Chef Yia Vang on Hmong Cuisine & Culture; 'Run & Gun' Restauranteering; & Spreading Appreciation

Chef Yia Vang on Hmong Cuisine & Culture; 'Run & Gun' Restauranteering; & Spreading Appreciation

Author: BLISTER August 23, 2023 Duration: 1:09:25

Yia Vang is a multi-nominated James Beard Award chef; the founder & head chef of Union Hmong Kitchen, and he’s carved out time to compete on the Netflix show, “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend,” host the show, ”Feral” on the Outdoors Channel, host another show, “Stoked” on the Food Network, and host the excellent podcast,“Hmonglish” which focuses on the Hmong people, their culture, representation, and Asian excellence overall.

Yia and Jonathan discuss all of the above, plus his ‘run & gun’ approach to running a restaurant; the history of the service and sacrifices made by many Hmong people on behalf of the USA; patriotism; curiosity; football; the art of Hmong cuisine; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Managing Restaurants, Flexibility, & Football (8:29)

Current State of Food Culture in the USA (22:16)

Being Anti "Fusion" (28:01)

Hmong / US History (34:02)

Hmong Cuisine & Hmong Clans (46:41)

The Craft of Hmong Cuisine (51:46)

Past, Current, & Future Projects (56:20)

RELATED LINKS

Hmonglish Podcast

Union Hmong Kitchen

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member


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There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
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