Thanaruek "Eh" Laoraowirodge, is the Founder & Owner of Somtum Der, an Isan regional Thai restaurant that is now in over 7 locations worldwide. Born in the countryside in the Isan region in Thailand, Eh would later go on to major in economics in Bangkok and at NYU. 

Lucas Sin, Culinary Director of Junzi Kitchen, a chain of Chinese fast-casual restaurants, joins us to share his upbringing in Hong Kong, his takes on regional Chinese cooking, as well as his opinions on the ever controversial word in the modern culinary world ― "authentic."

Jimmy Ly is the Chef-Owner of Madame Vo and Madame Vo BBQ in the East Village. Jimmy and his wife, Yen Vo (for which the restaurants are named after), have certainly changed the conversation of Vietnamese restaurants in NYC. Once nonexistent, there are now a new wave of places to grab your pho or even BBQ fix.

Eric Sze is the Chef & Owner of 886, a Taiwanese restaurant on St. Marks Place in NYC. The name is an homage to Taiwan's country code, +886. It's a restaurant that celebrates Taiwanese culture and showcases a roster of dishes that Eric grew up with in Taiwan.

Sakura Yagi is the COO of T.I.C Restaurant Group, a collection of Japanese restaurant concepts predominantly located in the East Village in NYC. Their concepts include: Hasaki, Sake Bar Decibel, Sakagura, Curry-ya, Sobaya, Shabu Tatsu, Hi-Collar, Rai Rai Ken, Otafuku x Medetei, and Cha An Teahouse.

Kyo Pang is the Chef-Owner of Kopitiam, a Malaysian restaurant located on the Lower East Side in NYC. Kyo has been named Eater's Best Chef of the Year in 2018 and was a semi-finalist for Best Chef: New York City in 2019 from the James Beard Foundation.