Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Omar Adem. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Omar , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I have always been passionate about spreading my Ethiopian culture more than anything else but just didn’t know how to. Seeing that Hollywood didnt have any Ethiopian food establishments, I saw that I could be the first. It was 2020 when the pandemic started and my job ended after six years of being in sales. Not having any commitments and all the time in the world, I found this was the perfect opportunity to move forward with it. I went home to Atlanta so my mom could teach me to make the food. My parents are both immigrants from Ethiopia. She is known as one of the best cooks in the family. I never was a chef nor went to culinary school. It was more about the business and educating people about the culture I was focused on. After learning how to make the food, I hesistated to start the business because of our friend named anxiety. It wasn’t until I went to Cartagena, Colombia where I found my truth. My buddy presented the idea of going there to shoot a documentary about the food and culture. From the chefs I met during those ten weeks and all the invaluable advice I received, it gave me all the confidence to start my business . The generosity and hospitality was already ingrained in me because of my culture but the confidence was the biggest thing I had to gain to move forward with starting Omar’s Ethiopian Cuisine.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
What excites me the most are the different types of events I’m a vendor at. From comedy shows, art galleries, raves, and many more. In addition to my food business , I released my own hot sauce called Omar’s Awaze Sauce. I’ve been selling it at my food events but now looking at farmers markets and grocery stores to have it. Specifically, the Silverlake, Hollywood, and DTLA locations for the farmers markets. When I’m not cooking and selling my hot sauce, I’m busy producing my own one-man show for stage; acting came way before cooking. It tells the story of how I navigated and came to terms of having a mental disease I was diagnosed with back in 2014. It touches on shame, vulnerability, and how I overcame it to accept that it’s ok to have limitations. What amazes me the most is that how both careers run parallel to each other regarding the lessons I have learned and overcome. E.g. Insecurity, impostor syndrome, need for validation, and anxiety. All in all, the “arts” serves as my foundation for all that I’m accomplishing in this life with the limited time I have.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Knowing that finding your truth is the highest pursuit in this life. We are all on the same path, we just move at different speeds. NEVER compare yourself. Have the patience to be present and listen before you respond. They have to buy YOU before they buy from you. That applies to whatever you’re trying to accomplish. Also, don’t beat yourself up when you feel like relaxing and taking a day off. EVERYONE needs breaks. In the end, no matter what happens, just remember you’ll be OK!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Currenty, my main focus is Omar’s AWAZE Sauce I’m looking to partner with local food bar establishments where it can be used as a condiment, hot sauce, marinade, and for making cocktails. Also, would love to have it on shelves of local grocery stores like Whole Foods, Gelson, etc. It truly is one of a kind hot sauce. It’s not just a condiment but a compliment. Follow @omarsethiopiancuisine and www.omarssauce.com for all updates for pop-ups and Omar’s AWAZE Sauce.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.omarssauce.com
- Instagram: @omarsethiopiancuisine
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Robert Macaisa IG: @rmacaisa
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