E28 Immigrants' Table | He Makes His Grandmother's Mistake on Purpose | Joseph's Table

Send us Fan Mail He left Lebanon at 16 with a picky eater's palate and his grandmother's recipes locked in his memory. Today, Joseph Matta is the Owner, Founder, and Head Chef of Joseph's Table in Birmingham, Alabama, a Mediterranean and Lebanese restaurant where every plate carries the weight of a border crossed and a memory kept alive. This is Immigrants' Table, a series from From Where to Here shining a light on immigrant-owned restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama, the people behind the food, and the stories that travel with every plate. In this conversation, Joseph talks about growing up in Lebanon under French colonial influence, learning English as a third language, and landing in Alabama after coming through Houston, Texas. He talks about what it means to cook from scratch every single day, why he still puts onions in his grandmother's chicken soup even though he hates them, and how a Lebanese mother and a Cajun mother-in-law found common ground through French. This is not a story about a restaurant. It is a story about what you carry with you when you leave, what you refuse to change, and what it feels like when a bowl of soup tastes exactly like someone you love. Joseph's Table is located at 9340 Helena Road in Birmingham, Alabama. Order the creamy stuffed chicken rolls first. From Where to Here is a bilingual podcast exploring cultural identity, language, and the stories of people who have built lives across borders. New episodes drop weekly on YouTube and everywhere you listen. Subscribe so you do not miss the next table. ---------- 🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/ (Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar) 📩 Let’s stay connected. Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there. ✨ Get My Latest Free Resource Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. → quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation. 📱 More language & culture, daily. Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod 🤎 If this episode meant something to you… Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.