Chef Khalieb Rufael

My name is Khalieb Rufael, many know me as Chef Khalieb or Cheff Truffle! I first began cooking in college while working on my bachelor's degree in Business Management. I knew I wanted to be in business, I just didn't know what for. I took what basic knowledge I had in the kitchen, and the creative sense I had as an artist, and quickly fell in love with a career that would become my passion.

My family's story begins in Asmara, Eritrea, a small country located in the horn of Africa. A country that has struggled with famine caused by colonization and civil unrest between tribes and neighboring Ethiopia. Faced with a deadly ultimatum, my Grandfather was forced to relocate his family to Italy by way of refuge.

In 2019, after staging in a top Houston restaurant unpaid for 6 months, I traveled to France to study sustainable farming while on a volunteer exchange program and ended up learning more about culinary than I would have imagined. Since then I’ve worked in some top restaurants in the city of Houston, and I have also taken the time to learn, not only traditional Italian dishes from my Grandmother but also staple Eritrean dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation while spending a summer with her in Rome.

2024 has been my busiest year so far as a Chef, as I have really begun to hunker down and take every opportunity that comes my way. This year, I entered and won a cooking competition in Austin during SXSW, and was featured in a short documentary by a local filmmaker about my experience in the competition. The film is entitled ‘ROUND ROCK’ and is now available on YouTube.

I find that my purpose in life is to uplift my community by sharing stories, and good food that will spark a conversation for positive change.