Chef Tu David Phu

May 07, 2021, Christy Innouvong

We're very excited to share with you about the culinary mastermind, Southeast Asian history buff, beloved friend, and Tuk Tuk Box mentor - Tu David Phu.

A little about Chef Tu:

As Chef Tu David Phu sees it, the path to cooking his unique brand of Vietnamese-California cuisine has as much to do with his birthright as his birthplace. Phu is an Oakland, CA-born first generation Vietnamese-American chef whose family hails from the island of Phu Quoc, accredited as the birthplace of fish sauce in Asia. Chef Tu’s family has been producing small-batch artisanal Phu Quoc Fish Sauce, considered Champagne of fish sauces, since 1895.

Chef Tu’s Vietnamese-California cuisine began garnering press and accolades, first in 2016 with his weekly pop-up dinners “AN - a Vietnamese Dining Experience.”; then in 2017 San Francisco Chronicle named him Rising Star Chef. In 2019, he was a featured contestant on Bravo's Top Chef Season 15 and invited to host ABC’s Taste Buds: Chefsgiving which was nominated for a James Beard Award.

Follow him on social media:
Facebook/Instagram - @cheftudavidphu @tumamispices

What inspired you to become a chef/food biz owner?

I have a very special relationship with food. And grew up in a food desert. Fresh food was seldomly in my youth. However as I got older, my mom made a commitment to manage a small garden in our apartment building. The first thing she planted (because it was easy) was mint. Instantly, I became obsessed with mint because it was epitome of ‘fresh.’

My youth was troubled, but it was in the kitchen where I felt safe. And it was food that gave me pleasure.

My mother is a refugee and has PTSD as a result. It was only naturally for her to use silence as a coping mechanism. As the years progressed, my relationship with my mom would bloom as I would learn about her life story through food. The kitchen was a ‘safe haven’ for her as well.

Food has helped me understand myself and the world in a way I can understand. And I hope to do the same for others.

Why did you want to highlight the food you are creating?

If you don't tell your story, someone else will.

What is your favorite dish? Is there a story behind it?

It changes every few years. At the moment, my favorite dish is Miền Tây BBQ Chicken. Miền Tây is in Vietnam's most southern region, mostly containing small populous provinces in the Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta is a river that runs through Western China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and last Vietnam, before ending its river’s journey in the South China Sea. Historically, Miền Tây was the pinnacle of the Silk Road in the East. Naturally, the abundance of foreign and exotic ingredients is reflected in the region’s cuisine. And is reflected in this recipe.

What does courage mean to you?

Vulnerability

Where can we expect to see you in the next few years?

Doing what I always do, trying to change the community & world through food.

If you haven't seen his documentary 'BLOODLINE', please make sure to check it out below.

Thank you so much Chef Tu for sharing his 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.

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