Ben Ali (businessman)

Ben Ali
Born Mahaboob Ben Ali
June 13, 1927
Trinidad
Died October 7, 2009 (aged 82)
Occupation businessman, restaurateur
Known for Ben's Chili Bowl

Mahaboob Ben Ali (June 13, 1927 – October 7, 2009), known as Ben Ali, was a Trinidadian-born American businessman and restaurateur, of Indian extraction. Ali co-founded Ben's Chili Bowl, a landmark restaurant located on U Street in Washington D.C., with his wife, Virginia Ali, in 1958.[1] Ben's Chili Bowl has since attracted presidents, celebrities and politicians.[2]

Biography

Early life

Ben Ali was born Mahaboob Ben Ali in Trinidad on June 13, 1927.[1] He was the firstborn child of seven[3] in a Muslim family.[1] Ali's grandparents had immigrated to Trinidad from northern India.[1] He was raised in the town of San Juan, Trinidad, which is located east of Port-of-Spain.[1]

Ali moved to the United States in 1945 as a student.[1] Ali, who had studied such poets as Wordsworth, Chaucer and Shakespeare while in Trinidad, originally planned to become a medical doctor.[1]

Ali enrolled at the University of Nebraska, but suffered a broken back as the result of a fall down an elevator shaft while at the school.[1] He spent months recovering from the accident. Following his recovery, Ali attended four separate universities before earning his bachelor's degree from Howard University in Washington D.C.[1]

Due to Islamic prohibitions against consuming pork, Ben Ali never consumed some of his restaurant's popular offerings.[1]

Man vs. Food - S02E12 - Washington, DC was made in tribute to him.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Href="http://Projects.Washingtonpost.Com/, <A (2009-10-09). "Ben Ali, 82, Whose Chili Bowl Became a D.C. Landmark, Dies". Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  2. ↑ Witchel, Alex (December 23, 2009). "Ben Ali: Hot Sauce". The New York Times Magazine (nytimes.com). Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Ben Ali Bio Summary". Bens Chili Bowl. Retrieved 2012-01-30.