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

    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
  2. “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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Baking Her Mother’s Memory into Every Cake | MasterChef Dr. Ezani Monoto

    07/30/2025

    Baking Her Mother’s Memory into Every Cake | MasterChef Dr. Ezani Monoto

    From the MasterChef Malaysia stage to running her own bake shop, Dr. Ezani Monoto has never lost sight of her roots. In this heartwarming and thoughtful episode, we talk about faith, food, family, and the legacy of recipes passed down from her late mother.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 01:56 - A MasterChef Malaysia reunion; Who is Dr. Ezani Monoto?04:45 - Childhood in Muar & memories of baking kuih raya with her mom: Almond London, Biskut Kapal, & Benji Roll 09:43 - Inheriting her mother’s recipes & running her bake shop Pastribella 14:51 - When modesty and faith meets modern flavors; cooking and living abroad as a grounded Muslim 19:57 - No alcohol, no problem; enjoying food on your own discretion 26:08 - Views on fusion & authenticity 31:15 - Teaching her daughters adab, cooking, and the joys of Malaysian food 39:01 - Sambal Survey FOLLOW DR. EZANI https://www.instagram.com/ezanimonoto/ https://www.instagram.com/pastribellabakeshop/ FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    44 min
  6. Valorizing, Not Elevating: Owning Asian-ness | Khánh-Ly

    07/25/2025

    Valorizing, Not Elevating: Owning Asian-ness | Khánh-Ly

    What does it mean to truly belong — when your name, food, and even identity feel constantly misunderstood? MasterChef France 2015 winner Khánh-Ly Huynh opens up about growing up Vietnamese in France, navigating identity, and challenging what it means to be Asian in a Eurocentric culinary world. From the emotional ties to fermented fish, to calling out cultural appropriation and the pricing bias in Asian food, Khánh Ly gets real, sassy, and unapologetic.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 03:55 - Khánh-Ly’s unexpected culinary journey from law and luxury watches to MasterChef France 07:09 - Growing up as Vietnamese in France 10:23 - What is Vietnamese food to Khánh-Ly? Bánh cuốn as her comfort food 17:27 - Cultural nuances and representation of Asian food today 24:20 - Fusion vs. appropriation; elevating vs. valorizing Asian food 32:11 - Pricing, value, and the bias against Asian cuisine (Jungle Asian?) 38:19 - The burnout; shifting focus to content creation for Asians abroad 40:58 - Sambal Survey FOLLOW KHÁNH-LY https://www.instagram.com/cheflymalaya/ https://www.youtube.com/@cheflymalaya/ FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    47 min
  7. “I want to be everyone’s favorite ice cream” | Pooja Bavishi, Malai Ice Cream

    07/16/2025

    “I want to be everyone’s favorite ice cream” | Pooja Bavishi, Malai Ice Cream

    Malai Ice Cream, a brand redefining what ice cream can be by infusing South Asian flavors into an American classic. Behind the brand, there’s Pooja, the founder of Malai and Malai is her love letter to her identity, culture, and community. We dive into how she is embracing her Gujarati-American roots to challenging what "authenticity" means in food, expect laughs, spice, a honest conversation about what it means to belong. 📣 GET 15% OFF SCOPES!! 🍨 Use code HungryImmigrantPodcast at any Malai store to enjoy the offer - limited to the month of July only! This special episode of The Hungry Immigrant is brought to you in partnership with Neerja PR, and was shot on location at the Brown Girl Clubhouse, right in the heart and heat of New York City. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 02:43 - What is Malai Ice Cream? 04:19 - How Pooja’s cultural roots shaped her food journey; why spices belong in ice cream 08:34 - Ice Cream vs. Kulfi vs. Gelato vs. Sorbet; Ice cream is air?! (Overrun explained) 14:59 - Joy over calories: ice creams are about moments in life 18:27 - Malai’s growth & The Malai Cookbook: Fried Ice Cream Pie 22:54 - Sambal Survey + Malai ice cream taste test 27:41 - The Hungry Journal: Pooja’s love for Gujarati food 30:49 - Malai as a reflection of Pooja’s identity & why ‘authentic’ is personal 32:57 - The flavor that almost didn’t make the menu: Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds 34:29 - Hungry Questions 36:51 - What’s next for Malai: Malai Cookbook Tour (details below!) - 🎟️ Get your tickets to Malai cookbook tour - You’ll try sweets from the book, meet Pooja, and get your book signed.🍨 Key Dates: July 16, 6:30pm | Binding Agents, Philadelphia Sweet Treats, Signing & Author Talk in conversation with Chef Jen CarrollJuly 24, 7pm | Essex Market, New York City Sweet Treats, Savory Bites from Dhamaka, Book Signing & Author Talk with Kristen Kish!July 29, 7pm | Madison Street Books, Chicago Sweet Treats, Signing & Author Talk in conversation with Molly YehMore info on: https://www.malai.co/cookbook-tour FOLLOW POOJA & MALAI https://www.instagram.com/malai_icecream/ https://www.instagram.com/pooja_bavishi_/ FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    39 min
  8. Putting Malaysian Sambal on America’s Map | Auria “The Sambal Lady”

    07/07/2025

    Putting Malaysian Sambal on America’s Map | Auria “The Sambal Lady”

    We headed to Brooklyn, New York to meet the one and only Auria Abraham — aka The Sambal Lady. From a classically trained pianist to running a jingle house to pioneering Malaysian food in America, Auria shares how she built Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen, the first Malaysian-made brand in the US. Over rendang and sambal, we dive into identity, challenges of breaking into the American market, and the flavorful power of sambal. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 03:00 - “My favorite thing is to feed people Malaysian Food”: Rendang, broccoli, ikan bilis & sambal 07:31 - Auria’s family Rendang recipe; a perfect Malaysian plate 10:41 - Auria's Malaysian Kitchen: Sambal, Kaya & spice blends 13:00 - What is Sambal; Who is Auria — from Music to The Sambal Lady 22:14 - Sambal Survey; what is “Sambal Tumis” 26:15 - Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen: sambal, spice blends, & upcoming launches 29:55 - The Hungry Journal 31:18 - Educating Americans about Sambal 34:39 - Hot take: Malaysia needs to do more to support its cuisine abroad 39:30 - Auria’s practical tips to start a food business in the US 41:25 - Auria’s first big break 43:54 - The Legacy of Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen 46:11 - Hungry Questions FOLLOW AURIA https://www.instagram.com/thesamballady/ https://auriasmalaysiankitchen.com FOLLOW US ⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

    50 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
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Abang Brian
  • Show Website
    The Hungry Immigrant