Lê Minh Tâm – Việt Kiều Texan, splicing Mexican and Vietnamese foods | S1 Ep 9

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Tâm is the first listener-suggested guest, thanks to regular listener, Brandon Coleman. Tâm is an entertaining and interesting guest that has an in-depth story and many insights to share about life in Saigon, which can be seen by the length of this episode. 

Born in Texas to Vietnamese refugees, Tâm moved to Saigon after a stint in Singapore. 

Here in Saigon she worked at an international branding agency but soon started creating Vietnamese-Mexican dishes and hosting dinners out of her apartment, creating a closed-door restaurant named Saigonita. 

Soon Saigonita appeared in Vice Munchies and was profiled in Saigoneer so she decided to quit her corporate career to pursue her passion in food. Since then, she’s been interviewed by publications in Vietnam, Singapore, the US, Italy, France; and has given a TEDx Talk. 

She is currently getting to more deeply know her roots and explore Vietnam’s culinary scene through travels around the country.