Growing up as an only child, raised by my mother and grandmother, shaped the way I understand food, family, and identity as an American-born Vietnamese.

For a long time, I struggled to connect with my Vietnamese heritage. I often felt caught between two worlds, not fully Vietnamese, yet never fully American either. It was a feeling I carried with me for years, until I began to grow into myself and better understand who I was.

As I got older, the pieces started to come together. My grandmother shared with me not only her stories of the Vietnam War and her journey to the United States, but also her deep knowledge of Vietnamese cooking. Through her food, I found something I had been searching for: a connection to my culture, my family, and myself.

More than that, I saw how much care she poured into every meal. Cooking was never just about feeding me. It was how she expressed love, preserved memory, and passed something meaningful down to me. Through her hands, I came to understand that food could hold history, identity, and comfort all at once.

Inspired by the flavors I grew up with and the memories tied to my grandmother’s cooking, I wanted to create something that felt both personal and versatile. Something that could bring bold flavor, warmth, and texture into everyday meals. This chili crisp is my way of sharing a piece of where I came from.