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. The Hood Paris: The Pandan Revolution in the 11th Arrondisment

    4D AGO

    The Hood Paris: The Pandan Revolution in the 11th Arrondisment

    In the heart of the 11th arrondissement, Abang Brian found home the moment he opened the door to The Hood Paris. A buzzing café and restaurant that has become a soul-restoring haven for modern Asians and a vibrant cultural bridge for Parisians. In this episode, Pearl and Crystal, the co-founders of The Hood, share their incredible journey. They detail how they went from careers in finance and accounting to pioneering Southeast Asian cuisine in one of the world’s most demanding food capitals. Their mission was never just about food; it was about creating a community-driven kopitiam where everyone feels at home, breaking down stereotypes that label Asian food as merely "cheap takeaway." This episode explores the delicate dance of cultural identity in how they adapt the heavy, rich flavours of rendang and Curry Laksa for the French palate, their thoughtful use of MSG, and the audacious idea of pairing Nasi Lemak with natural wine. It’s a story of passion, pride, and the kind of food that is so comforting, it becomes a universal language. 0:00 - Intro 01:05 - Finding Home: From Finance toKopitiam 05:25 - The Pandan & Kaya Revolution 11:15 - Breaking Bread, We Break Rice 16:05 - How Chicken Soup Won Over theFrench 21:45 - Produce, Terroir, and the MSGDebate 27:35 - "Cheap Asian Food" 32:00 - The Oeuf Mayo Sambal Fusion:Adapting Flavours 41:15 - The Soul of The Hood 43:55 - The Mother Ship Concept: Nonette& Future Plans 47:10 - The Sambal Survey Timestamps:

    49 min

  2. MAR 26

    Cashew Chicken Paid My College Tuition — Hsiao-Ching Chou on Chinese Food, Immigrant Hustle & the Breath of the Wok

    This week, The Hungry Immigrant travels to rainy Seattle to sit with one of the most important voices in Chinese-American cuisine today. Hsiao-Ching Chou grew up in her family's Chinese restaurant in Columbia, Missouri — a restaurant that started as takeout from a converted Hardee's and grew into a full buffet. As she puts it herself, cashew chicken and crab rangoon paid for her college education. She went on to become an award-winning food journalist, the author of three cookbooks on Chinese home cooking, and the former chair of the James Beard Foundation's Book Awards Committee. This conversation goes well beyond recipes. It is about what immigrant hustle really looks like from the inside, why the pursuit of authenticity in food might be the wrong question altogether, and what it means to pass down a culinary identity to the next generation — including co-writing a cookbook with her teenage daughter during the pandemic. This episode covers: From a converted Hardee's in Missouri to a 40-seat dining room: the real immigrant restaurant storyWhy buffets changed how America eats — and why that is complicatedThe one stir-fry mistake everyone makes, and the real secret behind wok heiBehind the James Beard Foundation: how books are judged, who gets heard, and what equity in food media looks like"I want to be an influencer and get free food" — what social media gets dangerously wrong about expertiseFeasts of Good Fortune: writing an intergenerational cookbook with her daughter MeileeThe Sambal Survey, Seattle editionThe Hungry Journal closing question: "The story is not over"Guest: Hsiao-Ching Chou — author of Chinese Soul Food, Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food, and Feasts of Good Fortune (with Meilee Chou Riddle). Former chair of the James Beard Foundation Book Awards Committee. The Hungry Immigrant is a podcast about Asian food culture, identity, and the stories that connect us across borders. New episodes from Seattle, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Michigan, New York, and Virginia. Keep your plates adventurous and your hearts open.

    55 min

  3. MAR 19

    Raya, Laksa wars and crying over rendang! : LIVE in KL with the Lite Breakfast (Hari Raya Special)

    Malaysia doesn't just celebrate Hari Raya. It lives it, across religions, cultures, and kitchen tables.In this special live episode, The Hungry Immigrant records in front of a live audience in Kuala Lumpur during Ramadan 2026, just before breaking fast. Host Abang Brian is joined by Terry Ong and Leya, hosts of The LITE Breakfast on Lite FM, Malaysia's leading English radio station.What starts as a conversation about food becomes something much bigger: what fasting truly demands of a person, what Hari Raya means to Malaysians of every background, and why the food memories we carry stay with us long after everyone at the table is gone.This episode covers:- Terry's story: how his mother apologised through food, never words- The Great Laksa Debate: Penang vs Kedah vs Johor vs Sarawak- What Ramadan fasting really means beyond food and drink- Cooking rendang in France as a student and crying before the first bite- Growing up non-Muslim in Malaysia and why Hari Raya belongs to everyone- The Sambal Survey- A deeply moving moment about a late grandmother, forgiveness, and love- "What do you know for sure?" — Terry and Leya's answers will stay with youRecorded live at Kelab Golf Negara Subang, Kuala Lumpur. The Hungry Immigrant is a podcast that celebrates Asian food culture, identity, and the stories that connect us across borders. Live episodes coming to Michigan, New York, Virginia and beyond.Keep your plates adventurous and your hearts open.

    54 min

  4. MAR 12

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Abang Brian
  • Show Website
    The Hungry Immigrant