With two suitcases, $70 in her pocket and no English, Nong left her native Thailand and landed in the U.S. She quickly learned that her $70 was not going to take her far and hustled for a job and started picking up English as quickly as possible. Her work ethic had been cast in steel; her mother was the sole provider for her family and money was always a struggle. But that kept them close and became the basis for her strong determination coupled with an unlimited compassion for others. Nong worked as a food server seven days a week and saved and saved. She also cooked. A very, very special dish that is basically chicken and rice but finding words to describe it is difficult. People loved it and Nong realized there was a market for it if she opened her own business. Living in Portland, Oregon, a food cart came up for sale for $800 and she jumped on it. Nong has an incredibly honest and fearless approach to life; she is very candid about what she does NOT know, a trait all entrepreneurs should emulate. She had a product, a place to sell it but no knowledge of business. But with her ambition and her humility to ask for help, she learned fast. The food cart exploded into a full kitchen and staff that now cooks, prepares and serves her chicken and rice in traditional Thai butcher paper wrapping to hundreds daily. Nong also has expanded by bottling her amazing sauce which is available on Amazon. Her compassion also is out in the open; she’s proud that her employees enjoy a robust health insurance plan and are well cared for just like her customers. Do yourself a favor and check out her videos on her website, her true personality comes through. And just to demonstrate how the American Dream has come true for her, we talked to Nong from the island of Maui, where she is vacationing with her family.

"Masoni and Marshall the meaningful Marketplace" with your hosts Sarah Masoni and Sarah Marshall

We record the "the Meaningful Marketplace" inside NedSpace in the Bigfoot Podcast Studio in beautiful downtown Portland.

Audio engineer, mixer and podcast editor is Allon Beausoleil

Show logo was designed by Anton Kimball of Kimball Design

Website was designed by Cameron Grimes

Production assistant is Chelsea Lancaster

10% of gross revenue at Startup Radio Network goes to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries thru kiva.org/lender/markgrimes

Thank you for listening to The Meaningful Marketplace Podcast with your hosts, Sarah Masoni of Oregon State University's Food Innovation Center and Sarah Marshall, owner of Marshall's Haute Sauce. Connect with us on Instagram @meaningfulmarketplacepodcast. 

Call our hotline with questions for Sarah and Sarah at 503-395-8858. If you want to support our show, write us a review, share episodes with friends, or subscribe to our Patreon.

Producer: Sarah Marshall of The Joy of Creation Production House
Audio engineer, mixer, and podcast editor: Haley Bowers 
Show logo design: Anton Kimball of Kimball Design 
Production Coordinators: Dave Drusky