#ChineseFoodiesofIG: Jon Kung of Kung Food

Jon Kung of Kung Food

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?

Detroit. I [really] come from a long list of unreasonable expectations..

What does home taste like?

A large bowl of congee with a side of dumplings in soup.

What’s a Chinese recipe everyone should learn?

Five spice, freshly ground.

Share a food memory:

When I was in South Africa with my Uncle he took me on a rubber duck boat and we went fishing for crayfish. They’re kind of like lobsters but with no claws and covered with spines. We brought many home but some of them we just broke in half right out of the water and ate with soy sauce and wasabi. I’ll never remember a flavor as vividly as I do that time.

Most underrated Chinese ingredient:

I think the Chinese are pretty good about understanding the importance of all ingredients in the context of their own dishes. I think tofu could stand to be more appreciated in the West.

Who's your Chinese food legend?

Turkey as played by Karen Mok in the Stephen Chow Film ‘God of Cookery’.

Dream dinner party guests:

Eileen Yin-Fei Lo
Michael W. Twitty
Fuscia Dunlop 
Gabriela Camara 
Dominique Crenn

Favourite Chinese vegetable:

Ong choy.

What does Chinese food mean to you?

It’s a large part of my own expression. It’s the part of myself that I can most easily share.