J Chong was a well-respected chef in her community of Asheville, NC for years before she suddenly acquired a national profile thanks to her participation in HBO Max’s cooking-competition show, “The Big Brunch.” Suddenly J, who only recently had decided to strike out on her own by creating J Chong Eats, had a new platform on which to extol the flavors of her bedrock cuisine, traditional Cantonese.

She also had a platform on which to express her unique perspective as a Canadian Asian queer woman making food and creating a business in the American South. In “The Big Brunch,” her talent, honed from years of working in some of the finest kitchens in foodie-destination Asheville, is on full display, as are her resourcefulness and kindness. Watching her at work, it is easy to understand why her craft is known as a culinary art. Furthermore, her vision for J Chong Eats, which relies on pop-ups rather than a bricks-and-mortar restaurant to sell its creations, bespeaks a nimbleness and commitment to community outreach that are hallmarks of so many of the artists we feature on “Art Restart.”

Which is why it was surprising to discover that J, upon receiving an invitation to appear on “Art Restart,” did not initially consider herself an artist.

In this interview, J takes a deep dive into her artistry and explains her unique take on how she intends to share her talent with her community.

https://www.instagram.com/jchong_eats/

https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GY0WzfASbP4OEqQEAAACX