BanhKhotLady: Meet the Sweet Mother/Son Duo
"BanhKhotLady was created with my mom and I when we were looking for ways to support ourselves during the pandemic. We are basically a mother and son duo that is trying to change the banh khot game!"
Follow their journey:
IG/Facebook/Yelp: @banhkhotlady
What inspired you to become a chef/food biz owner?
I never thought I would be a food business owner. I wanted to keep my family afloat after my mom got laid off from work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when the tattoo shop I was working at was shut down as well. One night in April, I had a dream *literally* of my mom making banh khot and serving them to my friends and I. The next morning, I told her about the dream and told her that this what we had to do. I never thought in a million years that it would turn out so well! I really appreciate everyone's support and love for my family and I.
Photo courtesy of @banhkhotlady IG
Why did you want to highlight the food you are creating?
Banh khot, originating from Vung Tau, Vietnam, is a dish normally viewed as an appetizer. They are mini crispy shrimp pancakes that are often served with fresh vegetables, pickled carrots and radish, and a dipping fish sauce. However, my mom who is from Da Nang, makes her banh khots a little bit differently. Our banh khots have turmeric powder in them, which gives them a golden, yellow shine. This was also my favorite dish growing up, so I wanted the world to have a little taste of my mom's phenomenal cooking.
What is your favorite dish? Is there a story behind it?
My favorite dishes from my mom are banh khot and banh beo. The way she creates these dishes in her own special way just hits differently.
What does courage mean to you?
Courage, to me, is taking the necessary steps to make your visions come true. It is stepping up to the plate when everyone else wants to quit the game - This is when courage truly comes out. For my mother and I, stepping into the food industry with no previous experiences or skills were both very risky and courageous.
Where can we expect to see you in the next few years?
In the next few years, I would love to have a little brick and mortar or a food truck. I want to showcase our hard work in an exciting and inviting way, to make our dish a household name! I would love to have a chain of BanhKhotLady shops in the Vietnamese communities across the United States. I would love to have the opportunity to highlight a dish many people, including Vietnamese, have never tried before.
Thank you so much BanhKhotLady for sharing their story with us! Tuk Tuk Box is proud to exclusively feature Southeast Asian ingredients and include refugee, migrant, and generational stories in every box.
If you or someone you know wants to share their story with us, send us an email: hello@tuktukbox.com. Stay tuned for future stories and the newest products by subscribing to our email list serv.
