Hi there! I’m Moha, a 42-year-old chef living in Asheville, North Carolina, where the Blue Ridge Mountains frame my kitchen window and the scent of rosemary and woodsmoke often lingers in the air. My journey with food started the way many great stories do—with my grandmother. Her kitchen was my playground, her flour-dusted apron my security blanket. She taught me that a good meal isn’t just about taste; it’s about heart, history, and a pinch of curiosity.

I didn’t go to culinary school right away. I actually spent a few years teaching English literature, slipping recipes into my lectures and potlucks into the curriculum. But food kept calling me louder than any Shakespeare sonnet ever could. So, in my early thirties, I took a leap and enrolled in a small culinary program right here in town. That was the first time I held a chef’s knife with intent, and I’ve never looked back.

Now, my cooking style is what I’d call elevated Americana with a twist. Think cornbread madeleines with a maple-chili glaze, or smoked trout salad wrapped in collard greens. I love taking comfort food classics and dressing them up just enough to surprise you. I forage a bit, grow my own herbs, and make a mean blackberry jam in late summer. But I also love diving into international flavors and learning from cuisines that have stood the test of centuries.

I cook with home cooks in mind—people who might be juggling jobs, families, and the occasional kitchen disaster. I’ve burned more than one batch of biscuits, and I still can’t poach an egg without holding my breath. But that’s the beauty of cooking: it’s forgiving, it’s fun, and it’s a journey we can all enjoy together.

On typicrecipes.com, I share the dishes that light me up and the stories that flavor them. Whether it’s a recipe passed down from my Appalachian roots or a new creation inspired by a spice blend I stumbled upon in a local shop, you can count on each one being tested, tasted, and made with love. Let’s cook something beautiful together.