Podcasts about nini nguyen

WE'RE BACK with The One Recipe!!! Check out our brand new batch of episodes starting January 28 dedicated to THE ONE recipe you can't live without. The one dish that always hits and wins over any crowd. Join host Jesse Sparks, senior editor at @Eater, as he talks with a star-studded lineup of chefs and gifted cooks from all over the world about their one recipe and the story behind it. This season, we've got Matteo Lane, Justine Doiron, Nini Nguyen, Hetal Vasavada, Owen Han, and more! And don't miss the step-by-step videos of every recipe on TikTok and Instagram.

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 47! Today's guest is another popular Top Chef Alum, Chef Nini Nguyen. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Chef Nini has made a name for herself in the culinary world through her food as well as her appearances on TV and on social media. She is known for blending authentic Vietnamese flavors with a generous nod to the foods she grew up eating in New Orleans.  The desire to learn and push herself is strong in Chef Nini. She appeared on Top Chef Season 16 in Kentucky as well as Top Chef All-Stars, Season 17 in Los Angeles. She has also participated in other competitions like the Tournament of Champions Season 5, along with some of the best chefs in the world), as well as Last Bite Hotel. In addition to TV and social media appearances, she is known for her recipe development and work as an instructor. Her latest milestone is the release of her first cookbook, Đặc Biệt: An Extra Special Vietnamese Cookbook, which was released on August 27, 2024. Filled with her spin on Vietnamese food with a twist to make it even more Đặc Biệt (special), Chef Nini interweaves the cookbook with personal stories, bits of history, and tips and tricks for becoming a better cook. Chef Nini is a talented chef and wonderful person. To find out more about Chef Nini, you can find her at chefnininguyen.com or on instagram @chefnininguyen... and check out her cookbook Đặc Biệt… It's truly special! If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or social media links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com. Above photo credit to Kimberly Ha

This week, we talk with two incredible chefs about their culinary connections to their homes. First, chef Nini Nguyen talks about growing up in New Orleans and her connection to her tight-knit Vietnamese community. She shares the delicious Vietnamese foods she grew up eating and talks about how that upbringing shapes her cooking today, Nini is the author of Đặc Biệt: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook, and she leaves with her recipe for Grilled Rice Paper. Then, we head to Ukraine with chef Yevhen Klopotenko to talk about his work rediscovering traditional Ukrainian dishes that were once suppressed under Soviet rule. He tells us about his work, providing recipes online that have reached thousands of schools and getting traditional recipes like Borsch, finally recognized as Ukrainian. Yevhen is the author of The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen, and he left us with his recipe for Syrnyky, delicious Farmer cheese pancakes.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 13, 2024 (originally aired)Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

Cookbook author, cooking instructor, and "Top Chef" competitor Nini Nguyen joins us to discuss her new cookbook, Đặc Biệt: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook. Nguyen has a number of events in NYC:September 4, a collaborative dinner at Strange DelightSeptember 5, a signing and discussion at Yu & Me booksSeptember 6, a cocktail demo and signing at Big NightSeptember 7, a signing at Union Square Greenmarket

Small Bites Radio has been named Top Hospitality Shows on the Planet from 2020 – 2024, #Bluejeanfood.com named Top Philadelphia Best Philadelphia Lifestyle Blogs and Websites from 2021-2024, Best Philly Food Blogs and Websites 2023-24, Top 25 Philly Food RSS Feeds in 2024, nominated by Metro Philly Newspaper 2022-24 Best of Philadelphia Arts & Entertainment, and WINNER of Metro Philly Newspaper 2023 Best of Philadelphia Arts & Entertainment. Our latest show is 2 hours long with some of the biggest names in the food and entertainment industry!!! We started with Chef Barbie Marshall talking about Society Hill Hotel, Han Dynasty, and Old City Kitchen, then John Howard-Fusco provided news and updates from Sagami, Cake Boutique Mullica Hill, Jaffa Bar from CookNSoolo, and Herr's Potato Chips with their Talluto's, Romano's, and Mom Mom's Kitchen Flavored By Philly Special Edition 2024 chips. Had a great time at 50:50 of the episode during a delectable conversation with the brilliant Caitlin Prettyman, the culinary dynamo behind the beloved blog Kalefornia Kravings that has over half-a-million followers on social media. Caitlin, renowned for her innovative fusion of California-inspired flavors and fresh, vibrant ingredients, is making waves with her debut cookbook, ‘Fast & Fresh Cal-Mex Cooking: West Coast-Inspired Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less' from Page Street Publishing. In this culinary masterpiece, Caitlin brings her signature style to the forefront, delivering mouthwatering recipes that celebrate the best of Cal-Mex cuisine while ensuring you spend less time in the kitchen and more time savoring delicious meals. Caitlin shares her journey from food blogger to cookbook author, revealing difficulty with an eating disorder, insider tips and behind-the-scenes stories from her kitchen. Discover how to create scrumptious, speedy dinners that embody the spirit of the West Coast with her easy-to-follow, flavorful recipes. Don't miss out on this savory segment and let Caitlin Prettyman's culinary expertise transform your dinner game. We were thrilled to talk to authors Mumtaz Mustafa a Senior Art Director at HarperCollins Publishers and Laura Klynstra a Senior Art Director for Revell Books at 11:25 of the show to chat and celebrate the unity that can be found around a table as well as the universal comfort of a meal prepared slowly with love and attention—providing a path and a place for people to connect, exchange stories, and try new flavors. They released ‘Gather and Graze: Globally Inspired Small Bites and Gorgeous Table Scapes for Every Occasion' from Skyhorse Publishing. In it, it discusses the spreads, boards, and tablescapes that will remind you of happy times and relaxed meals with those you love. Gather & Graze revels in the coming together around a table of people from all backgrounds and presents internationally themed spreads built around more than 175 homemade recipes. Summer is in full swing at the Jersey Shore and no better place to dine or enjoy a great view than at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino's newly opened Park Place Prime SteakHouse in Atlantic City. At 01:22:30 of the episode we are joined by Chris Carmany the General Manager, as well as Chef Ed Neris and Chef Giancarlo Generosi. Park Place Prime, a contemporary steakhouse that honors the casino's rich history and namesake, Bally's Park Place. This nostalgic tribute offers guests an unparalleled dining experience, featuring gourmet cuisine that will satisfy even the most discerning food enthusiasts. The menu showcases a selection of hand-cut prime steaks, known for their exceptional quality and flavor, as well as a variety of outstanding seafood options. The bar and lounge area offer a modern cocktail experience, with a robust wine list and a custom crystal chandelier adding an elegant touch. Guests can also enjoy a delightful Happy Hour with discounted cocktails and a delectable menu. The dining room has been transformed with a blend of classic steakhouse design and contemporary finishes, creating a luxurious and inviting ambiance. Park Place Prime aims to provide an unforgettable dining experience that reflects the highest standards of excellence and pays homage to Bally's Atlantic City's rich history. With it being Olympics season, what better time than talk with Chef/Owner Richard Cusack at 30:35 of show to chat about June BYOB in Collingswood, NJ an upscale French restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife, Richard and Christina Cusack, a certified sommelier. It features traditional French cuisine with some modern influences, and includes tableside presentations. The Cusack's are also Chef/Owners of Café le Jardin in Audubon, NJ. This restaurant is known for its charming and inviting atmosphere along with delicious food here as well. This café offers a blend of traditional and contemporary elements, creating a cozy space for patrons to relax and enjoy a variety of food and beverages. With a warm, welcoming vibe with a touch of elegance. It's designed to be a comfortable spot for both casual hangouts and more intimate gatherings that are family and budget friendly. Staying French themed, we chatted with Isabelle Noblanc at 01:09:15 of the show. Isabelle is Co-Owner of Mamie Colette in Newtown, PA an artisan bakery specializing in French viennoiserie. They prioritize quality and health. Their products are made from scratch, fresh every day and do not contain added preservatives. Their flour is non-GMO, never bleached and never bromated. Their mission is to bring happiness to our customers and team members, and serve the community, while offering a superior experience with quality products, and choice. Artisan viennoiserie bakers place a strong emphasis on using high-quality ingredients, such as butter, flour, and yeast, and on following traditional techniques for laminating the dough, shaping the croissants, and baking them to perfection. The goal is to produce croissants that are flaky, buttery, and full of flavor, with a crispy exterior and a soft, tender interior. She is also Co-Owner of their sister bakery, L'Annexe de Mamie Colette in Titusville, NJ that has bread, French pastries (except for croissants) and Breton crepes. Last, but certainly not least at 01:48:02 in the episode, we had a little French - New Orleans - Vietnamese fusion twist talking to Nini Nguyen about the soon to be released cookbook ‘Dac Biet: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook' available to order pre-sale now and on store shelves August 27th from Knopf Publishing. Nini is a New Orleans–based chef and cooking instructor. After starting her career in some of the country's most innovative kitchens, such as Coquette in New Orleans and Eleven Madison Park in New York, she competed in season 16 of Top Chef, as well as Top Chef: All-Stars, becoming a fan favorite. At the beginning of the pandemic, she leaned into her passion for teaching, originally honed at Cook Space in Brooklyn, New York, and built her Cooking with Nini virtual classes into a robust business. The classes, which she teaches several times per week, are wildly popular. The cookbook that will soon be available is a collection of contemporary, extra-special Vietnamese recipes, from beloved classics like Hanoi-Style Vermicelli with Grilled Pork and three variations of phở, to dishes with a New Orleans twist, like Southeast Asian Jambalaya and Sticky Fried Shrimp Bánh Mì. It includes one hundred delicious and vibrant recipes that celebrate the essential flavors of Vietnam—salty, sour, bitter, spicy, and sweet—and the bright and perfectly balanced dishes they create. Be sure to order yourself a copy today! Again, in 2023, Small Bites with Donato Marino and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com was blown away by winning the Best of the Best in the Philadelphia Region Arts & Entertainment category out of 80,000 votes tallied in total through Metro Philly's Best of Philadelphia for 2023. Truly appreciate everyone who voted for us. We would be thrilled if you voted for us again in 2024. Vote by clicking below: https://bestoftheboro.secondstreetapp.com/og/3404cb77-3204-4794-a8af-46ac4a01d04b/gallery/439098138 You say you STILL NEED MORE!!! The Small Bites team consists of many segment producers and correspondents. Expect culinary tips and events from celebrity Chef Barbie Marshall who was awarded the title of Pennsylvania's most influential chef by Cooking Light Magazine, Season 10 Hell's Kitchen Finalist and appeared on Season 17 Hell's Kitchen All Stars. You'll be provided with latest food news and happenings from John Howard-Fusco who has been featured in the Courier-Post South Jersey (a Gannett newspaper), as a contributor for NJ Monthly Magazine, and a New York Times recognized blogger for Eating in South Jersey. The latest trends and food concepts from Chef Beth Esposito the Chef/Owner of Pink Garlic Private Events and Butcher's Pantry in the Reading Terminal Market and has been spotlighted on The Rachael Ray Show, The Food Network programming, multiple appearances on Fox 29 Good Day, and many more television and radio outlets. Enjoy a funny joke from legendary joke teller Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, the former head writer for “The Howard Stern Show”. Last but not least we also have freelance writer William Knowles, the personality behind “Around Town” for Bluejeanfood.com doing coverage and blog posts about events. As usual don't forget to listen to the #1 listed “Food Radio Show Philadelphia” and the #1 listed “Food Radio Show South Jersey” Small Bites Radio. For a list of guests who have appeared on the show and more information click below: www.bluejeanfood.com/smallbitesradio #foodradioshowphiladelphia #FoodRadioShowSouthJersey #tophospitalityshow #foodradio #foodradioshow #topphiladelphialifestyle #toplisted #bestfood #bestpodcast #bestofphilly #bestphillyblog #bestfoodfeed #bestphillyartsentertainment #metrophillybest

Chef Nini Nguyen delves into her experience competing in the Tournament of Champions, from taking on the Randomizer to meeting Guy Fieri. She reminisces about her early food memories, describing trips to the farmer's markets in Vietnam alongside her grandmother and crafting memorable meals together. With a passion for blending her Vietnamese heritage with the rich flavors of New Orleans cuisine, Nini reflects on her diverse culinary influences and the invaluable lessons learned working in various kitchens. The cooking instructor shares her joy of empowering others to experiment and cultivate confidence in their culinary endeavors. She highlights her culinary travels, particularly Vietnam, revealing profound insights into the intricate tapestry of regional Vietnamese cuisine. The cookbook author unveils the inspiration behind her upcoming cookbook titled Dac Biet, aiming to honor her Vietnamese roots while bridging cultural divides through a vibrant celebration of authentic flavors. The chef playfully laments her furry companion Tofu's disdain for her cooking. Follow Food Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodnetwork Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaymeesire Follow Nini Nguyen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefnininguyen/ Follow Nini Nguyen on X: https://twitter.com/chefnininguyen Check Out Nini Nguyen's Website: https://www.chefnininguyen.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Lindsey chat with chef Nini Nguyen who did not grow up with American Girl! She shares which dolls she is drawn to and the girls do a deep dive into their collections. Leave us a voicemail about your American Girl memories by calling ‪(929) 400-7540‬Send us your American Girl stories to americangirlwomen@gmail.comFollow us on instagram @americangirlwomen “Love Mode” song courtesy of ItsFrida

This season, as you know, is all about the journeys of some of the world's most fascinating foods, and for each episode we release, we're hosting live listening sessions with content creators from around the world to give us more insight into the subject at hand.For this session, we discussed our episode about Tabasco Sauce with Chef Nini Nguyen, a Vietnamese, New Orleans-based chef. We learned about hot sauces in New Orleans cooking traditions, as well as the rich Vietnamese influence in Lousiana's cuisine, food production, and culture.This episode is a discussion we held after listening to our main episode about Tabasco sauce, so if you haven't already, please go listen to that one before making your way to this one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Nini Nguyen got so much hands-on experience working in restaurants, she left culinary school after only one semester. In this episode of Formative, 13-year-old Dalani asks this Top Chef contestant if being a woman in a male-dominant career is tough, learns if banh bao is a dumpling — or not — and hears how tomatoes are a key ingredient differentiating cajun and creole cuisine.

Stephanie Cmar knows Nini Nguyen from their time as roomates on Top Chef All Stars! In part two, Nini talks about cooking British food for Downton Abbey, dating when people recognize you from television and her dreams of being the Vietnamese Julia Child. You can support the show and your local bookstores by purchasing any book mentioned on the show through our bookshop. Theme Song: "Exotica" by Juanitos Stephanie Knows Some Shit is part of the Peak Sloth Podcast Network. Hear more shows at PeakSloth.com.

Stephanie Cmar knows Nini Nguyen from their time as roomates on Top Chef All Stars! Nini stops by the podcast to talk to Stephanie and Joel Murphy about Nini's mother's crush on Sweet David, Nini's decision to move to New Orleans during the pandemic and the Vietnamese cookbook she is currently working on. You can support the show and your local bookstores by purchasing any book mentioned on the show through our bookshop. Theme Song: "Exotica" by Juanitos Stephanie Knows Some Shit is part of the Peak Sloth Podcast Network. Hear more shows at PeakSloth.com.

Southern Fried Asian returns with a conversation between Keith and Top Chef alum, Chef Nini Nguyen! She tells Keith about growing up in New Orleans, being cast on Top Chef, teaching people how to cook on the internet, and what it really means for cuisine to be "authentic." She also reveals why mullet roe will always remind her of her grandmother. Friends of the NOC get their first month of podcast hosting for free when they sign up at https://libsyn.com and use the code FRIEND Get a FREE one-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND five FREE travel packs with your first purchase of Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/EMERGING Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

“I feel so reinvigorated and I want to teach people the comfort foods that I grew up eating. I want to keep Vietnamese food alive in America.” Chef Nini Nguyen is a New York City based chef, instructor, recipe developer and recent contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef All Stars. Nini grew up in New Orleans East where there is a big Vietnamese population and growing up, she predominantly ate Vietnamese food and cooked Vietnamese food with her grandmother. This is where she fell in love with food and cooking - in a place with such a rich culinary background with so many delicious things to eat. Now, Nini feels reinvigorated and wants to teach people about the comfort foods of her heritage that she grew up eating. During Nini’s time in college at LSU, she realized she wanted to be a chef and after college, took the leap and went culinary school but felt that she learned so much more on the job. She quickly fell in love with the industry - she loved the culture of restaurants and the people the restaurants attract to work there. She worked at restaurants across Louisiana including Coquette and at a bakery where she honed in on her pastry skills, which landed her a gig at the famed Eleven Madison Park in NYC. Not too long after, she secured a spot on Top Chef Kentucky, which then led her to become a contestant on Bravo’s most recent season, Top Chef All Stars. These experiences have inspired her cooking and have given her a platform to teach - which is what she really loves to do. Here’s what we cover in this episode: how Top Chef has impacted her career, launching virtual and on-demand cooking classes in the wake of the pandemic, how New Orleans native chefs are starting to explore and use Vietnamese ingredients in New Orleans cooking and why Nini loves this industry and cooking so much. Tune in and follow @chefnininguyen and @fromthegrounduppod on Instagram and check out www.chefnininguyen.com for more info on Nini’s classes.

Today's guest is Nini Nguyen, she is a celebrity chef and contestant on the current season of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars. Nini talks about how she is leveraging digital tools to connect and monetize with her global audience. This conversation took place on April 21, 2020 as part of our Covid Conversations series. We are featuring daily conversations with over 25 business leaders and influencers, focused on how folks are managing business amidst Covid-19. Our team is putting together a free guide that will highlight the resources and references mentioned across these conversations. DM us on our instagram handle @BellwetherCulture, and we will send you a download link once the series is fully published.

EXTENDED FULL INTERVIEW - WITH BONUS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Chef Nini Nguyen is a New York based chef, instructor, recipe developer and recent contestant on Bravos' Top Chef Kentucky, Season 16 & LA Allstars, Season 17. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Chef Nini combines her Vietnamese heritage and NOLA flair into a unique cooking style. Early in her career, Chef Nini started as a pastry cook at restaurants like Coquette & Eleven Madison Park. She later moved into savory cooking with the touring pop-up, Dinner Lab. She also has a knack for teaching and mentoring other cooks. She expressed this passion through her work at Cook Space, a recreational cooking school in Brooklyn where she developed the culinary program. As a naturally curious person, Chef Nini's favorite pastime is roaming through markets in different cities, tasting, smelling and squeezing all the fruits and vegetables she can get her hands on. Since being on Top Chef, Chef Nini Nguyen has kept herself busy collaborating with chefs, hosting private events and starting a pop-up dinner series nationwide. Join Chef Nini LIVE for a virtual, real-time cooking class!   In advance, you will receive a downloadable shopping list with ingredients + equipment you will need for the class so you are prepped and ready to cook. Find out MORE about Chef Nini Nguyen's Virtual Cooking Classes on her website at chefnininguyen.com and follow her on Instagram @chefnininguyen Be sure to catch Top Chef Season 17 - LA All Stars On Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo All Stars LA features the fiercest group of competitors the show has seen with 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorites from seasons past who have all returned to finish what they started and battle it out for the coveted title. Don't miss it! bravotv.com/top-chef/about and on Instagram @bravotopchef

RADIO INTERVIEW - FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHEF NINI PLEASE GO TO THE EXTENDED VERSION, PODCAST WITH BONUS INTERVIEW Chef Nini Nguyen is a New York based chef, instructor, recipe developer and recent contestant on Bravos' Top Chef Kentucky, Season 16 & LA Allstars, Season 17. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Chef Nini combines her Vietnamese heritage and NOLA flair into a unique cooking style. Early in her career, Chef Nini started as a pastry cook at restaurants like Coquette & Eleven Madison Park. She later moved into savory cooking with the touring pop-up, Dinner Lab. She also has a knack for teaching and mentoring other cooks. She expressed this passion through her work at Cook Space, a recreational cooking school in Brooklyn where she developed the culinary program. As a naturally curious person, Chef Nini's favorite pastime is roaming through markets in different cities, tasting, smelling and squeezing all the fruits and vegetables she can get her hands on. Since being on Top Chef, Chef Nini Nguyen has kept herself busy collaborating with chefs, hosting private events and starting a pop-up dinner series nationwide. Join Chef Nini LIVE for a virtual, real-time cooking class! In advance, you will receive a downloadable shopping list with ingredients + equipment you will need for the class so you are prepped and ready to cook. Find out MORE about Chef Nini Nguyen's Virtual Cooking Classes on her website at chefnininguyen.com and follow her on Instagram @chefnininguyen Be sure to catch Top Chef Season 17 - LA All Stars On Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo All Stars LA features the fiercest group of competitors the show has seen with 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorites from seasons past who have all returned to finish what they started and battle it out for the coveted title. Don't miss it! bravotv.com/top-chef/about and on Instagram @bravotopchef

Secrets of Top Chef and how to fix the restaurant industry with Lee Anne Wong, Nini Nguyen, and Melissa King. Want food stories from around the world? Subscribe to the Smart Mouth newsletter here: https://smartmouth.substack.com/ Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or any podcast app so you never miss an episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smart-mouth/id1171755407

Welcome to Episode 1 of Daily Dose of Poetry, with our guest chef Nini Nguyen. Learn more about Nini's work on IG: https://www.instagram.com/idreamof.nini/ And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chefnininguyen LAMARKS and TAz are not doctors, but they will provide poetic prescriptions for any problem that ails you or this strange planet. Ars Poetica is a woman-owned international poetic agency. Learn more at arspoetica.us and book our poets for all your poetic needs. Directed, shot, and edited by Kearah-Armonie (https://www.instagram.com/kearmonie/) Music by Abhilasha Sinha (https://www.instagram.com/abhilasha_s...) Thanks to Freehand Hotels and Smile Radio for hosting us in their beautiful NYC recording studio! https://www.arspoetica.us/dailydose

Nini Nguyen feels her younger brother's presence in everything she does even though he passed away tragically and swiftly at the age of 27. Growing up, Nini and her brother went shopping at farmers markets in New Orleans, made meals for their Vietnamese immigrant parents, and fantasized about the future. One of his last wishes was for Nini to pursue her dream of being on Top Chef. When she competed in on season 16, each win was for him. Listen in to hear about how Hurricane Katrina shifted Nini's path, how her mentor at Eleven Madison Park showed her the best way forward, and why 2019 is her Year of Yes.  Want to stay up to date on the latest Speaking Broadly episodes? To hear more conversations with Dana Cowin and her accomplished yet accessible guests, subscribe to Speaking Broadly (it’s free!) on iTunes or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate + review us on Apple’s podcast store and follow Dana on Instagram @speakingbroadly and @fwscout. Thanks for tuning in!" Speaking Broadly is powered by Simplecast.

Nini Nguyen is a contestant on Season 16 of Top Chef and is the Culinary Director of Cook Space in Brooklyn, NY. Hailing from New Orleans, LA, she is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, and she embraces both culinary influences in her cooking style. In this episode, she gives us customer service and business overhead tips that can translate to our practices. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from her favorite Vietnamese food to dressing up as the ghost from the movie The Ring. Notes of Interest *Nini Nguyen says that Top Chef was a life changing experience She says that Top Chef is like summer camp except someone gets eliminated every week *Nini pursued a traditional college career, and earned a degree in business marketing from Louisiana State University, but realized her true passion was in cooking. *She started working in her home town, New Orleans, at Sucre and Coquette, specializing in pastries. *In 2012, Nini decided to move from the Big Easy to the Big Apple *She honed her skills at Eleven Madison park in NYC and nationwide at Dinner Lab *Nini says that working in the restaurant industry is a labor of love Dong Phuong Bakery is her favorite Bakery in New Orleans Dong Phuong Bakery is known for their Banh Mi and Meat Pies Nini pranked her Top Chef castmates by dressing up as the Ghost from the Ring and scaring them Links Nini Nguyen Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/idreamof.nini/ Top Chef– http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef Everything New Orleans – https://gonola.com/ Dong Phuong Bakery - http://dpbakeshop.com/ Acknowledgements: "Make 'Em Say Uhh! is property of Master P and No Limit Records "Still Fly" is property of Big Tymers

Nini Nguyen’s run on Top Chef may have been short, but it was mighty. Co-founding culinary director at Brooklyn’s own Cook Space, Nini joins us in the studio to talk about immigration and haunting sauces. Then, Alejandra Guanipa, wine director at Roman’s in Fort Greene and 20-year restaurant veteran, joins us to talk about the thankless job of directly interacting with hangry guests, how harrowing this work can be, and why you should be nicer to your servers.

Nini Nguyen fled Vietnam for Thailand when she was 5. After living in a refugee camp for years, Nguyen made her way to Dallas when she was 12. Her first job: bagging groceries at Albertson’s. How she went from those humble beginnings to styling Rihanna is a tale you gotta hear.

Fashion 411 -- In this episode Black Hollywood Live hosts Courtney Stewart, DJ Jesse J and Tiona Hobson discuss fashion for the week of August 7th. They open up with the 'Le Chaud' segment featuring Allure magazine’s Afro Controversy and supermodel Naomi Campbell does jail time. Beyonce, Queen B, drops $300K on shoes. They then discuss this week's "OOTW - Outfit of the Week": Jamie King. Next up is the "Beauty Beat" where they discuss Louboutin’s new lip collection. Then they discuss the "Style Scoop" with Caribana Style and actor, Idris Elba makes history by being on the cover of Maxim. Lastly, Tim Blanks joins Biz of Fashion website. Moving forward into "Haute/Haute Mess" where they decide who's Hot, and who's not. This week, on the board are Jennifer Hudson, Paula Abdul, and Lupita Nyongo . Moving on, to wrap things up with a "Style Watch" on Instagram Fashion guru Nini Nguyen , @ninistyle! All this and more on this week's Fashion 411!