Open Belly

Season 03, Episode 12: InterNASHional Food Series Sep 29, 2020

Every Labor Day weekend, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) hosts and InterNASHional Food Crawl event where participants travel to over 60 immigrant-owned restaurants in Nashville, tasting cuisines from all around the world. This year, the event has shifted for obvious safety reasons, and is now called the InterNASHional Food Series, and is spread out over the months of September & October. Today we're chatting with Leah Hashinger, Development Director at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition to learn a little more about the event. Later in this episode, you’ll hear from two chefs who are participating in the event -- Mangal Tamang of Radjdhani Groceries & Cafe and Lokelani Alabanza of SATURATED Ice Cream.

Season 03, Episode 11: Cafe Cà Phê Sep 22, 2020

Jackie Nguyen doesn’t actually own a food business—yet. She is in the process of launching her business, Cafe Cà Phê, yes—during a pandemic. Jackie launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for Kansas City’s first Vietnamese mobile coffee shop, and she exceeded her fundraising goal and is on her way to opening. Later this month, she’ll be serving her first cup of Vietnamese coffee in Kansas City at local events and pop-up spaces.

Season 03, Episode 10: TLV Austin Sep 15, 2020

Berty Richter is the owner and chef of an Israeli street food restaurant in Austin, Texas. Berty was born and raised in Israel to an American-Hungarian father and a Turkish mother, in a home that cared deeply about food and gathering around the table. Now Berty is bringing his family’s food to the Austin community through his restaurant, TLV.

Season 03, Episode 09: Dakar Nola Sep 08, 2020

Today we’re talking with Serigne Mbaye, a 26-year-old Senagalese chef based in New Orleans. Even with just a few years of professional cooking experience, Serigne has been getting a lot of attention for his passion for introducing Americans to Senagalese food. He was named an Eater Young Gun in 2018, and he’s worked in Michelin starred restaurants in both San Francisco and New York, but now he’s found his home in New Orleans where he’s hosting regular pop-up dinners exploring the connections between the foods of Louisiana and Senegal.

Season 03, Episode 08: Urban Burma Sep 01, 2020

Today we’re talking with Siri Tan, chef and owner of Urban Burma in Denver, Colorado. In April 2019, Siri opened the first Burmese restaurant in Denver, located inside the Mango House, which is a “shared space for resettled refugees.” Siri had very little restaurant or cooking experience prior to opening Urban Burma, but he was determined to teach himself everything he needed to know to be successful.

Season 03, Episode 07: Petite Peso Aug 25, 2020

Ria Barbosa and her business partners are the definition of resilient—they opened their restaurant, Petite Peso, in the middle of a pandemic. While it wasn’t the ideal time to launch a new business, they’ve made it work by pivoting their menu into a more grab-and-go style eatery with lunch and dinner items. The menu at Petite Peso is full of Filipino classics, but with a little inspiration from Ria’s traditional French culinary training. We sat down with Ria to talk about the innovative menu at Petite Peso and the challenges of opening a restaurant during a pandemic.

Season 03, Episode 06: Pitas Columbia + Bonus Interview w/Yia Vang & David Crabb Aug 18, 2020

This week, we've got a 2 part episode. We'll start by catching up with Yia Vang from episode 1 who is launching a podcast with his buddy, David Crabb.

Then we'll chat with March Herro from Pitas in Columbia, SC. Marc was only 17 years old when his family decided to immigrate to the US from Lebanon. Arriving just after 9/11, Marc found himself living in a part of the country that wasn’t exactly welcoming to immigrants, particularly immigrants from the Middle East. After finding his way at a new school, learning a new language, and adjusting to a new culture, Marc now owns and operates one of the city’s most popular Mediterranean restaurants, Pita’s. We spoke with Marc to learn more about his family, how he learned to cook, and the legacy he wants to leave behind.

Season 03, Episode 05: Javi's Cooking Aug 11, 2020

Javier Sandes of Javi’s Cooking in Oakland had big plans to play soccer professionally, but after sustaining multiple injuries, he had to find a new dream. His second passion for cooking became a way for him to meet people in his community, share his culture with new friends, and make a little money to survive. It wasn’t long before Javi realized making empanadas was more than just a hobby—it had the potential of being a huge business. We sat down with Javi to hear how his humble empanada business turned into a massive operation over just a few years.

Season 03, Episode 04: Xingones Aug 04, 2020

Mayra Velazquez of the restaurant Xingones in Oakland truly embodies the idea of taking care of our communities and putting our communities first. You’ll hear in her story how she has set her own needs aside throughout the pandemic to make sure her restaurant family had a place to sleep, food to eat, and a way to support their families. Mayra reminds us of how important it is to be thoughtful about the businesses we support and how we spend our money—even one meal at a restaurant can make a direct impact on the livelihood of the workers there.

Season 03, Episode 03: Mental Health in the Hospitality Industry with Heard. Jul 28, 2020

We sat down with Joel Rivas, founder of Saint City Culinary Foundation, to talk about his program called “Heard,” whose mission is to support the sustainability and wellness of men and women in the restaurant and bar industry. The program started in San Antonio, but quickly spread to other cities and is now available to hospitality workers nationwide through online support. While mental health is always something that should be talked about, we think now is more important than ever to normalize anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders as so many of us are experiencing tough times throughout the pandemic. There is no shame in asking for help.

Content warning: adult language

Season 03, Episode 02: Sofreh Jul 21, 2020

Nasim Alikhani is changing the perception of Persian cuisine, a very underrepresented cuisine in the United States, through her highly acclaimed restaurant, Sofreh, in Brooklyn. With all of the accolades and positive reviews, Nasim still manages to create a restaurant atmosphere that feels like home. Nasim was born in Iran, and at the age of 23, she moved to New York to study and became a nanny. Throughout her adult life, she spent many years traveling back and forth to Iran, meeting with other home cooks and learning their techniques and family recipes. After raising two children of her own, Nasim decided to pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, without any formal restaurant experience, at the age of 58. Nasim has spent years, even decades, carefully creating her menu, and she's welcoming people into an extension of her home, one dish at a time.

Find Sofreh online at https://www.sofrehnyc.com/ and @sofreh_brooklyn on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to ChowNow for supporting us this season. This episode was edited by Oliver J. Hughes.

Content warning: this episode contains a brief conversation about pregnancy loss from 23:00-25:00.

Season 03, Episode 01: Union Hmong Kitchen Jul 14, 2020

While it’s always been Chef Yia Vang’s dream to open a brick and mortar restaurant in Minneapolis, his bigger mission has been to honor his parents, and to share his family’s story. He’s been able to do that through his series of pop-ups at Union Hmong Kitchen. His newest venture, Vinai, is slated to open in late 2020 or early 2021, and will celebrate his parents’ pursuit of a better life for their children. We sat down with Chef Yia to talk about how he first introduced Hmong food to Minneapolis, and where he hopes to go from here.

Find Union Hmong Kitchen online at https://unionkitchenmn.com/ and @unionhmongkitchen on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to ChowNow for supporting us this season. This episode was edited by Oliver J. Hughes, and photography was provided courtesy of @the_restaurant_project

Season 02, Episode 11: Sybil's Bakery Nov 18, 2019

In this season’s finale, we had the great pleasure of getting to know Ken Bernard of Sybil’s Bakery in Queens. Ken was born in Guyana and immigrated to NYC as a young child. His mother, a hair dresser by trade, began baking Guyanese baked goods in their home to make extra money. Eventually, his mother, had the opportunity to open a bakery storefront and has left quite the legacy with her family and neighborhood. Ken’s story is touching, honest, and real—something that we’ll carry with us forever. We hope you get as much out of his story as we have.

Find Sybil's Bakery online at http://www.sybilsoriginal.com/ and @sybilshillside on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 02, Episode 10: Yemen Cafe Nov 11, 2019

For this week’s episode, we had the opportunity to get to know Sid Nassir from Yemen Cafe. Yemen Cafe has two locations—one in downtown Brooklyn and one in Bay Ridge. We visited Sid at the Bay Ridge location before inviting him into our studio location for the interview, and you’ll hear in the interview we will talk a lot about the role Yemen Cafe plays in the Bay Ridge neighborhood, an incredibly diverse neighborhood in Brooklyn, a borough which is home for over 8,000 Yemeni Americans. Yemen Cafe has become a central meeting place for people of all religions and ethnicities—and a gathering place for some fantastic Yemeni food.

Find Yemen Cafe online at http://www.yemencafe.com/ and @yemencafe on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 02, Episode 09: Handsome Rice Nov 04, 2019

This week, we’ll hear from Hansong Kim of Handsome Rice, a Korean fast casual restaurant located in Murray Hill. Hansong started his culinary career in Korea, where he quickly rose the ranks and became a bit of a celebrity chef, publishing multiple cookbooks and making frequent television appearances. He wanted to learn more though, so he immigrated to the United States to attend Johnson & Wales University and develop his skills even further. As you’ll hear in the interview, Hansong is happy to be living a simpler life, bringing a healthified version of Korean cuisine to NYC.

Find Handsome Rice online at https://www.handsomerice.com/ and @handsome_rice_nyc on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 02, Episode 08: La Morada Oct 28, 2019

For today’s episode, we’re headed up to The Bronx to chat with Yajaira Saavedra from La Morada. La Morada is a neighborhood staple in Mott Haven specializing in Oaxacan cuisine. Yajaira operates the restaurant with her mother, brother, and other family members. Aside from the phenomenal moles that put La Morada on the map, La Morada is known as a safe gathering space for people in the community. Yajaira and her family actively participate in social justice causes in their neighborhood, and they use their platform as a way to share their culture and art with their neighbors. In the interview, we’ll hear from Yajaira about how La Morada is impacting the community in a positive way.

Find La Morada online at https://lamoradanyc.com and @lamoradanyc on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 02, Episode 07: Birds of a Feather Oct 21, 2019

Yiming Wang and Xian Zhang have made a name for themselves in the Chinese culinary scene with their Michelin-starred restaurant, Cafe China, and the sequel restaurant, China Blue. Now their newest concept, Birds of a Feather, is capturing the hearts of folks in the Williamsburg area. Upon entering the space, you’ll be wowed by Yiming’s skill for interior design, and the exceptional service and food. In the interview, Yiming and Xian share what made them take the leap to the restaurant industry from their stable careers in finance.

Find Birds of a Feather online at https://birdsofafeatherny.com/ and @manoushehnyc on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 02, Episode 06: Manousheh Oct 14, 2019

On today’s episode, we hear from Ziyad Hermez, owner of Manousheh, a Lebanese flatbread shop in the West Village. After moving to the United States for graduate school, Ziyad found himself craving his favorite Lebanese comfort food — piping hot bread, fresh from the oven, topped with olive oil and za'atar. After testing hundreds of recipes in his home kitchen, Ziyad decided to travel back to Lebanon to perfect his craft by interning with some of the most highly respected Manousheh bakers. Now he’s spreading the Manousheh love throughout New York.

Find Manousheh online at https://www.manousheh.com/ and @manoushehnyc on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 02, Episode 05: Papa's Kitchen Oct 07, 2019

At Papa’s Kitchen, located in Jackson Heights, you’ll be greeted with a smile, a menu—and a book of karaoke songs. Co-owner Maribeth Roa has created an oasis for her regulars who come for the food, stay for the karaoke, and keep coming back for the hospitality. In this episode, you’ll hear from Beth about her love and gratitude for her father who gave so much to his family.

Find Papa's Kitchen online at https://papaskitchennyc.com/ and @papas.kitchen0 on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 2, Episode 04: MáLà Project Sep 30, 2019

In this episode, we had the opportunity to chat with co-founder of Málà Project, Ning “Amelie” Kang. When you come to Málà Project, you’ll be presented with a menu of Chinese appetizers, small plates, and the dish we’ll be talking about today, called “Dry Pot”. On the dry pot menu, you’ll find a list of about 70 ingredients to choose from, which are then wok fried with 24 spices and peppers and served in a family style communal bowl for the table to enjoy. You’ll hear in the interview how to properly order and enjoy dry pot, and the brave entrepreneurship story of Amelie.

Find Málà Project online at https://www.malaproject.nyc/ and @malaproject on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 2, Episode 03: Çka Ka Qëllu Sep 23, 2019

For an experience like no other, head to Çka Ka Qëllu located in the Bronx. Owner Ramiz Kukaj was inspired to open his restaurant when his son asked him where he could take his friends for authentic Albanian cuisine. In his research, Ramiz came up empty handed and decided it would become his life’s mission to bring Albanian cuisine and culture to NYC. After years of collecting 18th and 19th century Albanian artifacts to decorate the space, Çka Ka Qëllu is now one of the most unique restaurant/museum experiences in the city.

Find Çka Ka Qëllu online at http://ckakaqellu.com and @ckakaqellu on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 2, Episode 02: Caracas Arepa Bar Sep 16, 2019

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with co-owner of Caracas Arepa Bar, Maribel Araujo. Caracas is a Venezuelan arepa bar with 3 locations in NYC — one in Manhattan in the Lower East Side, one in Brooklyn, and a 3rd summer location in Rockaway Beach. Maribel’s business journey has not been without challenges, as one of her locations was damaged in a fire, and another washed away by Superstorm Sandy. Her ongoing stories of resilience are sure to inspire.

Find Caracas Arepa Bar online athttp://www.caracasarepabar.com/index.php and @caracasarepabar on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Season 2, Episode 01: Khe-Yo Sep 09, 2019

For the first episode of season two, we had the opportunity to sit down with Soulayphet “Phet” Schwader from Khe-Yo, located in Tribeca. At Khe-Yo, Phet is cooking traditional Laotian cuisine with modern touches, at a hip and vibrant location in Tribeca. Chef Phet was born in Laos and came to Wichita, Kansas through a refugee resettlement program as a young child. Sadly Phet’s biological father passed away while living in a refugee camp, and you’ll hear Phet share how he decided to embark on a journey to find out more about his late father.

Find Khe-Yo online at https://www.kheyo.com/ and @khe_yo on Instagram. The Open Belly podcast is hosted by Danielle Lehman and shares the stories of immigrant and refugee chefs and restauranteurs across America. You can find the Open Belly podcast online at openbellypodcast.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @openbelly. Thank you to our supporters, ChowNow and New American Economy. This episode was produced by Oliver J. Hughes, photography provided by Alyssa Broadus and Chris Dolt, and artwork created by Frank Norton. Data points and research provided by New American Economy.

Open Belly Goes to NYC Aug 05, 2019

Welcome back to season 2 of the Open Belly podcast, presented by ChowNow and New American Economy. Last season, we started our journey in the midwest, exploring the vibrant and diverse food culture of Kansas City. Now for season 2, we’re headed to the city where many immigrants and refugees start their journey, a city where immigrants make up over 35% of the city’s overall population - New York City.

Episode 10: Pirate's Bone Apr 09, 2019

Who says eating a plant-based diet can’t be fun? Chef Zaid Consuegra Sauza is creating Latin American inspired dishes and drinks in his coffee shop, Pirate’s Bone. Hear his story on this week’s episode of the Open Belly podcast.