Editor | Cinematography

How Preeti Waas Reclaimed Her Roots Through Food

Preeti Waas never saw herself as a chef—just a home cook with a deep love for food. But her journey from Chennai, India to owning Durham’s acclaimed Cheeni restaurant tells a different story. She found unexpected success embracing her heritage and traditional Indian cooking—earning James Beard Award nominations along the way. Join us as we hear Preeti’s journey of reconnecting to her roots through food, turning nostalgia into flavors that keep people coming back.

My Home, NC is a local public television program presented by PBS NC that shares heartwarming stories about the people, culture, food, and music of North Carolina. Each episode of this half-hour magazine program features several short-form documentary character profiles that are produced across the state.

Official Website: https://pbsnc.org/myhomenc/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MyHomeNC

Credits:

Producer: Brandi Neuwirth
Editor: Emily Frachtling
Cinematography: Miriam McSpadden, Emily Frachtling
Executive Producer: Heather Burgiss

Thank you to the Waas family, SpiceFix, Bombay Central Market and Cheeni in Durham, NC.