Rasool happens to be a deaf man. He spent many of his childhood years in Cajun Country with family where he learned the special skills needed for a deaf man to communicate in a hearing world. He learned sign language, but also became very adept at reading lips. He was raised by family in an environment that restricted the use of sign language so that he would become extremely skilled at communicating in the hearing world. He later attended Gallaudet University, an internationally known college for its outstanding liberal education and career development for deaf and hard of hearing students. Rasool excelled at Gallaudet as both a student and an athlete; he was the starting center on the University’s basketball team.

Because of these invaluable life experiences, Rasool grew up learning to bridge the gap between the hearing and deaf communities. It was with his family in Cajun Country where he learned the importance of mealtime and how instrumental it really was for bringing family and friends together to share experiences, stories and laughter.

Cajun Country is also where Rasool grew up loving to cook. At a young age, he became a gifted culinary artist. His dishes became an extension of his own contagious personality and wicked sense of humor. His dishes are a masterful blending of fresh food and spices. Rasool was introduced to the family’s legendary barbecue sauce recipe that had been passed down through the generations and he began experimenting with his own variations of the original recipe. It was the beginning of the Deaf Man’s Barbecue Sauce Story.