in good company: eats with yasmine

hello friends!!!! I hope everyone is having an amazing week so far and gearing up for the weekend ahead <3 I am shivering here typing on my couch so I hope everyone is feeling a little warmer than I am tonight

to give an introduction on what you are about to read — I am starting a new mini series where I interview the people in my life who I look up to. this series will host the interviews with my friends and family, the founders of my favorite brands, and everyone else who inspires me

today’s piece is a conversation with yasmine (@eatswithyasmine) - a dear friend of mine who makes the BEST hosting and cooking content, vogue singapore featured her hosting in their dinner-party guide - linked here. she has an amazing eye for all things surrounding food, hosting, beauty, san francisco, and so much more, but you’ll see what I’m talking about once you scroll a little further down

I met yasmine at a san francisco event, one of those that you do a little lap and then you find someone you actually want to stand in the corner with for the rest of the night. we bonded over our love for the city and all of the amazing food, and that was that. we clicked in about 4 minutes flat. I’ve looked up to her ever since: she is the best host, she always makes her dreams become a reality, and on top of everything else — she is a ray of sunshine personified with the biggest heart.

yasmine is the first person I go to with anything writing/creator related - she has been my sounding board for the past year and she is actually the person who told me to start a substack. so, months ago, when it was time to start concepting who I was going to have first on this series, there was absolutely no question on who I wanted to feature here first

let’s get into it!

Su: When did you move to San Francisco? What brought you here?

Yasmine: I am from the bay area, grew up in Cupertino/Menlo Park and always knew I wanted to move to SF from going occasionally growing up and thinking it was the coolest thing in the world to live in SF. I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2020 so was sort of forced to come back. Moved to SF in August of 2020 and have never looked back. Truly the best place and feel so fortunate to also have all my family nearby.

Su: How do you think your background shaped you and influenced what you wanted to do?

Yasmine: Growing up in a Nigerian household, the expectation is to be nothing but excellent in everything you do. I think growing up, it was hard for me to figure out what I was passionate about or what I wanted to do with my life. I just knew I wanted to be excellent in whatever I was doing. I was raised under the precept that whatever you want to do, you are capable of, and nothing is unachievable or too “big thinking.” Looking back, I really appreciate that my mom instilled this in me, especially growing up in predominately white spaces as a Black woman. I also take lots of pride in being an older sister (with a 10 year age gap!) - and wanted to be the best example for her.

I also have very expensive taste and knew that in order to provide a certain lifestyle for myself, I need to bust my ass.

Su: What does a normal day look like for you right now with juggling everything ?(for some context, Yasmine works a full time job and is building her whole world on the side)

Yasmine: I truly think I am insane right now with the amount of things I do; a typical day is working out around 6am1, getting ready to go to my full-time job at Sephora Corporate, and then either going to an influencer event, hanging with friends, or working on EatswithYasmine. I also am trying to schedule in rest days (yes, I am type A).

Su: You’re the eldest sister — how do you think that has shaped your life?

Yasmine: Being an older sister gives me so much joy and passion in life. I love that I have someone I would consider my “mini” me and a lot of the decisions I make, I think about in effects of being an older sister. I truly want to be the best example to her and show her that ANYTHING is possible - the world is truly your oyster.

Su: Where did your love for hosting come from? Were you always the one hosting, or did you grow into it?

Su: How do you balance your full-time career and content?

Yasmine: I have a work hard, play later mindset. So, truthfully, I have no sense of balance right now :). I think being single, having no kids, or major responsibilities, on top of being young — I want to work as hard as I can now to enjoy life more later. My full-time job is my #1 priority and I truthfully use any free time to work on EWY or hang with my friends. I really value all of the friendships I have made.

Su: Does the Sephora side ever bleed into the content side?

Yasmine: I really intentionally try to keep the two separate. I think for me, it’s important for my followers to truthfully want to follow me for my food, hosting, and recs. However, I am a beauty girl at heart (especially growing up in the YouTube era). Eventually, I would love to include more of that in my content, but not related to the work I do.

Su: What drew you into making content for the first time?

Yasmine: I think just being so inspired by other foodie content creators. I also felt like there was a gap missing in hosting videos. I really had no clue what I was doing and tried a lot of different things, many things that I would find cringy now LOL, but I am so happy I took that leap of faith and followed what I was passionate about. The only embarrassing thing you could do is not follow what you are passionate about.

Once I found out I could make a business out of this too, on top of everything else, WOW!

Su: What are your non-negotiables for hosting?

Yasmine: This may be a hot take, but mini water bottles or water pitchers are needed. People are thirsty. Also, making an aesthetic tablescape of some sort. A speaker playing with light music. And lastly, no picky eaters!

Su: What is your favorite thing to cook?

Yasmine: Pasta or a protein like steak are my absolute favorites.

Su: What dish or drink do you always come back to for your dinner parties?

Yasmine: Chicken cutlets are such a classic. Vodka pasta, of course. Mini-twice-baked-loaded-potato (drooling).

Su: Where do you shop for ingredients?

Yasmine: Trader Joe’s used to be my go-to because it’s affordable. But, I really love Whole Foods.

Su: How did the candied lavender latte collab come to be? Walk us through the moment you found out it was happening?

Yasmine: You know what they say, “just call Taylor up” (cackling at this). That is exactly what I did.

I had posted about Andytown on my platform several times and they always blew up. I am a self-proclaimed coffee snob and my dream would be to have a coffee shop. Before that happens, my other dream would be to have a collaboration on a food product with somewhere I genuinely love so much. I decided to just DM them on Instagram and they were so on board.

Su: What was it like seeing something with your name on it?

Yasmine: I think I struggle with imposter syndrome. It was truly SURREAL. But, you need to be your biggest fan, so I truthfully made it my personality trait. It was such a pinch-me-moment.

Su: Did anything about the collaboration surprise you?

Yasmine: Honestly, I was shocked how many people loved it as much as me. I think it’s extremely vulnerable to put yourself out there in situations like this - so to see all of the positive feedback was something I will never get over.

Su: What’s the dream brand or spot you would collab with next if you could pick anything?

Yasmine: Locally, Laundromat Pizza or Salt & Straw. Globally, it would be designing my own dutch oven with Goldilocks or Le Creuset.

Su: Walk us through a perfect day in SF?

Yasmine: Start the day with Andytown (duh) and Laundromat bagels or Arsicault ham & cheese croissant. Next, a walk in Golden Gate Park, followed by the Photomatica Photo Booth. Cotogna for lunch (get the gnocco fritto, a spritz, and the honeycomb ice cream). Walk around Jackson Square and then toward the Marina Green. Drive to the Mt. Tam viewpoint (IYKYK). Finish off the day with dinner at Elena’s.

Su: What’s a spot you think more people should know about?

Yasmine: Nothing hidden or secret that people don’t know about already — but Maillards is SO good.

Su: Favorite neighborhood?

Yasmine: Pacific Heights.

Su: What makes you stay in SF?

Yasmine: The PEOPLE! The energy, the motivation is insane. Everyone’s work ethic here is unmatched. The weather! The fact that I can go wine tasting in Napa, hike in Yosemite, or just hop down to the beach. Like what!!

Su: Favorite restaurant in SF and what’s your order?

Yasmine: This is so hard. Burma Love has been my recent favorite. The fried rice, fiery chicken + tofu, and Thai Iced Tea are all WOW. I am also addicted to Laundromat: pepperoni pizza, side of ranch, and a caesar salad.

Su: Go-to coffee order?

Yasmine: Lavender latte obviously, but if they don’t have that, then an iced-vanilla latte.

Su: If you could live anywhere else in the world besides SF, where would you live?

Yasmine: Chicago!

Su: Favorite walk in SF?

Yasmine: The Coastal Trail Loop in Marin or GGP.

Su: Favorite drink?

Yasmine: Coconut margarita.

Su: Dream vacation?

Yasmine: Luckily, I have been but Bora Bora for relaxing or Tokyo for the city vibes!

Su: What’s next for you? Anything that you’re building that we should keep an eye out for?

Yasmine: Just continuing growing EatswithYasmine and maybe, possibly some exciting news next year!

Thank you all so much for reading, this was so fun for me to write!!! So easy when your friends are the coolest people ever. Let me know what you would like to see next! xoxo

Love Always,

Su