Sohla El-Waylly was told that she shouldn’t be in food | Salon Talks

Sohla El-Waylly tells Salon about her new cookbook “Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook.” The chef and food personality reflects on being the only woman in professional kitchens, how the industry is changing and why she is anti-pressure cooker but pro-cast iron. Plus, El-Waylly remembers the time she was told she shouldn’t work in food and shares how having a child is changing her cooking.
Learn more about El-Waylly's new cookbook “Start Here” here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

[@lukethomas658]

She's such an interesting human. One my fav people to watch cook, because she's both ambitious and relaxed. Good interview, a real conversation.

[@michaeln9931]

Great observation. I can imagine her being both challenging and supportive as a chef. I bet she was incredible to work for.

[@dpclerks09]

@@michaeln9931 The best Chefs are the ones that push you. You hate em in the moment, but thank them later on.

[@queazeproductions]

Ambitious and relaxed is such a great way to describe her. She knows how to elevate everything, but it always remains fun and will never be snobbish.

[@LivingWithCancer101]

Well said! Sohla is a very interesting human! She's got so much knowledge, and doesn't nystify it. She simplifies it and makes it more ACCESSIBLE to people. She's a wonderful teacher and engaging personality. I'm always happy to see more Sohla in anything! MORE SOHLA! (unless she's tired....then leave her alone.)

[@eriquitabonita]

100% here for Sohla - thank you for this interview, for her to shine 🥰

[@lorimartin3724]

Congratulations to Sohla and Hamm(?) expanding their new family. Enjoy your baby.

[@cherryllcooper679]

Sohla! So approachable, so genuine, and so non-conformist without being vulgar/shallow/exploitative/angry. Enjoy everything of hers I’ve seen.

[@addiehuguenet4027]

I would happily listen to Sohla talk and just watch her hands. So expressive and beautiful ❤

[@Mchelle021]

What an exceptional interviewer!

[@TakenTook]

I'm so happy to hear about the baby!

[@variabell3326]

Sohla warms my heart. I'm so glad this video exists.

[@jamesdooling4139]

Who doesn't love Sohla? She's the food hero we need for a few decades!❤

[@Qwerty-jy9mj]

I loved bon appetit

[@adigitalis8409]

Absolutely love Sohla! I also want to compliment the interviewer. Excellent questions, and she did a good job of letting Sohla expand on her ideas in their conversation. Exceptional job, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Sohla’s book.

[@slugbiker]

thanks for the thoughtful questions! always love to hear more from Sohla

[@gorditachula]

Cookbook arrived this week, can’t wait to start cooking from it. Love you Sohla ☺️💖

[@webwarren]

I love the idea of "learn the techniques and science, and then riff off it". Theme-and-variations applied to cuisine - I generally call it "fun with food". And for the most part, even if things don't come out the way you wanted them to, it's still edible. (And as Sohla mentioned multiple times, you learn from your mistakes.)

[@irishfergal]

I am a proud disciple of Sohla. Sohla has come up in my dream life and in my therapy. Crazy, I know. I love that she's writing to people who as kids didn't understand why adults told us we were too curious, even when we were appropriately curious. This is called correct pedagogy.

[@zabuma]

Love the interview, Sohla is a young legend! 🤑🤑🤑🤑

[@maureenhewett333]

Received the book this week; so excited to put it to use!

[@j-sun3821]

This sounds like the cookbook I've been looking for,, thank you for the interview with Sohla.

[@JoseMontes-ul3mv]

Beautiful!! 🤩 I can’t wait to pick this book up ! 👏🏽

[@robertpollock8617]

I love her shows. Glad you kept your desire to cook.

[@troubiemakie]

I have so much respect for Sohla! Amazing interview.

[@truckarttinbox9644]

i love sohla soooo much! she's such an inspiration and so smart

[@giaafshar8419]

omg who the f would say that she shouldn’t be in food. she should be in all food

[@chelsbells27]

I love Sohla! I bought this book and can’t wait to dig in. And I 5,000% agree with her about the InstantPot - nightmare machine

[@junepines3692]

Como la amo, me voy a leer el libro mil veces

[@buschcory]

Great interview, thanks for sharing! Sohla you're great! I really resonate with being a maybe difficult child who must know the 'why' for things.

[@dpclerks09]

Whoa, that mango-pistachio cake is gorgeous.

[@pfv1247]

I watched some of her history on foods. I came away with the impression that Sola has an incredible palate.

[@Zalyplants]

I love how she teaches

[@urchocolatecake3025]

When I first saw her on yt I was so mesmerized by her! Her energy is unlike other people. She is so genuine 💕

[@magicalfluffybunny]

Sohla we love you!

[@eduardomanrique400]

She’s amazing

[@RPMir]

I love Sohla. So relatable and cool. :)

[@daphnebell3489]

I like Sohla she's someone I'd make my best friend.

[@00000materialization]

i love love love sohlas laugh

[@pameladonner4397]

Yay Sohla!

[@carinen8119]

Love Sohla!

[@dralissa123]

She's a genius. So happy she had a baby. How lovely. 🎉❤

[@grendelrobert7511]

Sohla!

[@lynnstlaurent6789]

If I only use my instant pot to make cannabutter it’s worth having.

[@dpclerks09]

16:53 listen up, aspiring Chefs.

[@beachboardfan9544]

Unless you're a big white guy, then she doesnt want you to listen up.

[@fernandodeboer224]

🤩✨💖🙏🏽

[@kimia1664]

Title: "She shouldn't be in food". Me: None...none of us should. 😢

[@alecmacartney2807]

Anyone else thinking about why her cook book is laying flat and not propped up?

[@janesays1278]

I can only imagine it’s not an oversight, and they didn’t want to distract from the interview?

[@thomasdemoor874]

It went drinking the night before.

[@Apollo440]

"Sohla was told she couldn't be in food..." So she put the food into herself. That makes sense!

[@pattygilson9669]

I agree with Sohla about being the only female in the kitchen. You are subjected to so much bullying boys club shenanigans. And then you're expected to be complicit in your own sexual harassment. It's exhausting, and traumatic!

[@DJ-xk1bp]

6m subscribers to 57. good career move.

[@dozyote]

I'm sure ba is doing just fine without you acting as a goon for them

[@toddupchurch1028]

She should of listened. She’s being pandered to.

[@mateostenberg]

That's how promotional interviews work brother.

[@toddupchurch1028]

@@mateostenberg if you say so.

[@jc884x3]

Haven't watched the video yet but based on the title I'm not sure what the big deal is. I also don't support cannibalism

[@Jo3W3st]

Is this poor me story still a thing

[@destroy1998]

Sohla is such a badass and, sidebar, I love the Docs!

[@StephanH-rq3dk]

Naw shes a snake

[@grosebud4721]

What did she do? Genuinely unaware and curious

[@turnintino]

@@grosebud4721 She was one of the whistleblowers who shed light on Condé Nast/Bon Appétit's discriminatory practices a few years ago, which led to a shallow restructuring, especially for the publication's KZbin channel, and painted some of its fan-favorite hosts in less than favorable light. Some viewers, who cannot believe that these hosts, who they've formed positive parasocial relationships with, could possibly be culpable or complicit, still hold a grudge against Sohla because they believe she's personally responsible for the fallout (certainly not the fault of those enacting and enabling the behavior she -- and other colleagues -- were defending themselves against at the time).

[@chelsbells27]

She’s a woman with opinions, and some people can’t handle that!

[@chelsbells27]

She’s a woman with opinions, and some people can’t handle that!

[@chelsbells27]

She’s a woman with opinions, and some people can’t handle that!