The Hungry Immigrant

Abang Brian
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The Hungry Immigrant podcast, hosted by celebrity chef, cookbook author and educator Abang Brian, is dedicated to preserving Asian food culture and heritage. Through insightful conversations with chefs, food historians, and culinary innovators, the podcast explores traditional dishes, culinary techniques, and the cultural significance of food. Each episode celebrates the power of food in preserving identity and heritage, with the goal of keeping Asian culinary traditions alive for future generations.

  1. 6D AGO

    From Marine Corps to Purple Patch: Patrice Cleary’s Leap of Faith

    What does it mean to rediscover your identity through food? In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant, Abang Brian sits down with Chef Patrice Cleary, Filipina-American chef and owner of Purple Patch DC and Joia Burger in Washington, D.C. From serving in the U.S. Marine Corps to building one of the most recognized Filipino restaurants in DC, Patrice shares her journey of finding identity, community, and purpose through Filipino cuisine. They discuss the rise of Filipino food in America, authenticity in immigrant cuisine, ingredients like ube and bagoong, and how Purple Patch became a home for the Filipino diaspora. If you want to understand Filipino cuisine beyond adobo, the power of food and identity, and the story behind one of DC’s most beloved Filipino restaurants, this episode is for you. Follow Patrice ClearyInstagram: @cupcakecleary @purplepatchdc@joiaburgerdc Follow The Hungry Immigrant Podcast- A global podcast exploring Asian food culture, identity, and immigrant stories. @hungryimmigrantHosted by Abang Brian (MasterChef Malaysia) @abangbrian Timestamps 00:00 The question of authenticity in Filipino food02:05 From U.S. Marine Corps to restaurateur08:10 Childhood memories and Filipino food identity13:20 Opening Purple Patch and taking the leap21:10 Sambal Survey with Abang Brian28:45 Filipino food beyond adobo36:40 Understanding ube and Filipino ingredients43:30 The future of Filipino-American cuisine

    49 min

  2. MAR 5

    Class Clown to Cultural Voice

    Ceddy Ang has always been the funny one.The one who could turn awkward into entertaining. The one who could laugh firstbefore anyone else did.But behind the humour was a boy who grew up being teased for his voice,questioning what was “wrong” with him, and wondering why he didn’t fit the mold.In this conversation, Ceddy talks about growing up in Malaysia, finding safety in foodand culture, stepping into the chaos of the internet, and learning that courage isn’talways loud…it’s sometimes just showing up as you.We also talk sambal loyalty, Ramadan discipline, Malaysian pride, and why he willalways choose to call himself Malaysian first.Join us for a very warm, honest, and very, very Ceddy episode!#HungryImmigrant #FoodAndCulture #ImmigrantStoriesTimestamps:00:00 – Intro03:00 – Malaysian Values06:17 – From Aspiring Performer to Content Creator11:41 – Sambal Survey16:45 – Food Memories, Malaysian Identity, and Diversity21:53 - Hungry Questions and Food Trend Aversions24:16 – Penang's Best Char Kway Teow26:10 – Addressing Accusations35:07 – The Fasting Experience and Customs41:07 – Transitioning from Food Review to Music44:11 – Music and AI's Impact on Content Creation48:59 - Outro

    42 min

  3. FEB 25

    The truth about "Authenticity" : Chef Sapna’s spicy journey across borders

    What is “authentic food”, and who gets to decide? In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant, chef, author and TV host Sapna Anand takes us on a powerful, spiced journey across borders, from her childhood in Goa to building a life, career, and family in Malaysia. Together with Abang Brian, she unpacks: 🔥 The myth of authenticity in Indian and Malaysian cooking🔥 How migration reshapes identity, taste, and creativity🔥 The emotional meaning of spices in Goan cuisine🔥 Navigating motherhood and culture abroad🔥 Finding “home” when you belong to more than one place This conversation blends food, memory, and the immigrant experience : a must-listen for anyone who loves Goan food, Malaysian Indian cuisine, diaspora stories, or the deep cultural meaning behind what we eat. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iTunes & Amazon Music. #HungryImmigrant #SapnaAnand #FoodAndCulture #AsianDiaspora #GoanCuisine #MalaysianIndian

    53 min

  4. FEB 18

    From Claypot Soup to Couture: Melinda Looi on Heritage, Identity & Reinventing Tradition

    In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant, Abang Brian sits down with Malaysian fashion icon Melinda Looi for a deeply personal conversation about food, identity, and the rituals that shape who we become. Melinda grew up in a traditional Cantonese household where soup simmered daily, Chinese New Year leftovers symbolised abundance, and jam cha meant far more than just tea. Together, they explore what it meant to grow up as a third-generation Chinese Malaysian, how food evolves just like fashion to stay relevant, and why festive dishes carry powerful symbolic meaning. From charcoal-cooked claypot soups to couture inspired by a child’s doodles, this episode is a reminder that tradition isn’t meant to be frozen in time, it’s meant to live, breathe, and move with us. #HungryImmigrant #FoodAndCulture #ImmigrantStories Timestamps 0:00 — Intro 05:02 — Growing Up Cantonese in Malaysia 20:30 — Chinese New Year, Jam Cha & Rituals of Abundance 30:08 — Cooking Abroad: Recreating Home in Canada 40:12 — Cultural Appreciation vs Appropriation 42:51 — Fusion, Fashion & The Future of Tradition 50:11 — Sambal Survey 52:19 — Outro

    53 min

  5. FEB 12

    The Power of Poise: Sara Jane Ho on Modern Asian Grace

    Season 3 of The Hungry Immigrant opens with a woman redefining what it means to represent Asia on the world stage. From Beijing to New York, from private finishing schools to Netflix screens worldwide, Sara Jane Ho has built a global movement around etiquette, identity, and cultural intelligence. But this isn’t just about table manners. It’s about power. It’s about presence. It’s about carrying your heritage with confidence in rooms that weren’t built for you. In this episode, we explore: Why etiquette is actually about empathy The evolution of Asian identity in the West Cultural confidence vs cultural performance What modern grace really means in 2026 This is not a conversation about forks and napkins. It’s about how we show up in the world. Season 3 begins with poise.

    35 min
  6. “Imposter Syndrome Won’t Stop Me” | Sam Cho

    09/11/2025

    “Imposter Syndrome Won’t Stop Me” | Sam Cho

    At just 29, Sam Cho went from exporting millions of pounds of eggs to becoming the youngest and first person of color to lead the Port of Seattle Commission. In this episode, Sam shares how growing up as the son of Korean immigrants shaped his path, from the Obama White House to city politics, from battling imposter syndrome to fighting anti-Asian hate, and why he opened a bubble tea shop with his family.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 02:32 - Becoming youngest and first person of color President of the Port Commission; leading through COVID-19, anti-Asian hate, and imposter syndrome 05:48 - Entrepreneurial story: exporting eggs during a global shortage 10:29 - Breaking down tariffs & trade wars 15:58 - Growing up Korean American 19:19 - Hungry Questions 21:14 - Opening bubble tea shop “Social Tea” with family 25:28 - Sambal Survey 28:35 - The Hungry Journal 31:17 - Advice to young immigrants & children of immigrants on leadership and mentorship About Sam Cho Commissioner Sam Cho is a second-generation Korean American who was raised by Korean immigrants in the state of Washington. By day, he is a staff member working in the state Legislature. By night, he runs his own business as the CEO of Seven Seas Export, a trading company that exports US commodities to Asia. Prior to Seven Seas Export, Sam worked as a political appointee under President Barack Obama. In the Obama Administration, he was the Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator of the US General Services Administration. There, he helped to manage a federal agency of over 10,000 federal employees and worked on agency-wide strategy and execution for its three business lines in real asset management, federal acquisitions, and technology transformation. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Sam worked for a member of the United States Congress for whom he managed a portfolio of issues ranging from Foreign Affairs, Trade, Small Business, and Banking & Financial Services. Sam has also worked as an analyst for the US Department of State and conducted economic research for the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington D.C. Sam was a recipient of the Congressional Fellowship from the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) in 2014 and World Affairs Council Fellowship in 2018. He served on the Board of Directors for the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) from 2014 to 2016. He currently serves on the board of directors for Asian Pacific American Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment (APACE) and the Korean American Coalition (KAC) of Washington. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The American University and a master of science from The London School of Economics. FOLLOW SAMhttps://www.instagram.com/samhcho/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/samhcho FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    38 min
  7. Stop Apologizing for Your Food! | Chef Wan | Hungry Bite

    08/21/2025 · BONUS

    Stop Apologizing for Your Food! | Chef Wan | Hungry Bite

    In this Hungry Bite with Malaysia’s beloved Chef Wan, we dive into the unapologetic pride of serving authentic flavors, the powerful role of mak ciks (aunties) in preserving culinary heritage, and why food is more than just sustenance — it’s identity, memory, and culture. Above all, Chef Wan serves a fiery reminder: if we lose our food, we lose our culture. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 01:13 - The power of Makciks (aunties) 3:48 - Stop apologizing for your food! 08:18 - If we lose our food, we lose our culture FOLLOW CHEF WAN https://www.instagram.com/chefwan1958_official/ De.Wan 1985 by Chef Wan⁠ FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    12 min
  8. The Man Saving India’s Culinary Heritage | Kripal Amanna, Food Lovers TV

    08/13/2025

    The Man Saving India’s Culinary Heritage | Kripal Amanna, Food Lovers TV

    We sit down with Kripal Amanna, Founder & Host of Food Lovers TV — the YouTube channel with over 1.2 million subscribers dedicated to uncovering India’s hidden culinary treasures.  From bamboo-steamed idlis in remote villages to the stories behind pre-dawn biryanis, Kripal shares his journey from hotelier to storyteller, the philosophy of preserving food heritage, and why mindful eating is the simplest way to safeguard traditions.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 02:08 - Who is Kripal Amanna: Growing up in Bombay, Taj Hotels career, and the birth of Food Lovers TV 13:32 - Unforgettable bamboo-steamed idli in Halaguru; pre-dawn Hoskote biryani 19:42 - How did Food Lovers TV changed Kripal’s perception of food?  22:45 - The diversity in Indian food and why food is more than sustenance 30:32 - Regional flavors & seasonality; Fusion VS Tradition 42:14 - Mindful eating is the one step everyone can take today 44:05 - Sambal Survey FOLLOW KRIPALhttps://www.instagram.com/kripalamanna/ https://www.youtube.com/foodloverstv FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    52 min
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About

The Hungry Immigrant podcast, hosted by celebrity chef, cookbook author and educator Abang Brian, is dedicated to preserving Asian food culture and heritage. Through insightful conversations with chefs, food historians, and culinary innovators, the podcast explores traditional dishes, culinary techniques, and the cultural significance of food. Each episode celebrates the power of food in preserving identity and heritage, with the goal of keeping Asian culinary traditions alive for future generations.

Information

  • Creator
    Abang Brian
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Abang Brian
  • Show Website
    The Hungry Immigrant