now she is dreaming of helping others achieve their dreams.
From being a chef to advocating for immigrant and refugee causes with her SEBAS FoundationSebasigar's story is one of transformation and empowerment.
Born in the East African country of Burundi, Sebasigari and her family found themselves forced into the Democratic Republic of Congo after local unrest and war caused them to flee. They then moved to a refugee camp in Cameroon before landing safely in Austin, TX in 2001.
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After high school in Texas, Sebasigari influenced her love COOKING and set her sights on becoming a celebrity chef. Originally inspired by television bosses like Giada De Laurentiis, Sebasigari embarked on a culinary journey fueled by dreams of fame and recognition. However, the reality of culinary school soon challenged her expectations.
“After culinary school, I thought, 'I'm going to go work for Giada and be this famous celebrity chef. And I'll get all the magazines. I'm going to have my own TV show.'” she tells Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef Cali BBQ Media in the new episode of Restaurant influencers. “I signed the paper, started school and realized, 'Oh, no, that's not going to happen.' I had all these glamorous dreams, but I didn't realize that you start as a prep cook and you have to work your way up, so it was pretty funny looking back, but I stuck with it and graduated with honors. “
Although her dreams of being a celebrity chef were put on hold, Chef Sebasigari was able to keep her pulse on social media and her influence on growing a brand.
She immediately recognized the power of storytelling in the culinary world. Now she works to help restaurant owners share their narratives authentically with digital media and connect with consumers on a deeper level.
“Start posting,” she advises people starting out. “Tell us stories about your food. We want to be connected to your food. There's nothing better than when you eat something that has meaning behind it.”
Aid to Refugees
Chef Jennifer Sebasigari's life experience has given her an understanding of the challenges facing underrepresented communities. It is exerting its influence through SEBAS Foundation and the annual Live Fire party – a fundraising event to be held in Houston on June 20, 2024.
“It's something I'm very passionate about,” said Sebasigari. “We raise money for immigrants and refugees. About 60 percent of our sponsors and all the staff we employ are immigrant and refugee-based businesses.”
Chef Sebasigari's heart for giving back has been expanded into a short documentary film titled, Table of Nationswhich is part of a larger initiative to “raise special awareness for the refugees and immigrants who feed us and the nonprofits that support them.”
“I'm so excited to just share my story and connect with more people and share the story of resilience.”
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