Michele Kayal co-founded a website called American Food Roots which celebrates, you guessed it, our diverse culinary histories.

Michele grew up on Long Island, is half Syrian, and half Irish.  The Syrian roots dominated the kitchen and to this day are the flavors that inform Michele's cooking. I love her story about stopping by the Syrian bakery on the way home from church with her grandfather. My mind's eye captures the scene - a dark, humid, hot place where Michele got to punch down the breads as they fell off the converyor belt.  All, while her grandfather visited with his friend as they sipped thick sweet coffee.

So, listen up and enjoy Michele's journey to celebrating the "hyphenated chef," i.e. Syrian-American, Irish-American, Italian-American, etc.