Refugee Chef
Over the past few years, the issue of refugees has become highly politicised. Refugees are seen either as victims or aggressors to be kept out or cast aside. Yet there are groups of refugees who have trumped the odds. In this series, we feature an earlier wave of refugees who havent just survived, but are thriving today. Our culinary heroes originated from every part of Asia and fanned out across the globe in search of new lives. Today, they are using food in powerful ways and reshaping the way people see Asia. Behind each dish are stories of survival - stories of refugees who seek freedom from societies in conflict, of people who struggle to build new lives with treasured family recipes, and cities that have been enriched by their presence. This series proves that food can truly break down walls, and help us find the commonality across peoples.
- Oldest First
- Newest First
Over the past few years, the issue of refugees has become highly politicised. Refugees are seen either as victims or aggressors to be kept out or cast aside. Yet there are groups of refugees who have trumped the odds. In this series, we feature an earlier wave of refugees who havent just survived, but are thriving today. Our culinary heroes originated from every part of Asia and fanned out across the globe in search of new lives. Today, they are using food in powerful ways and reshaping the way people see Asia. Behind each dish are stories of survival - stories of refugees who seek freedom from societies in conflict, of people who struggle to build new lives with treasured family recipes, and cities that have been enriched by their presence. This series proves that food can truly break down walls, and help us find the commonality across peoples.
As a teenager, Anh Le dreamt of introducing healthier Vietnamese food to the Danish diet. Today, her Vietnamese restaurant chain is an institution and she is a household name in Denmark. But it was only recently that she confronted her refugee past, and fought to make peace with herself.
As a teenager, Anh Le dreamt of introducing healthier Vietnamese food to the Danish diet. Today, her Vietnamese restaurant chain is an institution and she is a household name in Denmark. But it was only recently that she confronted her refugee past, and fought to make peace with herself.
The Hmong are a stateless people who have lived in Vietnam, Laos, and China, but still have no country to call their own. Yia Vang is a Hmong refugee chef who believes that food embodies their cultural DNA, so he cooks to tell their story from his new home in Minneapolis, USA.
The Hmong are a stateless people who have lived in Vietnam, Laos, and China, but still have no country to call their own. Yia Vang is a Hmong refugee chef who believes that food embodies their cultural DNA, so he cooks to tell their story from his new home in Minneapolis, USA.
For 28 years, Javad Ghaderi kept his Afghan nationality a secret. He was an asylum seeker for all of those years, and endured deportation 3 times. It was food that helped him at critical junctions, and now he is using Persian cuisine to solidify new friendships with locals in Wollongong, Australia.
For 28 years, Javad Ghaderi kept his Afghan nationality a secret. He was an asylum seeker for all of those years, and endured deportation 3 times. It was food that helped him at critical junctions, and now he is using Persian cuisine to solidify new friendships with locals in Wollongong, Australia.
Anita Saborn is a former Indonesian refugee living in Paris. She arrived as a political refugee in the 70s, and their family run the first Indonesian restaurant in the city. When Anita took over the restaurant from her father, she decided to serve Indonesian food as it is - spicy and full-bodied.
Anita Saborn is a former Indonesian refugee living in Paris. She arrived as a political refugee in the 70s, and their family run the first Indonesian restaurant in the city. When Anita took over the restaurant from her father, she decided to serve Indonesian food as it is - spicy and full-bodied.
Chef Dorjee was a Tibetan Buddhist monk before he settled down in USA. He decided the best way to answer the question of 'Where are you from?' is to give someone a taste of his homeland. Dorjee Momos, a refugee-owned, family-run Tibetan nomad food start-up, was born.
Chef Dorjee was a Tibetan Buddhist monk before he settled down in USA. He decided the best way to answer the question of 'Where are you from?' is to give someone a taste of his homeland. Dorjee Momos, a refugee-owned, family-run Tibetan nomad food start-up, was born.
Haunted by the horrors of being jailed, tortured and losing his family in Syria, Ahmad finds refuge in London. To survive, he does anything and everything, including cook. As word-of-mouth of his home cooking spread, he started Aleppo Supper Club, a pop-up restaurant and catering service.
Haunted by the horrors of being jailed, tortured and losing his family in Syria, Ahmad finds refuge in London. To survive, he does anything and everything, including cook. As word-of-mouth of his home cooking spread, he started Aleppo Supper Club, a pop-up restaurant and catering service.