When Tucson-bred, Portland-based chef Kusuma (Kumi) Rao announces she's hosting one of her popup dinners, it's best to RSVP immediately. Although she hasn't lived here in years, Kumi has so many dedicated Tucson disciples, it's hard for newcomers to elbow a spot at the table. Kumi calls her company Ruchikala, The Art of Taste, and most people who've tasted her food probably would describe her as an artist. She blends the south Indian flavors of her heritage with the Sonoran flavors of her upbringing. And just like her food, Kumi's story is a quintessentially Tucson one – a fusion of different ideas and cultures that meld into something uniquely her own.
Producer: Vanessa Barchfield
Videographer: Andrew Brown
Editor: Mitchell Riley
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