Asheville chef chosen as U.S. culinary diplomat, travels to Qatar

William Dissen, chef and operator of The Industry Place in downtown Asheville, took a trip to the Center East and returned with an comprehension of how a shared meal can assistance bridge divides.

All through the Thanksgiving weekend, Dissen released Southern cuisine and U.S. customs to the men and women of Doha, the funds of Qatar. In flip, Dissen and lengthy-time buddy, chef Saif Rahman, who was also invited to support, gained knowledge and experiences that are influencing how and what they cook in their eating places.

“Travel is 1 of the most vital issues that I have humbly had the chance to do in my life,” Dissen said. “Any time you go outside the house of your boundaries it breaks down barriers and stereotypes. When you go spots where people today really don’t look or audio like you or take in the exact same food items that you try to eat it opens your eyes to comprehend we’re all world citizens. We’re all human beings on this earth making an attempt to reside a good life and maintain relocating ahead in a beneficial way.”

Chef William Dissen prepared grits, fried chicken and other Southern dishes for guests in Doha, Qatar during a culinary diplomacy trip, Nov. 23-29, 2021.

From Nov. 24-29, Dissen participated in the Arts Envoy Application, cultural diplomacy method, to showcase the foodstuff of the Appalachian and Thanksgiving traditions.

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The Arts Envoy Application is a public-personal initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with American Voices. The method appoints creative industry experts to share their abilities, competencies and know-how of the American society with group users in other countries.