Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Ha.
Christine, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in California to Vietnamese refugee parents, grew up in Texas, and lost my mother when I was 14. I taught myself how to cook in college when I missed her cooking. At the same time, I began losing my vision, which I later learned was due to an autoimmune disease called Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). I am now fully vision impaired but re-taught myself how to cook without sight. I rose to fame when I won season 3 of Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef on FOX. This year, my very first restaurant, The Blind Goat, will open in downtown Houston.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I consider myself a supporter of the culinary and literary arts. My two loves in life are cooking and writing. Before I competed on MasterChef, I was getting my graduate degree in creative writing at the University of Houston. I enjoy practicing both of these arts—by opening The Blind Goat and by working on a long overdue memoir—and I’m especially smitten when both arts are combined, like when I wrote my first cookbook, Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food, and it became a New York Times best-seller.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think it’s getting better for artists, but there is still a long way to go. People don’t think art is essential, and while, yes, art will not satiate your stomach or keep you safe per se. But art is the expression of things and emotions which are often so hard to define in other ways. It’s what we turn to in times of crisis. Funding needs to continue in order for art and artists to thrive. In the long run, a powerful and energetic art scene is what makes a city dynamic and attractive.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The Blind Goat is located inside Bravery Chef Hall at 409 Travis Street in downtown Houston. I am also active on social media—Instagram, Twitter, Facebook handles are @theblindcook—and I have a blog: theblindcook.com. I also like to share my life on YouTube: YouTube.com/ChristineHaTube.
Contact Info:
- For Christine Ha
- Instagram: @theblindcook
- Twitter: @theblindcook
- Facebook: @theblindcook
- YouTube: YouTube.com/ChristineHaTube
- Website: theblindcook.com
- For The Blind Goat:
- Website: TheBlindGoat.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/theblindgoathtx
- Facebook: Facebook.com/theblindgoathtx
- Twitter: Twitter.com/theblindgoathtx
- Other: Theblindcook.com
Image Credit:
For personal photo: Julie Soefer Photography
For photo of The Blind Goat: John Suh
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
