#ChineseFoodiesofIG: Bao Ong

Bao Ong, Food & Drink Editor at Time Out New York

This is part of an ongoing series of interviews I’m doing with my favourite Chinese foodies that I follow on Instagram. Come and follow the #ChineseFoodiesofIG hashtag on Instagram and leave a comment showing your support for these talented folk!

Where are you from? Where are you really from?

I was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and eventually moved to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota when I started high school. My father is Vietnamese, and my mother is Chinese. I grew up speaking Vietnamese at home, so I consider it my first language. I've been living in New York City full-time since August 2008.

Rice or noodles?

That's a difficult question. It depends on the day, my mood, the dish. But if I had choose one, it'd be noodles.

What does home taste like?

When I think of what home tastes like I always think of my mother's pho. Even as a child, I seemingly could eat more bowls of pho than anyone in my family. I can still smell the fragrant aroma of the beef bones simmering away all day long and the wafts of star anise in the house.

Share a food memory:

I was in a small Norwegian town a few years ago in the middle of nowhere, but I still found an Asian restaurant. It always amazes me how this happens all over the world.

Favourite Chinese vegetable:

Snow pea tips.

Who's your Chinese food legend?

Like millions of others, I'm mesmerized by Li Ziqi's videos.

Ultimate comfort food:

Dim sum.

Dream dinner party guests:

Cecilia Chiang, Ruth Reichl, Michelle Kwan, Wong Kar-wai.

What does Chinese food mean to you?

I'm not an expert by any stretch, but I think people often don't know about how diverse and regional Chinese food is because they've often only experienced and tasted a sliver of the country's offerings. For myself, I still have so much more to explore.

#ChineseFoodiesofIGJenny LauOctober 5, 2020chinese identityComment