My 5 | Chef Remy Ayesh

My 5 is a series wherein Flatland asks someone to show us five items from their life that help them do their job or tell their story. It’s a chance to learn more about the people in our community by getting a peek at what’s in their drawers, kitchens, briefcases, or desks. In the latest edition, Remy Ayesh, the executive chef at Café Sebastienne inside the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, welcomes us into her home. 

1. ‘Lost But Moving.’ Wherever I go, I have to have wall space because my art is so weird and all over the place. My cousin, who is an artist, found this piece of wood behind his house in Wichita. He gave it to my brother, but I took it from my brother when he moved to New York City. My brother is still a little sore about it.

2. Smokey Robinson’s ‘Pure Smokey.’ It’s one of my most played albums. I love his voice. Whenever I get an afternoon to myself, I put my feet up on the coffee table, have a rom-com on my computer, watch the sunset, and listen to this album. Smokey’s voice…I just don’t think anyone really knows the old Smokey albums any more.

3. Shun Chef’s Knife. I’ve had many over the years, but the one I call my “work horse,” is my Shun. The D-shaped handle sits perfectly in my right hand, the blade is pretty easy to maintain, and it’s super sturdy. A lot of longer knives I find trouble wielding at my height, this Shun, in particular, is the perfect length.

4. Square Spoon. All spoons have personality. I bought two perfect square spoons at a grocery store in Aspen and I’ve been chasing those perfect spoons ever since. A spoon has to function as a lot of things when it comes to fine dining plating. This one is flat and has a lot of surface area to pull through a puree, as well as corners that are helpful. You can replace a knife, but if you lose a spoon; that’s forever.

A skull ring with an unexpected story is part of chef Remy Ayesh’s story for My 5. (Jonathan Bender I Flatland)

5. Skull Ring. Skulls took on a symbolic importance in my life when I lived in New York City. A jewelry maker told me the importance of the skulls in her work and it was to remember to be open to change. I loved that meaning and started to wear skull jewelry to help remind me to have faith in change. A lot of people think it’s me trying to be tough or something, when in actuality it’s a daily reminder to stay soft and fluid in life.

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