(gentle music) - In September, 2020, we found ourselves in Asheville in the backyard of Chef Meherwan Irani.

And he was cooking up a beautiful dish for us as we talked about how food brings us all together in so many unique and different ways.

- And it was really a perfect moment for that to happen 'cause I think we were all feeling pretty low and shell-shocked from COVID and the pandemic and worried about the future.

And that was one of those bright moments where doing that feature really kinda reminded me that there's folks out there that care about food, care about cities, care about communities, and we're wishing a success.

- And Mehran Irani is such a great person to talk about community.

In fact, after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, he and the Chai Pani crew at his restaurant sprang into action and cooked and prepared over 30,000 meals, and they distributed them throughout the Asheville and Western North Carolina area.

- The day after the hurricane, I think we were shell-shocked with complete lack of communication.

Luckily, World Central Kitchen mobilized very quickly, and within three or four days, we had all mobilized into little cooking camps where we each were making two to 3,000 meals a day and sending it out by helicopter, by bicycle, on foot, to wherever we could get food out to where it was needed.

'Cause that's kinda what the essence of being in the service industry is about.

It's not just about serving food to people that walk in through the front door.

It's about taking care of wherever people need, and what we do is food.

- I think for my home, Meherwan's story really rings true, because not only are you getting to know the food and the culture of what Meherwan's bringing, but you're also getting to see Meherwan's great big ol' heart and the kindness that he generates throughout the community.

- What I'm excited about in the future is taking what we think is our brand of service and hospitality and spreading it throughout the country, sort of one community at a time.

So we're opening a number of restaurants, and we're excited to see Indian street food and Indian food and the cuisine of my culture becoming more and more approachable, mainstream, and accepted by the country.

(upbeat music)