“I’ve been working in the industry since I finished high school. I started off working the grill at a well-known chain restaurant – that’s where I fell in love with grilling. I eventually got an opportunity to start working from the bottom at a new restaurant with a new cuisine. Tasting that food changed my whole perspective on cooking. I had never experienced Vietnamese food before – it was like an awakening, I knew I needed to learn everything I could about this cuisine and its culture.

When you are able to inspire a feeling and momentum in someone through food, you know you have something special.

In that kitchen we all came from all over the place. My Chef was always the one to make us feel at home by treating us all as individuals. Sometimes, when the shift ended, we would even stay a little while longer just to hang out. That’s how strong we bonded.”