‘A Dance Of Textures’: Thuy Pham On Creating Vegan Pork Belly

Thuy Pham, founder of Mama Đút in Portland, Oregon, gained worldwide recognition for her vegan pork belly dish. Inspired by Vietnamese roasted pork, Pham created a vegan version after her daughter urged her to share a video of her cooking on Instagram. The dish is described as a "melodic dance of textures" with layers of crispiness, fat, and chewy meat.

Pham's culinary journey not only reflects her passion for cooking but also her desire to keep her Vietnamese culture alive in the US. Being inspired by her mom's cooking and pressured to fit into American culture as a child, Pham found solace in veganism as it allowed her to rediscover her cultural roots. Despite the closure of Mama Đút in Portland, Pham remains hopeful for the future, believing that with every closed door, more opportunities will open up.