From Basketball to F&B: How Gabe Norwood Made the Pivot

Professional basketball athlete Gabe Norwood steps off the court and into the world of F&B with Hawaiian concept Aloha Eats

The pandemic continues to rouse tough times for many, but an entrepreneurial few have taken this period to dive into new opportunities. For some, that meant pivoting their restaurant operations to better suit the landscape of deliveries and takeaway. For others, this meant expanding their portfolio and launching ghost kitchen brands alongside their existing concepts.

Above Gabe Norwood

Then, there’s Gabe Norwood - the basketball star who cannonballed into the industry with Hawaiian-inspired brand Aloha Eats. “I know my skinny frame may surprise many,” says the lauded athlete, “but I love food and have never been one to shy away from different types of cuisine.” Scouted by local coaching during a trip to the Philippines in 2006, Gabe returned to the country the following year. Since then, Norwood has been a distinguished member of the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and has joined the national team at international conferences on many occasions.

Having spent much of his childhood in Hawaii and even celebrating his wedding with his wife Lei on the archipelago, the draw of Hawaiian cuisine came naturally to Norwood. “My earliest memories are centred around family gatherings where food often got most of the attention”, he intimates. “There is a lot of nostalgia when it comes to Hawaiian food and the great memories that the flavours and smells bring . . . this curiosity and interest in food planted the seed for [Lei and I] to find opportunities in the F&B industry.”

The pandemic has proven that we can’t always predict what tomorrow brings, but have faith in your dreams and aspirations and anything can happen.

- Gabe Norwood -

Photo 1 of 3 The Norwoods' Aloha Eats

Photo 2 of 3 Pork Adobo Fried Rice from The Norwoods' Aloha Eats

Photo 3 of 3 Burger Steak Loco Moco from The Norwoods' Aloha Eats

Sure enough, they’ve deliciously translated these nostalgic memories into mouthwatering dishes. The Spam musubi bake is a trendy twist on the classic Hawaiian snack, filled with sushi rice, tebasaki sauce, and furikake. Of course, there’s also the Burger steak loco moco plate, another Hawaiian staple reminiscent of a certain local favourite. Filipino dishes like pork adobo fried rice and Spam silog rightfully take their place in the comfort food listing as well. By marrying Hawaiian and Filipino cuisine, Norwood hopes to offer “something both familiar and foreign to the table, and something that will leave people’s stomachs and hearts happy”.

Above The Norwoods Family

However, Norwood himself admits “this is far from a one-man show”, citing his friends, the Aloha Eats team, but first and foremost his wife and children as crucial to the brand’s success. As a committed, family-oriented couple with a passion for food, Lei and Gabe Norwood “make it a point to be adventurous when it comes to food and try to pass that along to [their] three sons.” Family is certainly imbued into the brand’s DNA, conceptualised as a way to bond with family and gather over comforting dishes.

Norwood’s foray into the F&B space was unexpected, to say the least. Yet, the star athlete discovered that the attributes he’s refined on the court have been invaluable in the business realm - resiliency, creativity, and confidence. “Take that chance”, Norwood proclaims. “The pandemic has proven that we can’t always predict what tomorrow brings, but have faith in your dreams and aspirations and anything can happen.”

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Topics

Gabe Norwood Aloha Eats F&B Interview Hawaiian Basketball

Tatler Asia

From Basketball to F&B: How Gabe Norwood Made the Pivot