Bravo! A New Generation of Asian Chefs Gets the Spotlight

By Wendy Chan

The 2008 Asia Society’s Asian Food Series, co-presented by Savory Productions, Inc., kicked off to a sensational start this spring with their first program held on April 2^nd in New York titled Bravo! A New Generation of Asian Chefs Gets the Spotlight.

The popular Bravo reality series “Top Chef”, along with other food shows on both the big and small screens have fueled the interest of bright and talented young people everywhere to pursue a food industry career. Such popular shows have taken audiences to the “back of the house,” sharing some of the drama that really happens in the kitchen every day, and the dynamics of different personalities and cultures in a business that depends on team work.

With the new crop of eager and energetic chefs graduating from cooking schools across the nation, we finally have some fresh faces that draw national attention to the accomplishments of Asian chefs. This program introduced some of these bright, rising stars, who talked about their responsibilities, challenges and aspirations including how to balance cooking in the kitchen with appearing in front of the camera.

James Oseland, Editor-in-Chief of Saveur Magazine, the program was a lively chat among panelists Hung Q. Huynh, Executive Chef of Solo Restaurant and recent “Top Chef” winner, Vikas Khanna, Chef/Owner of Purnima Restaurant, Café at Rubin Museum of Art, and Tulsi Caterers, Lee Anne Wong, Executive Chef, The French Culinary Institute, “Top Chef” (1st season), and Irene Wong, Producer, IW Productions.

The packed audience was eager to get the inside scoop about cooking in front of the camera, and personal favorites of these celebrities. A tasty reception courtesy of Chef One Dumplings of Brooklyn, New York followed the discussion.

Additional Asian food programs will be offered to satisfy the insatiable Asian-food-hungry crowd. If you live in, or are visiting New York, we’d love to have you join us! Mark your calendar for an upcoming program on April 16^th with famous authors Fuchsia Dunlop, who is literally well versed in Chinese cuisines, and Jennifer 8 Lee, author of “Fortune Cookie Chronicles”. For more information and tickets, please click here.