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By: KyliebrKinnett Photo by:brRachel Benavides
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How did cooking/food become such an integral part ofbryour life?
Growing up, I had the pleasurebrof being blessed with five older sisters and one baby brother. So, there were abrlot of mouths to feed. My mother, being an only child raised in the countrysidebrof Thailand, always cooked meals from scratch. Coming home from school, I wouldbrremember hopping off the bus and running into a house filled with earthybraromas. As you can see, I never skipped a meal and was always in the kitchenbrwith my mom helping out (really just taste testing). That’s when I fell in lovebrwith cooking. It was more than sustenance to me. It was nourishment for thebrperson I would become in my later years.
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How would you describe your cooking style?
My cooking style is 100 % Asian-Texas-Fusion.brEven though I was not born here in Texas, there is no other place I wouldbrrather hang my hat at the end of the day. I moved here from Japan when I was 5brand have been eating like a Texan since then – WHATABURGER! I enjoy mixing thebrflavors from my Asian background with the Hispanic cuisine that I’ve grown tobrlove more than one could know.
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How did the opportunity to be on two different cookingbrshows on Food Network come about?
One day I got a call from abrfrom a mysterious Arlington number, so I answered it. Thinking it was a fraudbrcaller, I greeted with, “Howdy, is this the Texas Rangers finally calling me upbrto the big leagues, cause if it is I ain’t pitchen’ unless the ‘Stros ask me tobrthrow the cheese.” Baffled the lady said, “Excuse me but this is Kassie frombrthe Food Network. I’m trying to reach Joe Brock.” I completely thought it was abrjoke and asked which friend had put her up to this. She assured me this was abrserious endeavor about being on a cooking show. Kassie then told me she hadbrcome across my Instagram page and said the food on my page looked reallybramazing. Still in awe, I said I would definitely be down to come out and try mybrhand at Food Network.
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What was that experience like?
It was surreal. Everyone whobrworked with the show was super amazing and helpful. The first show I did was Guys Grocery Games Season 18 episodebr1. I did so well on my episode, thebrnetwork asked me to come back again and compete on another show called Ultimate Summer Cook Off! I said yes,brof course. The whole experience was super beneficial to launching my culinarybrcareer locally and nationally. I still keep in contact with everyone from thebrshow. I made awesome friends and amazing memories. Also, it really helpedbrvalidate the reason I do all this.
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Plans for the future?
Well I am super stoked forbrwhat is to come. Right now, I’m working on opening a place on the Island with abrfew partners. We hope to have it open before the end of the year.
