Self-Taught Chef Brings Vietnamese Flavors to Corsica, France

Hoang Kim, a self-taught chef from Vietnam, has successfully introduced Vietnamese cuisine to Corsica, France. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain, she adapts local ingredients to create authentic dishes. Despite challenges in consistency and language, her dishes have gained popularity, leading to a burgeoning social media following. Planning to open her own restaurant, Kim aims to share the flavors of her homeland across France.

Hoang Kim, a 35-year-old self-taught chef from Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam, unexpectedly began her culinary journey after relocating to France with her husband. Inspired by the late chef Anthony Bourdain, who expressed a deep respect for Vietnamese cuisine, she found motivation in his words: “The way he spoke about Vietnam—with love, respect, and passion—made me want to cook even more.”

In April 2023, Hoang arrived on the picturesque Mediterranean island of Corsica, frequently called the “island of beauty”. As she navigated her new environment, her yearning for her homeland intensified, compelling her to create familiar Vietnamese dishes using local ingredients. Her offerings, including fried spring rolls and chicken pho, quickly endeared her to her French in-laws.

Recognizing the potential market for Vietnamese cuisine, her husband’s cousin suggested she venture into food business, noting, “Tourists, especially Asian visitors, always look for familiar dishes here.” Responding to this encouragement, Hoang began by preparing fried spring rolls, which were well-received and soon incorporated into a cruise ship’s menu.

Despite rapid growth in demand, Hoang faced challenges in maintaining consistency across her dishes. To address this, she meticulously documented recipes and insisted on using fresh ingredients, stating, “With some dishes, especially spring rolls, using frozen ingredients can lower the quality by half.” Her goal is to ensure every customer experiences homemade flavors reminiscent of family meals.

In February 2024, she harnessed social media by posting her first TikTok cooking video, which garnered 10,000 likes shortly after. Since then, her channel has expanded to include over 60 videos showcasing a variety of Vietnamese dishes, garnering a supportive audience, particularly among Vietnamese expatriates. “When people tell me my recipes make them feel at home, it means more to me than any number of views or likes,” she remarked.

Soon after launching her TikTok channel, Hoang was offered a role at a four-star restaurant where her expertise in Vietnamese cuisine was recognized. Although she began without formal training and faced language barriers, she quickly excelled, eventually becoming the head chef for appetizers, where her dishes gained popularity. “Every time I hear customers ordering Vietnamese dishes, I feel so proud,” she expressed.

Nevertheless, challenges persisted as miscommunication due to language issues sometimes caused operational delays. Hoang experienced moments of doubt but remained motivated by her head chef’s encouragement and recognition of her contributions to promoting Vietnamese cuisine.

In addition to her restaurant responsibilities, Hoang collaborates with her husband to prepare and deliver Vietnamese food daily. “Thanks to my wife, I’ve learned how to cook Vietnamese dishes—earlier I only knew how to eat them,” her husband Quentin Farrari jovially shared.

Looking to the future, Hoang aims to open a Vietnamese restaurant in Corsica that will offer traditional beverages such as iced milk coffee and salted coffee. Ultimately, her vision extends beyond local boundaries, as she aspires to expand Vietnamese culinary offerings across France.

Hoang Kim’s journey from a self-taught chef to head chef in a four-star hotel is marked by her dedication to Vietnamese cuisine and its authentic flavors. By leveraging local ingredients and sharing her culinary skills through social media, she has successfully carved out a niche for Vietnamese food in Corsica. As she prepares to open her own restaurant, her ambition to promote Vietnamese cuisine on a larger scale underscores her passion for her heritage.

Original Source: e.vnexpress.net