Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Vietnamese chef, husband, and father. Returned to culinary school at 46 and graduated valedictorian. Cooking is my way of honoring my family
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Receive Text UpdatesOur signature dish is the Vietnamese braised pork belly and quail egg. It perfectly represents Magasin’s style bold Vietnamese flavors with a New Orleans influence. It’s rich, comforting, and simple in appearance but layered with depth and umami. It’s the dish guests talk about, crave, and come back for.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My biggest culinary inspiration is my mother-in-law. She taught me the importance of cooking with heart, patience, and generosity. Through her, I learned that food is more than just a meal it’s a way to bring people together, preserve culture, and make people feel cared for.
What would you do with the $25,000?With $25,000, we would invest in expanding our catering and festival operations by purchasing additional equipment, improving production capacity, and strengthening our mobile event setup. The funding would also help us grow our plant-based and hospitality offerings, improve operational efficiency, and continue creating meaningful food experiences throughout the New Orleans community.
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