New York vs. Vienna: A Personal Take on Food
We catch Nazli Parvizi in a quintessentially New York moment: rushing through Brooklyn toward 39th Street, lamenting the loss of a newly acquired wireless headphones into the abyss of a subway grate. Between bites of a pastry from a local Danish bakery, she candidly critiques her snack: "It's not very good. Our bakeries here are terrible, especially compared to Vienna. Everyone who visits complains about our bread being full of sugar. New York still has some catching up to do."
The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD): Exploring Food as Culture and Identity
As President of Brooklyn’s Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD), Nazli Parvizi tackles food as more than sustenance; it’s identity, and history. "Food is culture; that's literally our tagline, our trademark," Parvizi emphasizes. But MOFAD isn't just about eating. It's about using food as a bridge to difficult and sometimes hidden stories. "Behind every single food story, every single food item, is a vast and complicated history," she explains.
Food is culture; that's literally our tagline, our trademark
Nazli Parvizi
MOFAD’s exhibitions engage visitors. One exhibition, for example, highlighted the history of Chinese American restaurants, unpacking the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act. "Up until COVID, there were more Chinese restaurants in America than all the McDonald's, Burger Kings, Wendy's, and Pizza Huts combined," Parvizi points out. Another significant project surveyed 400 years of Black culinary contributions, spotlighting their crucial roles in America's food narrative.
Nazli Parvizi’s Career Journey: From Chef to Food Museum President
Parvizi’s journey to MOFAD is as intriguing as the museum itself. Initially a chef and caterer, her life pivoted after 9/11 when she began serving rescue workers at Ground Zero. This experience redirected her toward a career in public service, culminating in her move to the museum during the challenges of COVID. After years in a demanding government role, Parvizi embraced a chance "to finally choose joy."
We live here despite New York
Nazli Parvizi
She is adamant about the crucial role culture plays in society, particularly in challenging cities like New York. "New York is not necessarily a nice place to live. It's not beautiful like the cities in Austria. It's not necessarily the friendliest; or the cleanest. We live here despite New York," Parvizi acknowledges. Yet, she firmly believes in culture's transformative power: "Arts are both life-affirming and life-saving."
Food, Society, and Identity: How What We Eat Shapes Us
For Nazli, food reveals much about human nature – how it connects and defines us. "I'm fascinated by how food unites and divides us – through religious taboos, class, and income," she reflects. Her mission at MOFAD: "We're here to create curious eaters, which means curious people. There's a lack of curiosity today, which hurts us all."
From New York to Vienna: BOLD Community, Culture, and Culinary Dreams
Joining the BOLD community is another exciting chapter for Nazli. Introduced by her "amazing and bold" friend Ilja Willems, Nazli appreciates BOLD's integrative approach, merging tech with creativity, government, and business. "I'm an extrovert who loves connecting," she says, looking forward to expanding her network and influence through BOLD's uniquely collaborative platform when she will finally make her way to Vienna in October. Her trip to Austria will also fulfill a long-standing promise to her mother.
I'm an extrovert who loves connecting
Nazli Parvizi
Although she has taken her mom all over the world, being big fans of Mozart and the film “Amadeus”, Austria has always been at the top of their list: “After the BOLD UnConference, we plan to visit Vienna and Salzburg together, to sit in churches, listen to classical music, and enjoy coffee and Sachertorte” – Nazli’s favorite dessert. And just maybe this experience will make up for the Danish she had for breakfast today.