We sit down with immigration lawyer and Executive Director of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate, Pamela Yee; unpacking how food can be both activism and healing.

From the origins of CSAH, navigating anti-Asian sentiment, the future of DEI, and what it takes to rally chefs for rapid-response community relief events. And simply why “you can’t love our food but hate our people.”

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

02:03 - A fourth-generation Chinese-American; from immigration attorney to CSAH executive director

05:20 - How Pamela met Chefs Tim Ma & Chef Kevin Tien; founding of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate (CSAH)

16:34 - Fundraising for Black families in Altadena affected by LA wildfires

21:33 - Sambal Survey

25:49 - On DEI: funding, initiatives & consumer power in America

32:08 - Pam’s immigration advice for immigrants & F&B staff

36:24 - The mission of CSAH; beer fundraiser with Lost Generation Brewery

40:04 - Hungry Questions

FOLLOW PAM & CSAH

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelayee/

https://www.chefsstoppingaapihate.com/

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⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠

⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

We sit down with Wendy and Tommy, the dynamic owners of The Standard Barbershop in Old Town Fairfax. From IT jobs and real estate to building a beloved community hub, they open up about identity, Asian-American resilience, and founding one of Virginia’s biggest Asian cultural festivals — Asian Festival on Main.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

03:17 - From IT & real estate to partnership in building The Standard Barbershop

10:57 - Balancing marriage & business; tattoo stories & cultural perceptions

14:40 - Wendy’s Chinese-Vietnamese upbringing; Tommy’s family history in F&B

19:33 - How food bonds communities and shapes identity; Wendy’s rediscovery of her roots through food terms like ‘kaya/‘kayang’

23:57 - Cultural differences in families; cooking at home & the ‘pandan struggle’

27:40 - Sambal Survey

31:07 - Asian Festival on Main: from a parking lot idea to a 25K-strong city-wide celebration

39:17 - Challenges chairing and organizing the AFM

42:51 - Tommy’s legacy vision for The Standard Barbershop

45:01 - Wendy’s reflection on AFM’s growth and its legacy

FOLLOW THE STANDARD BARBERSHOP

https://www.thestandardbarbershop.com

https://www.instagram.com/thestandardbarbershopffx/

FOLLOW US

⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠

⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠

Jinson Chan — co-chair of the Asian Festival on Main and owner of High Side in Fairfax — shares what makes this year’s festival bigger than ever, how this street-style Asian food and drink spot came to life, and his takes as Asian living abroad.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

01:59 - Who is Jinson? Malaysia origin, from engineer to owner of High Side, & co-chairing Asian Festival on Main

05:25 - Behind Asian Festival on Main: the celebration of AANHPI month, the growth over the years, and the support of local institutions

10:48 - The cultural contrast: pride and discrimination

17:39 - Building and showcasing a community through Asian Festival on Main

26:38 - Sambal Survey

31:20 - The biggest fear for the festival this year? The dos and don’ts

37:21 - Hungry Questions

38:41 - How to support Asian Festival on Main

FOLLOW JINSON & ASIAN FESTIVAL ON MAIN:

https://www.asianfestivalonmain.com/

https://www.instagram.com/asianfestivalonmain

https://highsideva.com/

FOLLOW US

⁠⁠@abangbrian⁠⁠

⁠⁠@hungryimmigrant⁠