The Hungry Immigrant

The Hungry Immigrant podcast, hosted by celebrity chef, cookbook author and educator Abang Brian, is dedicated to preserving Asian food culture and heritage. Through insightful conversations with chefs, food historians, and culinary innovators, the podcast explores traditional dishes, culinary techniques, and the cultural significance of food. Each episode celebrates the power of food in preserving identity and heritage, with the goal of keeping Asian culinary traditions alive for future generations.

The Hungry Immigrant is a arts podcast hosted by Abang Brian, with 50 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 81. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Abang Brian hosts The Hungry Immigrant, a arts show with 50 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #12

  You’ve Been Using a Wok Wrong! The Secret to Better Stir-Fries with Eleanor Hoh

  Aug 11, 202636 minS3

  Are you using your wok correctly? Eleanor Hoh, better known as the Wok Star, joins Dr. Abang Brian to reveal what most home cooks misunderstand about wok cooking. They explore how to choose, season and care for a wok; why heat and BTUs matter; what creates wok hei; and the mistakes that may be holding back your stir-fries. Eleanor also shares her journey Hong Kong to the United States, how food helped her build community, and how the wok became central to her life and work. Listen to the episode, then visit @hungryimmigrant on Instagram for your chance to win a Wok Star Kit worth $159+. Giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on August 19, 2026. US only. Terms and conditions apply. Follow @wokstar, @hungryimmigrant and @abangbrian on Instagram. The Hungry Immigrant celebrates the people, stories and food traditions shaping Asian food culture around the world.

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  Episode #11

  Authentic to whom?

  Jul 23, 20261h 6mS3

  Who gets to decide whether food is “authentic”? Recorded live at the 2026 Kalamazoo Foodways Symposium, Chef Dr. Abang Brian is joined by Peecoonn Allen, Thai-born founder of Umami Ramen, and Shane Bernardo, a Filipino food justice organizer and co-founder of Food as Healing. Through stories of carrot som tum, a grandmother’s lugaw, adobo, rendang and nasi lemak, they explore how migration, colonization, displacement and adaptation shape the food we inherit. Is a dish less authentic when it changes—or is adaptation how its meaning survives? It is a conversation about food as love, healing, memory and belonging—with a fiery Sambal Survey along the way.

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  Episode #10

  Lao Food Is Not Thai Food | Saeng Douangdara on Refugees, Identity & The Lao Kitchen

  Jul 15, 202638 minS3

  Lao food is not Thai food. Yet for decades, one of Southeast Asia's oldest culinary traditions has been misunderstood, hidden behind restaurant menus, and overshadowed by history. In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant , Dr. Abang Brian sits down with chef, food educator, and author Saeng Douangdara to explore the story behind Lao cuisine, the legacy of refugee families, and the release of his landmark cookbook, The Lao Kitchen . Born in a refugee camp in Thailand and raised in Wisconsin, Saeng shares how his parents carried Laos with them through recipes, sticky rice, and padaek. Together, we discuss the history of Thaification, what truly defines Lao food, growing up queer and Lao in America, and why preserving food culture is about far more than recipes. Because sometimes, the most powerful thing immigrants carry with them isn't what fits in a suitcase—it's what lives in their kitchens.

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  Episode #6

  Hungry Heroes: Abigail Marquez

  Apr 30, 202611 minS3

  <p>In this episode of Hungry Heroes, we spotlight Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez — a creator who turned a humble Filipino staple into a global conversation.</p><p>From filming in her home kitchen to winning a Webby Award and earning a James Beard nomination, Abi’s journey is more than viral success. It’s about representation, creativity, and the power of food to carry identity across borders.</p><p>Through her signature “what if we lumpia that?” approach, she invites millions to rediscover Filipino flavors — not as trends, but as culture, memory, and pride.</p><p>This episode blends narration with Abi’s own w...

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  The Hungry Immigrant

  The Hood Paris: The Pandan Revolution in the 11th Arrondisment

  Apr 1, 202649 minS0

  <p>In the heart of the 11th arrondissement, Abang Brian found home the moment he opened the door to The Hood Paris. A buzzing café and restaurant that has become a soul-restoring haven for modern Asians and a vibrant cultural bridge for Parisians. In this episode, Pearl and Crystal, the co-founders of The Hood, share their incredible journey. They detail how they went from careers in finance and accounting to pioneering Southeast Asian cuisine in one of the world’s most demanding food capitals. Their mission was never just about food; it was about creating a community-driven kopitiam where everyone fee...

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