Panel Discussion — Los Angeles
Over Tea:
The Modernization of Chinese Culture in L.A.
From Los Angeles’ revitalization of Chinatown wrestling with modernity to a changing Chinese cuisine helmed by a new school of chefs, the Chinese and Asian American community is evolving into a modern era of ideas and flavors, fueled by the L.A. identity.
In conversation with filmmaker and writer Krista Simmons, we welcome Top Chef winner Mei Lin, Chef and Co-Owner of Nightshade; Jon Yao, Chef and Owner of the Michelin-starred Kato; Sam Wang, Co-Owner of Chinatown’s modern tea house, Steep LA; and Andy Wang, a former real estate and travel editor at the New York Post and food journalist for Food & Wine. Join us on this special edition of Over Coffee Tea and hear about how the Chinese American experience has been shaped by the City of Angels.
Your RSVP includes a cup of tea and pastries courtesy of our venue sponsor, Steep LA.
When
Sunday, December 8, 2019
10:30am — 12:00pm
Where
Steep LA
970 N Broadway Ste 112
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Free with an RSVP
Meet the Panelists
Mei Lin
Chef/Co-Owner, Nightshade
Chef Lin is widely known as Bravo TV’s Top Chef Season 12 winner. Previously, Lin won Esquire TV’s Knife Fight against Brian Huskey and was selected as one of Eater’s Young Guns in 2014 as well as Zagat’s 30 Under 30 in 2015. Since then she has dedicated her time to travel and the opening of her debut restaurant, Nightshade, which has garnered awards like Food & Wine’s Restaurant of the Year (2019) and GQ’s Best New Restaurant (2019).
Jon Yao
Chef/Owner, Kato
Jon Yao was born to Taiwanese parents in San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. He graduated with a degree in Anthropology from UC Riverside and is a self-taught chef who has staged at various restaurants in Los Angeles and San Francisco. His most recent venture, Kato, explores flavors inspired by Los Angeles and Taiwan. Kato won its first Michelin star in 2019.
Sam Wang
Co-Owner, Steep LA
Sam Wang is the co-founder of Steep LA, which offers a simple menu focusing on premium teas that Wang and his business partner, Lydia Lin, handpick from China and Taiwan. The tea room is not only a platform for tea connoisseurs to share their love and enthusiasm towards traditional Chinese tea, but also a space to promote the methodical and mindful nature of Slow Living.
Andy Wang
Food Journalist
Andy Wang, the former real estate and travel editor at the New York Post, has written regularly about L.A. restaurants for publications including Food & Wine, Los Angeles magazine and Observer. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Vegas Magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, American Way, Ocean Drive, Condé Nast Traveler, Epicurious, Yahoo Travel, Taste and DuJour.
Moderator
Krista Simmons
Filmmaker/Writer
Krista Simmons is a writer and producer that’s covered global culinary culture for over 10 years for publications including Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Tastemade, as well as her own digital channels. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she’s traveled extensively throughout Asia and the Pacific with her production company Fork in the Road Media, creating video content showcasing regional cuisines and the stories behind people cooking them.
In Partnership With
