Coriander Cafe

08/12/2025

A Coriander pop up is still in discussion, but if you wonder what I gave up the restaurant for, it was to make a bigger impact.

Since then, I designed a school in Zambia that serves 1000 students, presented my research in rainwater collection to the US State Department, been invited to meet with global women ambassadors in Türkiye, helped organize grassroots women's conferences in Uganda, and most recently, as a tech producer in Dubai for a global festival of 27k attendees supporting 4k athletes representing 50 countries in 17 sports.

Professionally, I helped produce the OKC Will Rogers Master Plan, forecasting more than double it's size and capacity over the next 20 years.

I miss Coriander sometimes, but I hope I continue to make you proud and that I am worthy of the support you all continue to show me.

OKC Will Rogers International Airport has unveiled an ambitious, muti-phase expansion plan. The plan is designed to accommodate a more than quadrupling of p...

05/30/2025

Sometimes I'm reminded that, as silly as it sounds, Coriander really was more than just a café. You all (the followers of a defunct restaurant's FB page) are a testament to that.

I shared with you the story of my grandmother's peanut sauce, the one you loved from the café.

My grandmother is finally at peace. Tomorrow, we will put her in her final resting place. In her lifetime, she was a defiant fighter, a fierce mother, and a loyal partner.

After my grandfather was killed in a concentration camp after the war, she smuggled his remains out to give him a proper burial. She had to provide for my 8 aunts and uncles by herself. Her love for grandfather never let her find another person to share her life with, and she was happy. It would be sixteen years before my mother saw her again, a reunion the likes of which is a core memory for me as a young child born in the US. That was the day I gained my only grand parent experience; and it came with 8 brand new aunts and uncles.

I didn't see her as often as I should have, growing up and trying to find my way in this world. For that I have some regret. In her early onset dymentia, sometimes, she used to think I was her husband; a striking resemblance to my grandfather. That compliment, I'll take anyday.

My cooking was rooted in my mom's cooking, which was influenced by her mother. The food of Coriander had a little bit of her in it. I strongly believe that what we did would not have been possible without her.

The peanut sauce was the final recipe she ever shared. Simplicity out of necessity is the soul of Vietnamese cooking. But as many amateur cooks know, the fewer the ingredients, the easier it is to mess up, as every ingredient is on display and the ex*****on is crucial.

In honor of her, I'm sharing with all of you, her peanut sauce. May you celebrate her everytime you make it. She would have loved that she continues to feed you all.

You'll be hearing from us soon. :)

05/14/2025

Coriander for Fowler! Oklahoma needs change and it starts at the local level!

We support Fowler and to show it, we'll be hosting a pop-up to bring you your Coriander favorites!

Stay tuned for more details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2025
Oklahoma City, OK

Chris Fowler Launches Campaign for State Representative - House District 91

Veteran, father, and community advocate Chris Fowler has officially launched his campaign for State Representative in Oklahoma’s House District 91. A recently retired Senior Master Sergeant with 20 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Air Force, Fowler is stepping up to bring principled leadership and a renewed focus on public service to the State Capitol.

Chris and his wife, Kim, have two young daughters enrolled in Moore Public Schools, giving him a personal stake in the future of Oklahoma education.

“Oklahoma is our home, but our state leaders have lost sight of that. It’s time to reverse Ryan Walters’ assault on public education and reinvest in our teachers, students, and communities.”

A lifelong learner, Fowler holds a B.S. in Computer Operations Technology (summa cm laude) and an M.S. in Information Technology Project Management. He is currently pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science.

“To revitalize our aging infrastructure, both physical and digital, we need leaders who understand how to develop and implement emerging technologies,” said Fowler. “Oklahoma can’t compete in the 21st century with 20th-century thinking.”

Fowler’s platform focuses on preparing students for a modern economy, expanding healthcare access, supporting veterans and first responders, modernizing infrastructure, and restoring fiscal transparency and personal liberty.

Fowler enlisted in the Air Force in 2004, deploying five times to Afghanistan, Syria, the Arabian Gulf, and South America to participate in counterterrorism and counterdrug operations. He served in multiple leadership roles and retired as a Senior Enlisted Leader, having flown more than 200 combat missions. He earned over 22 medals and numerous awards, including Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

“My father was a Vietnam veteran who died without the care he earned,” said Fowler. “Families like ours are still being left behind. I’m running because Oklahoma can do better, and I won’t stop fighting until it does. “Service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off.”

03/08/2025

On Tuesday, my parents and I rushed to San Jose, CA after hearing that my 94-year-old grandmother was taken to the ER. She's recovering. She turns 95 in April.

She has Alzheimer's. She hasn't been eating much at all the last 4 days. She actively refuses. She wants to go home and gets agitated; tries to get herself out of bed, pulling wires, and making a fuss. We tell her things like "we'll take you home soon!" to calm her down. "You have to eat first, then we'll take you home!"

Today, she put 1 and 1 together, and at 10 AM, she told us she wanted to eat. We were excited, until we realized she was trying to trick us into feeding her so she can leave.

At least she ate some food :)

She's responsible for the peanut sauce recipe you had at Coriander Café.

One day, before we opened, I was developing recipes with my mom. We were experimenting peanut sauce recipes.

Grandma comes into the kitchen, wants to know what we're doing. We tell her. She looks at us both, then starts rummaging around in the pantry.

She whips ingredients together, as we watch. No words are said.

When she's done, she lets us try it. Hands down, blows both of our entries away. She didn't say how much of what ingredient. I just had to watch and guess.

She turns around, walks away, and says in Vietnamese, "You can have that recipe." She promptly exits the kitchen, like a boss.

She never made that sauce again. But I did. For all of you. Have a wonderful weekend.

04/20/2024

If I were to open a breakfast joint, I’d totally put Lahmacun Tostada Benedict with Cloud Egg on the menu. Totally.

AI suggested these names:

Coriander + Toast
Coriander Sunrise
Coriander Bistro

Just new boot goofin in the kitchen. 🤷🏻‍♂️

04/16/2024

Where are my Indigenous American friends at? I’d like some input on some things. Would you be interested in sharing your thoughts?

I’d like to set up a zoom call for maybe an hour over the weekend to hear your opinions.

Feel free to share. I don’t need to know the person IRL for this to work.

Thanks in advance!

03/27/2024

I’d like to say thank you for a wonderful weekend! It was great seeing all the people I’ve fome to call friend at the Roosevelt Room. I hope the event was a success for you!

I had to shake off the rust a little bit and I think we had a few miscues and we ran out of some items, so if you experienced any of that I appreciate your understanding. I hope you enjoyed the show of me running around like a crazy person!

Feel free to give me feedback as I’m always looking into how we do better the next time!

Keep your eyes here and hopefully I’ll announce soon!

Also, if you managed to take pics of anything, I’d love for you to share! I was running around like a chicken without a head!

03/22/2024

It’s go time! My knife skills are still there

03/20/2024

We have a few remaining spots left for Friday and Saturday night reservations. I look forward to seeing you! Could be the last time Coriander serves. Come join us, and meet our friends at Roosevelt Room!

03/13/2024

It’s with gratitude I make this post today. Six years ago, our beloved restaurant closed. Little did I know that your unwavering support would keep the embers of our culinary legacy alive.

Your persistent requests, (and they were persistent!) heartfelt messages, and nostalgic anecdotes have been heard. It is your voices that echoed on, never letting Coriander die. And so, here we are—an event dedicated to you, the fans.

So, I give you the Coriander Collaboration event! My good friend Jake Cross has opened a restaurant in OKC, The Roosevelt Room, serving tapas in a warm, cozy setting in the heart of the Uptown 23rd St District. We want to introduce you to the Roosevelt Room, and what better welcome than an old friend like Coriander.

To celebrate Roosevelt Room’s menu, we will showcase tapas inspired by Coriander Café. Have a taste of something comforting while trying something new.

Thank you for believing in us, for keeping the flame alive, and for insisting on this reunion. May every bite evoke nostalgia, laughter, and the warmth of shared moments.

Let this event be a start—a humble offering from our kitchen to you. If we’re successful and if the stars align, there will be more; more gatherings, more laughter, and more stories to be made.

And Norman, I haven’t forgotten about you! Norman is next, and I will offer the full Coriander menu to you!

So, my dear friends, I hope you come support us, or it may truly be time to put Coriander away for good. And I will have accomplished all I ever wanted with it and be happy.

On March 22nd and 23rd, we celebrate not just food, but the beautiful tapestry of memories we’ve woven together.

Capacity is limited, so please call Roosevelt Room at
(405) 673-7521 to reserve your seating. Dinner is for 6 and 8 pm each night.

02/16/2024

Time for a little Friday fun. Volume up and stay until the end!

Ok, maybe that was a bit dramatic but damn if I’m not going to have fun during this process!

It’s really thanks to you, the fans, that have brought this on. After 6 years and people are still asking me about it…I’ve not seen anything like that in all my days in food service.

I’m working on the menu and the details and will share how you can get a piece of Coriander again!

Let me know if you’re excited, because this is for the fans. I’ve got my sights set on Norman for the next event, but for now, I’m shaking off the dust and getting back on the saddle, at least one more time!

Comment below your thoughts and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

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