Brandon wanted to participate in our March Madness of Chinese Cuisine, but he had a prior engagement, so we decided to bring the bracket to him! Recording in the legendary Moongate Lounge above Mr. Jiu's, Brandon and I talked about his journey and why it's been so important for him to keep pushing against the river of difficulties of running a big restaurant in SF Chinatown.

Listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts!

You can find Brandon on Instagram @brandoj or find out more about Mr. Jius @misterjius on social media or www.mrjius.com  Also, check out his cookbook and memoir, "Mister Jiu's In Chinatown."

As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast

Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)

#chinesefood #sfchinatown #chineserestaurant #misterjius #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

I had a quick call with Linda Tay Esposito from @flavor_explosions, who organized a bake sale to fundraise for earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar. 

Here in San Francisco, Linda has gathered over 35 bakers who are donating some goods towards the relief effort. Each item will be $5 or $10, with 100% of the proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders in Myanmar.

It's Sunday, April 13th, from 10AM-1PM only!  @18reasons (located at 18th St / Dolores street). Come by and load up on amazing and yummy goods, while supporting those affected gravely by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has devastated central Myanmar.

If you can't make it personally, you can still donate using this link: https://tinyurl.com/BakeforMyanmarDonate

Every little bit counts! 

The day had come on March 22nd, 2025... the day we crowned the greatest dish in Chinese Cuisine for 2025!  It was a hotly contested battle, voted on by about 60 members of our audience on a beautiful night in Chinatown. Cohosted by myself and the folks from The Worst Quality Crab Podcast and the On Waverly Bookstore, it was truly a fun night!

I hope you were able to join us live, but if you weren't, here's our recording. Mark your calendars for next year, we'd love to do another round with lots of your favorites that didn't make this year's list!

So many people to thank: Jon for helping me come up with the idea, and Freesia and Sam Lee for adding fuel to the fire and bringing their audience along!  To Cynthia and Jenn for providing a beautiful, inviting place to have it. My friend Steve for running the Zoom, as well as all the staff at On Waverly for keeping things in order and providing prizes and snacks.  And, of course, to everyone who was able to make it down, we couldn't have had this without your votes!

Photo Credits: @itsjustinchu 

As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)

#marchmadness #chinesefood #chinatown #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Here's a really quick interview with Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, who star in the Filipino film My Love Will Make You Disappear! It is a fun rom-com with a fun premise and lots of ups and downs, tears and laughs. 

I got to take part of the press junket, and because of my work schedule I only have a few minutes to chat with the stars. My nerves got the best of me, but the stars were so gracious and charming, I hope you enjoy our quick chat.

Go see My Love Will Make You Disappear if it's playing near you. It'll lift your spirits and make you believe in magic.

Synopsis: Sari, a woman convinced she is cursed to make every man she loves disappear, meets Jolo, a despondent landlord looking for an escape from his heartbreak. As their paths intertwine, a connection blossoms, forcing them to confront their fears and decide if love is truly worth risking everything—even if it might disappear.

The film is directed by Chad Vidanes.

My Love Will Make You Disappear will be released in theaters in North America starting on March 28, 2025.

Sarah Ahn and her mom Nam Soon Ahn have been sharing stories and recipes on their Instagram @ahnestkitchen. Coming April 1st is their cookbook 'Umma" which is a fantastic collection of over 100 recipes, pictures, and stories from their family past and present. The stories in it will make your heart swell and your eyes water, while their recipes will help you experience Korean home cooking for yourself. 

Pre-order a copy of 'Umma' today, or get it everywhere you get books after April 1st, 2025.  Follow Sarah @ahnestkitchen on social media or at her website https://ahnestkitchen.com/

Special thanks to Lan Lam from America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated for recording the introduction.  Follow her @Lan_cooks on Instagram or watch her fantastic series 'Techniquely' on YouTube. 

Listen to this and all past episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. You can write to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast   

Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)

#asiancookbook #asianauthor #koreanfood #koreancooking #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

I'm a little ashamed to say, I don't think I've ever played a real game of mahjong!  Today's guest, Nicole Wong, wrote the perfect book for me!  It's called Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora, and it has a little bit of everything for a new player like myself, or a seasoned player like you!

It's available April 8th wherever you get your books.  Follow Nicole @themahjongproject on Instagram, or learn more at her website https://www.themahjongproject.com/about 

Also, please come down to On Waverly on Saturday, March 22nd, at  5:30 PM (or you can join on Zoom) for our 1st Annual March Madness of Chinese Cuisine tournament, hosted by me, The Worst Quality Crab Podcast and the On Waverly Bookstore!  We are staging a mock battle between dishes, where you the audience vote on which dish should win each round!  The more votes the better!  So join us live or on Zoom.  It's FREE, but register here!  https://thethirdplace.is/event/march-madness-of-chinese-food-live-podcasts  (you need to register here to receive a Zoom link too)  I hope to see you!

Write to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)

#asianauthor #mahjong #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Mr. Prasetyo Hadi is the Consul General for Indonesia in San Francisco. I met Mr. Prasetyo Hadi at a fun celebration by the Indonesian Consulate in San Francisco. I asked if we could do an episode together, and so we got together and had a fun chat at the Consulate General, which happens to be near my work. They couldn’t have been nicer, showing me some of the warmth and hospitality Indonesia is famous for. I can’t wait to visit Indonesia someday!

In the meantime, if you’d like a taste of Indonesia you can visit:

@kopikusf for Indonesian Coffee

https://limetreeca.com/ Our friend Ming at Lime Tree

@sf.rasarasakitchen Rasa Rasa Kitchen and Food Truck

@fikscue Fikscue Indonesian/Texas BBQ in Oakland!

If you’d like to learn more about the consulate, you can follow them on Instagram @indonesiainsf or at their website https://kemlu.go.id/sanfrancisco

Special thanks to the Honorable Mr. Prasetyo Hadi for giving me some of his time and showing me great hospitality!

Listen to our episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts (see links in my Instagram bio)  Write to us at [email protected] or follow Infatuasian Podcast

Lauren Yee is an uber-talented playwright and screenwriter originally from San Francisco. Her plays cover a wide range of topics, from life as a Yee in San Francisco Chinatown to a 1970s rock band trying to survive during the days of the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia. Her plays are a poignant mix of family, history, and culture filled with tension and humor. 

Listen to our episode wherever you get Podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, etc)

Do yourself a favor, get to LA's @eastwestplayers in Little Tokyo, and go watch Cambodian Rock Band. It's a one of a kind play/musical that is truly magical. It plays only until March 23rd, 2025! You can also watch Lauren's television writing on shows like Pachinko and Interior Chinatown. Her play Mother Russia is debuting @seattlerep March 6-April 13th. Also, she wrote the book for the musical adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, which will premiere in Washington DC on June 12th, 2025!  

Follow Lauren on social media @mslaurenyee or read about her at https://laurenyee.com/

As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)

#asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Dr. Lydia Kang is a physician by day, and a prolific fiction and non-fiction author in her off hours. I had such a great time chatting with her about her new book Pseudoscience. We talked a little about lie detectors, cryptid creatures, crop circles, and more! Get a copy for yourself, your kids, and your kid's teachers, it's a lot of fun!

Pseudoscience is available wherever you get your books. Follow Lydia @lydiakang on social media.

As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)

#asianauthor #pseudoscience #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Join us for a totally impromptu episode discussing Single's Inferno 4! I happened to be in LA and I met up with frequent co-host Katie!  We had an hour to kill so we set up the mobile studio and recorded our thoughts on this most recent season of Single's Inferno.

I didn't love this season initially, but it definitely grew on me! Who were your favorites? Did the right people end up together? Are they still together?

Follow Katie @katieyowyow on social media. Give us a follow @infatuasianpodcast and write to us at [email protected]

#singlesinferno #asianrealitytv #representationmatters #asianpodcast #veryasian