Christine Hà facts for kids
Hà in 2021
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| Born | Christine Huyền Trân Hà May 9, 1979 Los Angeles County, California, U.S. |
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| Cooking style | Vietnamese, Thai, Asian fusion, Southeast Asian, Southern, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian |
| Education | University of Texas, Austin (BBA) University of Houston (MFA) |
| Spouse |
John Suh
(m. 2010) |
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Award(s) won
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Christine Huyền Trân Hà (born May 9, 1979) is an American chef, writer, and TV host. She is famous for being the first blind person to compete on the TV show MasterChef. Christine Hà won the third season of the show in 2012.
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Early Life and Education
Christine Hà was born in Los Angeles County, California. Her parents were from Vietnam. They moved to the United States in 1975 after the Vietnam War. Christine lived in Lakewood, California and Long Beach, California when she was very young. Later, her family moved to Houston, Texas. When Christine was 14, her mother passed away from lung cancer.
Christine went to the University of Texas at Austin. She earned a bachelor's degree in business. She also studied at the University of Houston. There, she earned a master's degree in creative writing.
Living with Vision Loss
Christine Hà has a condition called neuromyelitis optica. This means her body's immune system attacks her optic nerves and spinal cord. She was diagnosed in 2004. Over time, she slowly lost her vision. By 2007, she was almost completely blind. She describes her vision as "looking at a very foggy mirror."
Christine uses special tools to help her. These are called adaptive technologies. They help her manage her social media and cook. Some tools she uses include VoiceOver and JAWS. These are screen readers that speak what's on a computer screen. She also uses Aira glasses, a portable CCTV, and kitchen tools that give spoken readings.
Christine has also worked as an editor for a literary magazine. Her writing has appeared in several publications. In 2014, she started hosting a cooking show called Four Senses.
Becoming a MasterChef Champion
Winning MasterChef USA
Christine Hà had never studied cooking in a formal school. Yet, she competed on the third season of MasterChef. She won seven challenges during the show. She also placed in the top three several times.
On September 10, 2012, Christine Hà was announced as the winner. She received $250,000, the MasterChef title, and a cookbook deal. Her cookbook, Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food, was released in May 2013.
TV Shows and Guest Appearances
After winning MasterChef, Christine Hà continued her TV career. In 2013, she started co-hosting Four Senses. This Canadian cooking show is made for people with vision loss. It includes detailed audio descriptions of everything happening in the kitchen. This helps visually impaired viewers follow along.
In 2015, Christine became a judge on MasterChef Vietnam. She was the first former MasterChef contestant worldwide to become a regular judge. She also returned as a guest judge on US MasterChef. Later, she appeared on MasterChef Celebrity Showdown. She competed with other champions against junior contestants.
Awards and Global Work
In 2014, Christine Hà received the Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award. This award honors people who have greatly improved life for those with vision loss. Famous past winners include musicians Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.
Christine has also traveled the world. She gives TED talks about her experiences as a blind cook. She shares lessons she has learned. She has also worked as a culinary ambassador for the American Embassy. She visited countries like Jordan and Croatia to share her cooking and culture.
Restaurants and Future Plans
In 2018, Christine Hà opened her first restaurant in Houston, Texas. It's a Vietnamese gastropub called "The Blind Goat." The name combines her vision loss with her Vietnamese zodiac sign. The restaurant quickly became very popular. It was even nominated for Best New Restaurant in America in 2020.
Christine and her husband, John Suh, also opened another restaurant. It's a Korean restaurant called "The Sighted Pig Test Kitchen." This name refers to her husband's zodiac sign. The menu focuses on authentic Vietnamese dishes.
In 2020, Christine teamed up with chef Tony Nguyen. They opened a new restaurant in Houston called Xin Chao. This restaurant blends Vietnamese-American heritage. It offers a modern take on traditional Vietnamese food. It also includes flavors from Texas BBQ and Gulf Coast seafood.
Christine Hà continues to work on new projects. She has been working on her memoir and a second cookbook.
