Ben Ali (businessman)

Mahaboob Ben Ali
Mahaboob Ben Ali
Born	Mahaboob Ben Ali; 13 June 1927; San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Died	7 October 2009 (aged 82)
Nationality	Trinidadian; American
Citizenship	British (1927–1945); Trinidadian; American
Occupation	Businessman, restaurateur
Known for	Ben's Chili Bowl

Mahaboob Ben Ali (13 June 1927 – 7 October 2009), known as Ben Ali, was an Indo-Trinidadian American businessman and restaurateur. Ali co-founded Ben's Chili Bowl with his wife Virginia Ali, 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

Mahaboob Ben Ali was born in San Juan, British Trinidad and Tobago on 13 June 1927.[1] He was the firstborn child of seven[3] in a Muslim Indian family.[1] Ali's grandparents had immigrated to Trinidad from British ruled Northern India as indentured laborers.[1] He was raised in the town of San Juan, which is located east of the capital city 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. 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.

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

"Ben Ali, 82, Whose Chili Bowl Became a D.C. Landmark, Dies". The Washington Post. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
Witchel, Alex (23 December 2009). "Ben Ali: Hot Sauce". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
"Ben Ali Bio Summary". Bens Chili Bowl. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.

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[wp-1] "Ben Ali, 82, Whose Chili Bowl Became a D.C. Landmark, Dies". The Washington Post. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.

[nytimes-2] Witchel, Alex (23 December 2009). "Ben Ali: Hot Sauce". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2009.

[3] "Ben Ali Bio Summary". Bens Chili Bowl. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.