Ning “Amelie” Kang came to the United States to attend the Culinary Institute of America and moved to New York in 2014. Upon graduating, Amelie had just one year left on her Visa to legally work in the US, and when her year was up, she was forced to either open her own business or […]
Albanian Heritage Thriving in the Bronx at Çka Ka Qëllu
For an immersive experience that rivals a trip to Albania itself, we are heading to Çka Ka Qëllu located in the Bronx to talk to founder Ramiz Kukaj. Ramiz was inspired to open the restaurant when his son asked where he could take his friends for authentic Albanian cuisine. In his research, Ramiz came up […]
Leo & Billy Take Asian Fusion to New Heights at Poke Rainbow
“I just want to make eating fun again!” says Founding Partner Billy Snur, bouncing around the just-opened location of Poke Rainbow in Redondo Beach, California. He rearranges brightly colored packages of Japanese candy on a nearby shelf. “When it gets too serious… I never want that to happen.” Owner, Chef, and Entrepreneur Leo Wang joins […]
Maribel Araujo of Caracas Arepa Bar Shares Story of Resilience
There are often many obstacles on the path to our dreams, and Co-owner of Caracas Arepa Bar Maribel Araujo knows this all too well. The dot-com business woman turned-restaurateur shares her incredible story of resilience along with her passion for Venezuelan cuisine, highlighting her three NYC locations from Manhattan and Brooklyn to Rockaway Beach. Tell […]
Behind the Counter with The Bombay Frankie Company
Have you ever craved Indian food, but wanted to try a different take on Chicken Tikka Masala or Tandoor Paneer? Look no further than The Bombay Frankie Company–although you may do a double-take when you see that the location is tucked away in a local LA gas station. This spot has been serving up tasty […]
Soulayphet Schwader’s Journey from Refugee Camp to NYC Chef
Soulayphet “Phet” Schwader is the chef and co-owner of Khe-Yo, a vibrant Lao restaurant located in Tribeca. At Khe-Yo, Phet is cooking traditional Laotian cuisine with modern touches, an homage to the food he grew up eating in Laos before immigrating to the United States. Chef Phet was born in Laos and came to Wichita, […]
The Family Behind Pasta Sisters Brings Homemade Italian to Los Angeles
Pasta Sisters opened in Los Angeles in 2014 as an Italian deli, primarily making gnocchi and pasta for other restaurants. They grew organically at first, but an unexpected phone call skyrocketed them into popularity and almost derailed their success. Giorgia, daughter of chef Paola, talks about their family’s journey to a second, larger restaurant. What […]
Behind the Counter with the Partners of HiHo Cheeseburger
A group of passionate burger lovers had a dream of creating a delicious and affordable cheeseburger with high-quality ingredients. After two years of experimenting in the test kitchen, HiHo Cheeseburger was born – the only burger joint that exclusively serves 100% grass-fed wagyu beef. We sat down with two of the operating partners Matt Levin […]
Baking With Ancient Grains at Friends & Family in Los Angeles
At the bright and airy Friends & Family restaurant in Los Angeles, its impressive display is thoughtfully arranged with over two dozen baked goods. A mountain of shatteringly crispy croissants, a round of crumble-topped almond coffee cake, and a nearly teetering stack of canelé stand out in pastry chef Roxana Jullapat’s repertoire of baked goods. […]
Behind the Counter with James Choi, Owner of Cafe Dulce
James Choi went from an aspiring professional golfer to an accountant before becoming the owner of Cafe Dulce in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo in 2011. After helping to sell his mother’s chocolate shop in Palo Alto, she moved down to Southern California with a new dream of opening a bakery. As the ever-dutiful son, Choi […]