Christine Hà: The Blind Cook on Her Journey to Reclaim Herself

“If you can’t see how steep a mountain is, then you can’t fear it.” That is how Christine Hà, a then 33-year-old home cook with visual impairment, stepped into the U.S Master Chef’s legendary kitchen and mesmerized Gordran Ramsay with her Vietnamese comfort food – clay pot-style catfish. From that moment onward, I know I am watching the history of the culinary world in the making. I see a star is born. 

Born into a family of Vietnamese refugees in California, Christine Hà is the only child, so loved and spoiled by her parents that she was not even allowed to be near the kitchen for fear of possible burns or cuts. It was her mom who introduced her to the original tastes of Vietnamese cuisine, most notably through phở, braised pork and egg, and sticky rice. Those homely flavors followed her throughout her childhood until she was 14 when her mother passed away due to lung cancer, leaving no written recipe behind. 

In an attempt to reclaim the memories of her mother, she started teaching herself cooking in college. She would read Vietnamese cookbooks and recipes and tried to recreate the familiar flavors in her mind. Yet, it did not come easy. Her fried rice and won-ton soup were “incredibly unsuccessful” as she described. After months of struggles and learning, Vietnamese ginger-braised chicken was the first full-fledged dish that she remembered being proud of. 

Unfortunately, in 2004, Hà was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica, which causes acute inflammation of her optic nerve and spinal cord. As a result, she gradually lost her vision and became practically blind by 2007. Ever since then, it has been a physical and mental battle for her. She recounted feeling “depressed, defeated, hopeless, scared, and useless.” Had it not been for the generosity and compassion of her rehabilitation counselors, independent living instructors, doctors, nurses, and friends, she would never have been able to stand up from this incident. So, in the classic act of “if life gives you a lemon, make lemonade,” Hà found her ways back into the kitchen with a new mindset: no more I-cannot-do-this, but instead I-can-do-this-in-my-own-way. 

Having watched U.S Master Chef religiously since its first season, I was elated to see a woman of Vietnamese descent competing in the show. Not only did her inspiring story move me, but the ways she poured her Vietnamese heritage into each dish with finesse won over my heart. It was truly a special moment to see the familiar braised pork belly entree that I have eaten ever since I was a kid winning the finale of the most reputed cooking competition in the world. The second she was announced the next Master Chef, the-ten-year-old me burst into tears, overwhelmed with pride and happiness. I could see myself there, in America and in her three-course dish. I could see the representation of my identity in a place half the world away. 

Hà described cooking as “a sensual process,” in which all her senses open up and welcome every sign of the ingredients – their texture, smell, taste, and sound. Whether she is competing in Master Chef, in the hectic kitchen of The Blind Goat (her own restaurant – “a modern Vietnamese gastropub” in Houston, TX), or in her home kitchen, she always finds “zen” in herself. She cannot see things surrounding her, so she chooses to focus on her rhythm. Thus, to her, cooking is not just an occupation or a prize. It is her lifesaver when she was at her lowest, her source of happiness and confidence as she feeds her family, friends, and customers, and above all, a journey to reclaim her memories of her late mother whom she holds so dear in her heart. In 2015, she went back to Vietnam to experience first hand the cuisine that has brought her up. To this day, she continues to perfect her phở recipe to hopefully capture the tastes of her mom’s phở. 

“I have heard you give mean looks, but luckily I can’t see it,” Hà joked with a beaming smile when Joe Bastianich first tasted her pot clay catfish. She has always been like that, a petite Asian woman with an incredible warrior spirit, a humble and beloved personality, and a spicy taste of humor.