j chong eats

This is a part of our new Q+A series.

It seems like Asheville's nationally recognized food scene gets amend every single day. Ane of coolest and most love figures to emerge in Asheville'due south culinary scene as of late is Chef J Chong, who has get famous for her Cantonese eats (especially those dumplings) available via pop-ups, farmers markets + more.

In honour of Pride month and the urban center's culinary festival, Chow Grub — which kicks off Sun, June 27 and features the chef — we're request J Chong 10 questions. Read on to discover out which local dish she craves, the coolest person she's always met here, how Asheville inspires her cooking, and the role food plays in supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

What is your name, title, and 3-5 things you desire people to know about you?

My name is J Chong, she/her, Chef at J Chong Eats.

I am from Toronto, ON.
I left at that place at 19 to attend higher on a soccer scholarship in Gulfport, MS.
I retrieve that I am pretty funny and love to make people laugh.
I am obsessed with Adidas.

Fill in the blank: The coolest person I've met in Asheville is:

Anthony Bourdain when he dined at Cúrate, where I once worked.

What local dish do you crave + rave about?

The crudo at Leo's Business firm of Thirst . Information technology is absolutely delicious.

What 3 people (living or dead) would you invite to an imaginary dinner party?

Marsha P. Johnson, Michelle Obama, and Erykah Badu.

You can simply cull i local restaurant menu to bring with you lot to a deserted isle — which i is it + why?

BimBeriBon's menu. It is always so fresh with ingredients and done well. There are a lot of Asian influences which I love and my favorite flavors and I know that I will exist eating salubrious.

What nigh Asheville inspires your cooking?

Asheville is extremely supportive of creativity and actuality. I am passionate about my ethnicity and the flavors of my childhood, so I am always inspired to bring Cantonese food for our community to taste and enjoy.

What, if anything, do you hope to accomplish with your food across filling bellies?

To bring people together over a meal. I believe that food is medicine and it brings us together. Sharing a meal with someone can be so special, we can learn a lot well-nigh someone when nosotros take the fourth dimension to share a meal with them and share our stories.

How tin can nutrient play a function in supporting and uplifting the local LGBTQ+ customs?

I am a very proud queer Asian woman and I experience that I tin can use my food and vox to aid raise sensation for the queer community. Hopefully, I can brand people feel safe and secure enough to step out of their comfort zone and learn more about our community. We take and then much dearest and happiness to offering, if we are but able to be seen and heard, and I experience that food is the easiest fashion to accomplish this goal. Food is extremely emotional and can create such great memories.

How does this year'due south Chow Grub speak to your experience of food in Asheville?

I recollect Grub Grub has washed a great job this year with the multifariousness of events, chefs, and makers in town. It is bringing in a lot of newcomers who accept worked hard on their craft and deserve to share who they are through their art. I am happy to run across a little more diversity among the talent this year, equally it was defective in the previous year.

What Chow Grub event are you most excited to attend this yr?

The Appalachian Pride Brunch.

Source: https://avltoday.6amcity.com/asheville-nc-chef-j-chong-j-chong-eats