She Closed Her Cult-Favorite Vegan Restaurant, But the Recipes Are Still Very Much Alive

After running a successful vegan Vietnamese restaurant in Portland, Thuy Pham made the decision to close Mama Ðút at the height of its success. Feeling weighed down by the responsibilities and pressures of running a restaurant, Pham felt uninspired and realized that the work no longer made her happy. Despite the abrupt closure of Mama Ðút, Pham is optimistic about the future and is working on writing a cookbook to empower people to cook good food without the need for culinary training.

Growing up cooking with her mom, Pham's relationship with Vietnamese cuisine influenced her as an adult and helped her reconnect with her cultural roots. Her activist spirit stems from her Vietnamese roots and the experiences of her family escaping a war-torn country. Now focusing on writing a cookbook, Pham wants to empower people to cook good food and improve their health and lifestyles through accessible recipes and storytelling.