Food and lifestyle entrepreneur Ayesha Curry is taking the culinary world by storm, and she has no plans on stopping anytime soon. Much of Curry’s work is inspired by her own rich culture — she grew up in a large, Afro-Asian Jamaican family in Toronto — and the family traditions she and her husband Stephen Curry, legendary point guard for the Golden State Warriors, are building for their children. Her work is, first and foremost, centered in family and community and uplifts women and people of color.
With an empire that spans many mediums of the food industry, the culinary tastemaker has the range of industry stalwarts like Martha Stewart and the meticulously curated aesthetic of contemporaries like Meghan Markle. Bursting with ideas, Curry always has her hands in a project. The mother of four has published two cookbooks—The Seasoned Life and The Full Plate. She had a Food Network cooking show, Ayesha’s Home Kitchen. She also co-owns International Smoke, a globally inspired BBQ restaurant in San Francisco, with Chef Michael Mina.
And her lifestyle brand Sweet July sells everything from home decor to foodstuffs to skincare and also has a magazine that’s available digitally and in print. She also recently launched a publishing imprint, Sweet July Books, dedicated to uplifting diverse voices. They published their first novel last month, Trisha Tobias’ Honeysuckle and Bone, a Caribbean speculative horror novel that follows Carina, an 18-year-old who travels to Jamaica to work as a nanny for a wealthy family and is confronted with dark spirits and secrets on the estate.
Andscape caught up with Curry to chat about her family background and how that influences the food culture she and Stephen are building for their kids, her culinary inspirations, and how they incorporate sports and wellness into their family’s food traditions.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Sweet July
What were your food traditions at home growing up? How did those food traditions connect to your unique family history, culture, or location?
I grew up in Toronto in a big Jamaican family. I was so fortunate that my Jamaican culture was all around me, from the food to the music. My house was the gathering place for family and friends, and the kitchen was usually where everyone would congregate because there was always something cooking.
I think that’s why I’ve always connected cooking to love. That’s influenced how I take care of the people around me. Whenever I miss home or want to connect back to my roots, the easiest way to find that connection is by cooking the same Jamaican dishes my mom and grandma used to cook growing up – oxtail, rice and peas, plantain, and all those things.
Before starting your family, did you have any ideas about food traditions you wanted to start that would be unique to your family? Or maybe traditions you’d had growing up that you wanted to continue?
Both my parents worked, so I got into the kitchen at a very young age to help out. I’m so grateful for those experiences with my mom and grandma, spending time with them and learning about the flavors of our Jamaican heritage.
I’ve tried to encourage my kids to get into the kitchen and touch and smell and taste ingredients from a young age, to learn the dishes of our culture and grow an appreciation of the food we eat and where it comes from. My oldest is actually now a very skilled chef, making recipes from start to finish on her own, which makes me very proud.
Sweet July
Have you implemented those food traditions, and if so, how do you think they enrich your family?
The most impactful food tradition that has shaped me into the person I am seems simple, but it’s sitting down together for a meal. It’s not going to be every meal, but I try to get the whole family around the table for at least one meal a day. The table for our family growing up was our source of connection and conversation. Life gets busy, and sometimes, time is in short supply, but family meals will always be a priority for me.
Who are some people who inspire you culinarily?
Growing up, I was such a cooking show fanatic. I used to love watching Rachael Ray and Martha Stewart, so they influenced me early on. I’ve been fortunate enough to team up with Chef Michael Mina and partner on a few restaurants, and he’s been such an incredible mentor. I also have had the privilege of knowing and working with Chef Jose Andres through the years and with his organization, World Central Kitchen. He has been such an inspiration in how he takes his gift of cooking and uses it to provide for the community. What he’s built is truly remarkable.
Are you teaching your children to cook or grow things in a garden?
I’ve gotten very into gardening — planting and harvesting a lot of our own vegetables and fruits — and we even have chickens for fresh eggs! It’s such a privilege we’re afforded living in California and something we never were able to do in Canada because of the weather. I love getting the kids out there with me, getting their hands dirty and having a deeper appreciation for what goes into the food on their table. They really enjoy it.
How do you incorporate sports and food for your family to create a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle?
Becoming a mom really has made me hyper-focused on ingredients. I’ve relaxed slightly through the years, but I was obsessed with nutrition when my first daughter was born, making everything I fed her from scratch. Luckily, there are now some better options out there that weren’t available back then.
For example, my husband Steph and I teamed up with Michelle Obama to support a better juice option, Plezi, with significantly less sugar and added fiber to hopefully replace the sugary drinks currently on the market. They’re raising the bar for what we’re feeding our kids, and it’s been pretty special to be a part of it. My kids are at the age now that their schedule is filled with activities and practices, so I am now having to think about not just healthy options but making sure they have all the nutrients they need to stay fueled.
What is your advice for people looking to start their own food traditions for their family?
My advice would be to start small. Maybe it’s making one family recipe together over the holidays when everything moves a little slower, and everyone has the extra time. I’m also a pen-and-paper girl, and I love a written recipe. Collecting recipes from family members is a great way to preserve tradition and connect you with the people you love.
