Our owner Zen "Z" Paul, is a Native of Washington D.C., always jokes about not being able to fry an egg until 14 years old. But understood that cooking food for someone was a sure expression of love. The memories of her maternal grandparents who cooked every week night and on Sundays is how love came to her as a child. "Those meals were a sure thing, calmed the storms of family troubles." Growing up in D.C. Culture you can get many different types of cuisines from a plethora of countries, prepared by natives of those countries. Zen committed to Veganism in their early 20's and was forced to learn how to cook to sustain life, which she did. But she knew that coming from 5+ generations of cooks she had to bring out the grace and gratitude of her family's flavors.
Moving to Tampa in 2021, after visiting a few times, seeing the high rate of shelter and food insecurity often moved Z to tears and frustration, wanting to create a solution and take nothing away from people who were already thriving, eating, living. But add to those who were down on their luck is where Chozen was Born! "I have been down and needed a simple act of kindness and it was no where to be found."
"If I can create a solution without asking anything extra from people in a time where we are all doing our best, maybe I can show that love is all around us and not limited to transactions and affordability."