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Ayesha Curry has a lot of mouths to feed — in her restaurant, her fanbase and, most importantly, at home.
The multi-hyphenate entrepreneur and co-founder of Domaine Curry spoke exclusively with PEOPLE at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, and shared how she helps prepare her husband, NBA star Stephen Curry, for game day.
“For the majority of his career, I would make a game day pasta, and then the past five years, four years, that shifted because he altered his workout a little bit and needed different nutrients at different times,” says Ayesha, 36. “And so now on game days when he’s home, I make him breakfast, but then we skip the game day pasta. So things shifted.”
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But not all members of the Curry crew are down to eat whatever, whenever — there’s one who is a particularly picky eater.
“My oldest son is the pickiest eater — my [6-year-old], Cannon. People told me, ‘There’s always going to be one,’ and I was like so arrogant and was like, ‘There’s no way,’ ” she continues, laughing. “But I have a mac and cheese kid. Is what it is!”
Ayesha and Steph, 37, also share kids Riley, 12, Ryan, 9, and Caius, 1.
The supermom unwinds and keeps herself grounded by spending time outdoors, namely hiking, a hobby she has been able to enjoy more since moving to the Bay Area.
Ayesha also says the culinary scene in the area has changed the game for her as far as trying new foods and cuisines.
“It’s turned me into an absolute spoiled brat,” she jokes. “It gave me this playground to truly create new dishes, to develop my palate, and I will forever be grateful to the Bay for that.”
She does a lot of experimenting at her restaurant, International Smoke, which she co-owns with chef Michael Mina. The eatery is known for internationally inspired barbecue dishes with influences from countries such as Vietnam and Korea.
The Bay Area spot is still up-and-running, but the chain’s three other locations — Houston, Del Mar, California, and Las Vegas — all closed as of January 2025.
C2 Photography/FOOD & WINE
While Ayesha is honest about the journey and its challenges, she feels grateful as she reflects on what she has built.
“It’s been tumultuous. It is a tough industry,” she says. “But at the same time, it’s a beautiful industry, and I think anybody in hospitality knows how quickly your environment becomes your family. And so I think that part of it has surprised me the most, like how quickly people become family.”
“I honestly didn’t realize how hard it was going to be, but I’m grateful for this experience and this journey,” she continues. “You know, I’ve said, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Sometimes when you’re playing Jenga, the tower falls, and then you rebuild it, and it’s okay. And so I think [it’s important] having that perspective, especially when it comes to hospitality and the restaurant industry.”
Her tenacity and appreciation for the people on her team have also helped her carve out success with Domaine Curry over the past eight years alongside her stepsister, Sydel Curry-Lee, 30.
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“It’s definitely male-dominated,” Ayesha says of the wine industry. ”But what I’ve learned since being in this industry for the past eight years now is that there are a lot of bad-a– women doing really cool things, and you just have to find them.”
She adds, “You learn so much from them. And I think the absolute best part is that all of these women are so warm, welcoming, inviting and willing to take you along and teach you anything you want to know.”
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As for the immediate future, The Full Plate author tells PEOPLE she is looking forward to an anniversary trip with her husband — the couple tied the knot on July 30, 2011.
And while she continues to grow her businesses, Ayesha has some important advice that she wants her fans, customers and, most importantly, all women to hear.
“Expect people to doubt you, but don’t allow people to doubt you,” she says. “They can say it, but don’t let it seep through your pores. Do not retain that information. Let it go.”
