Culinary Adventure Featuring Omi Hopper
Chef Omi Hopper better known as Cooking con Omi hosted beverages and bites with Chef Andre Rea presented by Singleton Scotch whiskey.
On March 28, 2023, Singleton Scotch Whiskey threw a “Bites and Beverages” dinner party, with viral TikTok Chef Omi Hopper of “Cooking Con Omi” along with Andrew Rea of “Binging With Babish” In honor of Women’s History Month. This gourmet adventure aimed to showcase joint recipes from the women who supported and inspired Chef Omi Hopper and Chef Andrew Rea’s culinary journeys. Dinner took place at the very posh SoHo neighborhood located in Manhattan. The dinner party was in a swanky loft filled with tastemakers and food influencers. The hors d’oeuvre were being served, as dinner was being prepared by Hot bread kitchen (HBK). HBK is a phenomenal non-profit organization designed to help create economic opportunities in the food industry for women, immigrants, and people of color by holding specialized job training and food entrepreneurship programs.
After dinner, while the crowd was socializing, I was able to speak to the cooking con Chef Omi. Chef Omi is taking the culinary industry by storm. Rather seen on her social media platforms or in season 2 of Next Level Chef. Chef Omi Hopper is a gourmet star who is quickly gaining popularity with that being said, I wanted to know more about this culinary favorite chef influencer.
Zoey: You have a background in beauty, as you were a former makeup artist. Why the change to culinary? What was the inspiration for that?
Chef Omi: you know what, really wasn’t a change it was more of a natural shift you can say. I feel like creating a palette on the face is one thing but creating a palette on the plate is very similar and frankly left me with the same satisfaction as creating a palette on the face. For me, both are very meaningful and both have a really beautiful purpose. When I was creating a palette on the face, I always love the women in my chair felt after I was done with their makeup. It was not just beautiful on the outside but they also felt beauty on the inside. Rather it was through conversation or if that was through them being able to tell their stories and give them that opportunity and that space. It was so rewarding to me to have a woman feel like that in my chair. But then you go over to food and I love very colorful food so there is that part but also, I love the satisfaction I get when my guests and the people that I love getting to eat the food and how they feel afterward. That in itself is the same satisfaction so it was a really easy transition. I didn’t mean for it to happen the way that it did but the pandemic chose for me. I never expected to. Go viral I was just trying to share my heritage and my culture with whoever was watching.
Zoey: Your journey started on TikTok with your cooking con Omi page, where your one-minute videos have gone viral. Now you are a contestant on season 2 of Next Level Chef. How has this changed the way you view cooking and your community?
Chef Omi: I see it as an opportunity to highlight my community. I also see it as an opportunity to highlight the beautiful things that were instilled in me at a very young age. Honoring my grandmother, my mom, and my aunts and being able to create a platform of representation where people can see themselves in me in one way or another. Me being on the next level chef season 2 Is where I get to showcase my culture, showcase the seed that was instilled in me at a very young age. Honor the women in my life who showed me everything I know. Being able to create that space for my followers, to just create a reflection of my culture and a reflection of people being able to see themselves in me that is what I took with me on Next Level Chef.
Zoey: You are currently doing this amazing partnership with Andrew Rea From “Binging with the Bash” along with “Singleton Scotch Whiskey” for women’s History month. How is it working with Andrew on this collaboration?
Chef Omi: you know Andrew as much as 10 million followers on YouTube might be an intimidating thing to know about someone, but he’s the most down-to-earth human being ever. He’s just so down to earth and fully welcome me into his kitchen and made me feel comfortable and most important I’m grateful to Singleton for having that come together.
Zoey: This marvelous collaboration that you, Andrew, and Singleton Scotch Whiskey not only celebrate but spotlight Women’s history. Can you tell us the women that inspired you in your culinary journey?
Chef Omi: always has been my grandmother, mom there was never a time when I didn’t come home to a warm meal and I think most people may say that so old school but my mom had choices but she still chose to always make me a warm meal from school and that was my inspiration. My grandmother and her joy in the kitchen that inspiration There was never a time I didn’t see her not dancing or singing she was just being herself and having fun that is my inspiration.
Zoey: One of the passions behind this alliance is to shine a light on women’s chefs. This joint venture is meant to encourage more leadership roles for women in the culinary field. Can you tell us the importance of women having more leadership roles in the culinary industry?
Chef Omi: you know in the culinary it’s very male-driven and has been for a long time having that woman’s touch, that woman’s perspective, we bring such a warmness and such a beautiful light to things. We see things very differently in the kitchen and overall, the way that we create. We are the birthers we are the life givers so when we that life onto a plate you can taste it. And so having that opportunity for women to be at the forefront in the kitchen and big kitchens I think it’s very important and should be something that happens more often.
You can watch chef Omi Hopper on Next Level Chef on Fox or Cooking Con Omi on Instagram TikTok or YouTube. You can learn more about The Singleton Whiskey on its social media outlets.