TCI Talks – Emad Yacoub

With identities that have evolved over time and place, Emad Yacoub share how they continue to explore their own culture and heritage.

Emad Yacoub

CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GLOWBAL RESTAURANT GROUP

What kind of Third Culture individual are you?

I am a Coptic Egyptian, born and raised. I immigrated to Toronto in 1984 when I was 19 years old. I did not speak any English when I arrived and it took me several years to adapt to the language, culture and weather. After becoming one of the top chefs in Toronto, I moved to Vancouver in 1997 to be the Executive Chef at Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House, after which I established Glowbal Restaurant Group.

Your life has been an exploration of cultures, not necessarily your “own” by birth. How has this journey shaped the way you explore your own heritage and ancestral culture?

When I lived in Toronto, I was fascinated by the incredible blend of cultures. From hanging out on College Street with all the Italian influences to having late-night dinners in Chinatown, it opened my eyes to the fact that we are all actually the same. Even though I was brought up in Egypt, our cultures share more similarities than differences.

How important is it for you to continue exploring your own or adopted culture, heritage and identity? And in what ways do you do so?

My wife is Asian-Canadian, so I am always adapting to other cultures as my kids are brought up with different cultures and traditions. It is extremely important to instil a sense of pride in their different heritages. As for myself, I was raised in a household where my mother always kept her home open to everyone, from family and friends to neighbours passing by. There was always a smile on her face and a meal being cooked. Her spirit shaped me: that’s something I’ve taken into every restaurant and into the culture of our Glowbal Restaurant Group.

“I am always adapting to other cultures as my kids are brought up with different cultures and traditions”