Eric Tran didn’t set out to open a restaurant during a pandemic, but here we are. Eric took over the lease for Falansai and now operates the Bushwick restaurant as a reimagined 2.0 version, making his interpretation of delicious Vietnamese dishes with a focus on whole animal butchery and seasonally and locally sourced ingredients. We talk about the food, what it was like to open with a takeout and delivery focus to start, and what’s in store for Falansai as the city reopens. Photo Courtesy of Ad...
Jul 07, 2021•35 min•Ep. 89
Early last year, Eric Huang left his sous chef position at Eleven Madison Park to open his own restaurant. However, the pandemic forced Eric to switch gears. It led him back to his family's restaurant, Peking House, where he started Pecking House —a delivery concept for chili fried chicken dinners, so successful it has an 8-week long waitlist. Tune in to hear Eric talk about his new culinary path, one that he never expected but is far more rewarding and fun than he ever thought it would be. Phot...
Jun 24, 2021•39 min•Ep. 88
Hetty McKinnon , the internationally renowned cookbook author and food writer, joins us to chat about her latest book To Asia, With Love . It’s filled with a mix of comforting Asian dishes that her Cantonese mother prepared for her growing up, as well as her modern spin on favorites for her own family. We talk about her incredible culinary journey across continents and the powerful ability to capture identity in home cooked meals. Photo Courtesy of Shirley Cai Keep Feast Meets West on the air: b...
Jun 10, 2021•46 min•Ep. 87
We’re thrilled to be back! For our first episode of 2021, we chat with Joe Boo, Founder of Asian Veggies, a business born out of the pandemic. Joe started Asian Veggies , a New York City based grocery delivery service, as an effort to save his dad’s wholesale vegetable business in Brooklyn when COVID hit. In the span of a year, the delivery service has expanded from selling 40 to 650 products. Tune in to hear about the incredible journey of Asian Veggies and what’s next. Keep Feast Meets West on...
May 26, 2021•37 min•Ep. 86
For the last episode of the season, we chat with Tracy and Tiffany Pham of Red Boat Fish Sauce , a product beloved by chefs and home cooks around the world. Tracy and Tiffany tell us about what makes their fish sauce special, what the company is making beyond fish sauce, and what it’s like to work with the Red Boat founder, their dad, Cuong Pham. The sisters also reveal a new product launching this summer. In March, HRN began producing all of our 35 weekly shows from our homes all around the cou...
Aug 05, 2020•47 min•Ep. 85
We catch up with a former guest, Joanne Kwong, President of Pearl River Mart. Joanne tells us about the changes she's made at Pearl River Mart due to Covid, as customers shop online instead of in-stores, and the wide range of projects she’s taken on for her local communities, including her participation in Mayor De Blasio’s Small Business Sector Advisory Council. In March, HRN began producing all of our 35 weekly shows from our homes all around the country. It was hard work stepping away from ou...
Jul 08, 2020•42 min•Ep. 84
We continue our Corona Diaries conversations with Chef Lien Lin of Bricolage, the Vietnamese gastropub in Park Slope, and Owner Maiko Kyogoku and Chef Emily Yuen of Bessou , the modern Japanese comfort food restaurant in Soho. Tune in to find out how the pandemic fast forwarded Lien’s plans to move her family to the West Coast, complete with a cross-country RV adventure. Hear how Maiko and Emily have been adjusting Bessou for takeout, taking on projects to support frontline healthcare workers, a...
Jun 25, 2020•49 min•Ep. 83
Vanessa Pham and Kim Pham are first-generation Vietnamese-Americans, sisters, and co-founders of Omsom , a brand of Asian pantry staples that have been designed to make cooking your favorite Asian dishes with uncompromised flavors and hard-to-find ingredients possible in any home kitchen. While launching a new product is tough enough as it is, they did it in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic this May. We talk about how they brought the Omsom concept to life, and how they adapted the launch t...
Jun 10, 2020•51 min•Ep. 82
This summer, we’ll broadcast a handful of new episodes where we catch up with our friends in the Asian food industry to see what they’ve been up to, and how they’ve adapted their restaurant operation or small business for a pandemic. This episode, we call on Amelie Kang, Owner of MaLa Project , and Dennis Ngo, Chef and Co-owner of Di An Di . Image courtesy of MaLa Project. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...
May 27, 2020•40 min•Ep. 81
Restauranteur Roni Mazumdar and Chef Chintan Pandya, the dynamic duo behind Adda Indian Canteen in Long Island City, Rahi in Greenwich Village, and the soon to opened Dhamaka in Essex Street Market, are opening the eyes and palettes of New Yorkers to what authentic Indian food looks and tastes like. The menus composed by Chef Chintan are inspired by recipes found across the Indian subcontinent, nostalgic dishes that he and Roni grew up with, and innovations using Indian flavors and cooking techn...
Dec 12, 2019•46 min•Ep. 80
We chat with Matt Le-Khac and Jimmy Tran of Bolero . Located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Bolero features a hyper-seasonal menu that emphasizes the rare fresh herbs that form the foundation of Vietnamese cuisine — sourced from Matt’s family farm and showcased in the restaurant’s Vietnamese Tea Garden. The Bolero team will use the Northeast Corridor to bring awareness to lost traditions. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...
Nov 14, 2019•52 min•Ep. 79
Joanne Kwong , President of Pearl River Mart , the iconic NYC “friendship store” specializing in Asian goods since 1971, joins us to chat about her favorite Asian snacks! We find out what the best selling classics are at the store, as well as what’s new and trending. Joanne will also speak to the history and progression of the Pearl River brand, and give us a sneak peek of the soon-to-be opened fourth location dedicated to Asian foods. Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a ...
Oct 31, 2019•52 min•Ep. 78
Sink into artisinal tofu with Paul Eng, heir to a tofu dynasty. Since 1933, the Chinatown specialty tofu shop Fong On has been run by the Eng family. Prior to coming back to the family business, Paul embarked on a series of other careers over the span of 25 years that led him to music, design, art direction, advertising and photography. Paul has now rebooted the shop for both long-time customers as well as a younger generation. Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous ...
Oct 23, 2019•50 min•Ep. 77
Paul Chen of Fan Fried Rice and Layla Chen of Maya Bed Stuy join us to discuss the topic of rice as a comfort food. They also share some parallel experiences as shop owners that specialize in a rice dish that pays respect to their heritage: for Paul it’s fried rice and for Layla it’s congee, their approach in combining tradition and modernity on their respective menus, and setting up shop in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at ...
Oct 02, 2019•49 min•Ep. 76
Simone Tong, Chef-Owner, and Emmeline Zhao, GM and Partner, of Little Tong , Little Tong Noodle Shop, and the soon-to-be opened Silver Apricot talk to us about their culinary progression from introducing mixian at Little Tong to showcasing what it means to be Chinese-American today at Silver Apricot. We'll chat about this coming of age for Chinese-American food--a clear distinction from the American-Chinese food born out of economic necessity. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Priv...
Sep 18, 2019•47 min•Ep. 75
There are countless dishes that you should be adding miso to beyond the omnipresent soup! Maiko Kyogoku and Emily Yuen, the dynamic duo behind Bessou , join us in the studio to tell us about all the different miso varietals and how to use them so you can add more umami magic to your life. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Sep 04, 2019•41 min•Ep. 74
We are chatting with Ali Azimov of Lagman House about his family's restaurant, and introducing our listeners to Dungan cuisine. As Ligaya Mishan pointed out in The New York Times, "Lagman House is likely the first and only restaurant in the city to offer the food of the Dungans, Chinese Muslims descended from seventh-century Arab and Persian Silk Road traders who married Han Chinese." Doron Wong of River and Hills Hospitality Group will also join us to share his experiences cooking and eating in...
Aug 14, 2019•54 min•Ep. 73
We talk about the experience of bringing popular ramen concepts from Japan to New York. For both Tonchin and Ichiran, highly regarded ramen restaurants from Japan, NYC was the first destination for their US expansion. Anan and Toui Sugeno, the brothers behind Tonchin New York, and Annie Chen, the Assistant Manager of Restaurant Operations at ICHIRAN NY join us in the studio. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure...
Jul 31, 2019•46 min•Ep. 72
Instead of our typical chef and restaurateur guests, we have our first episode featuring artists. James Yang from New York and Jonathan Jay Lee from Hong Kong are a couple Asian-American illustrators with distinct styles inspired by city life, travel, and of course - Asian food. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertainin...
Jul 03, 2019•56 min•Ep. 71
Nikkei is the result of the culinary romance and intense cultural exchange between Japan and Peru. The cuisine grew out of the Japanese presence in Peru, which started when the Japanese farmers began emigrating there in the late 1800s. We talk to 2 Peruvian-American Chefs paving the way for Nikkei in NYC: Erik Ramirez of Llama Inn, Llamita, and Llama-San, and Mina Newman of Sen Sakana. Photo courtesy of Sen Sakana. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...
Jun 19, 2019•47 min•Ep. 70
We chat with two badass Asian female founders: Sahra Nguyen of Nguyen Coffee Supply and Ranmu Xue of Us Two Tea . Not only have they built their own brands, and run their own businesses, they’ve also personally sourced their products from farms in Asia, and are growing their respective movements to change the perception of Vietnamese coffee and Chinese tea drinking culture here in the States. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donat...
Jun 06, 2019•49 min•Ep. 69
To kick off our summer season, Ohm Suansilphong and Jenn Saesue of Fish Cheeks join us to talk about their unique approach to Thai food in New York, and their journey from Bangkok to Bond St. Each dish on the menu is a combination of unfiltered flavors, an intensity in freshness, and unapologetic heat. Tune in to find out why Pete Wells of the New York Times reviewed “it simply cooks the way I wish more Thai kitchens did”. Photo by Alexa Bendek Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast . See Pri...
May 23, 2019•43 min•Ep. 68
For our last episode of the season, we’re talking to Chefs Jenny Dorsey of Studio ATAO and Helen Nguyen of Saigon Social in the second segment of a continued series on Women in Asian food. Most of the questions have been sourced from The Cosmos - a fast-growing community for Asian women creators, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and artists to flourish and thrive. We’ll be covering topics such as career changing into food, appropriation vs. appreciation of a cuisine, navigating the industry as a woma...
Apr 10, 2019•58 min•Ep. 67
Filipino cuisine rightly deserves its space and recognition on the global stage. No longer to be overlooked. We chat with Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad on changing the conversation about Filipino food. We talk about how they've brought Filipino cuisine into the American mainstream with their NYC restaurants Maharlika and Jeepney, and their continued mission to give Filipino food a seat at the culinary table with their new cookbook "I Am A Filipino". Excerpted from I Am a Filipino by Nicole ...
Mar 27, 2019•57 min•Ep. 66
Ed Schoenfeld, creator of the critically acclaimed restaurants Red Farm and Decoy, joins us in the studio to talk about the iconic Peking Duck and the Chinese banquet style of dining. Both New York Magazine and GQ have recognized Decoy as the best Peking Duck option in New York City. We'll cover all the details that go into making this celebratory big format meal, as well as discuss Ed's five decades long career in Chinese restaurants, and his experiences hosting Chinese banquets since the 70s. ...
Mar 13, 2019•53 min•Ep. 65
Elaine Chen of The New York Times and Wilson Tang of Nom Wah Tea Parlor join us to talk about the evolution of Chinatown -- one of the few historic immigrant working class neighborhoods left in Manhattan. We dive into Elaine’s experience writing her Times article “As Manhattan’s Chinatown Changes, Food Vendors Keep a Bit of the Old with the New” , Wilson’s experience running the iconic Nom Wah Tea Parlor in Chinatown, and we discuss the broader cultural trends of a changing neighborhood. We atte...
Feb 27, 2019•51 min•Ep. 64
Ellen Goldsmith, author of “Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine” and co-founder of Pearl Natural Health, joins us to speak about the ancient Eastern wisdom of food as medicine. Learn about the foundations and concepts of Chinese Medicine - from the yin and yang, and the thermal nature of foods to how you should be stocking your pantry this winter - to actively improve your health by doing something as simple and enjoyable as eating. Photo courtesy of Ellen Goldsmith. Feast Meets West is po...
Feb 13, 2019•50 min•Ep. 63
Over one and a half billion people use chopsticks as their primary eating utensil. In his book “ Chopsticks: A Cultural and Culinary History ”, Professor Q. Edward Wang charts their evolution from a simple eating implement to their status as a more complex, cultural symbol today. Edward joins us to share his insights on the origin of the chopsticks, the intra-Asian differences within the “chopsticks cultural sphere”, and their global appeal. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast See Privacy ...
Jan 31, 2019•45 min•Ep. 62
We wrap up the season with a talented bunch putting Vietnamese food at the forefront of NYC’s best restaurants lists with their interpretations of the cuisine. Listen to Hanoi House Co-founder Sara Leveen and Chef Daniel Le, and Di An Di Co-owner Kim Hoang and Chef/Co-owner Dennis Ngo discuss the new wave of Vietnamese restaurants in NYC. Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...
Dec 12, 2018•58 min•Ep. 61
Don’t be scared, fusion is not the f-word, especially when it’s executed in a responsible and thoughtful way. Tonight we’ll talk about how to approach the fusion of western and eastern ideas, ingredients, and techniques that’s creative and productive with the help of Chef Xiaowei Zheng of Chiko and Donovan Tian of Daily Provisions . Feast Meets West is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...
Nov 28, 2018•56 min•Ep. 60
