How Chef Yia Vang Honors Hmong Cooking With Open Fire Feasts - Smoke Point

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  • Опубліковано 4 чер 2021
  • Chef Yia Vang of Vinai in Minneapolis tells the story of his culture and the Hmong people through open fire cooking and feasts.
    Credits:
    Producer: Connor Reid
    Director: Connor Reid, Ryan Brennan
    Camera: Ryan Brennan, Damian Kussian
    Editor: Connor Reid
    Executive Producer: Stephen Pelletteri
    Development Producer: McGraw Wolfman
    Coordinating Producer: Stefania Orrù
    Audience Engagement: Daniel Geneen, Terri Ciccone
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For more episodes of 'Smoke Point,' click here: trib.al/7RT0ivV
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 837

  • @Ioutube556
    @Ioutube556 2 роки тому +1687

    “If you say this is mine, you have less. If you say this is ours, you have more.” Nothing like a fathers wisdom

    • @kevinijelekhai3339
      @kevinijelekhai3339 2 роки тому +16

      Disagree - owning something doesn't mean you have less. You have something.

    • @Ioutube556
      @Ioutube556 2 роки тому +75

      @@kevinijelekhai3339 wholeheartedly appreciate your perspective and I agree. However I think you should consider the context of the comment, and the overall thrust of the video.

    • @tyangetc542
      @tyangetc542 2 роки тому +26

      @@kevinijelekhai3339
      I understand your point but,
      It is more of the context of love associated with the words and the power it has. Saying something is “mines” is geared more towards being selfish love because everyone was poor at the time but saying this is “ours” speaks volumes on your character and love for each other, especially during such a tough time.

    • @kevinijelekhai3339
      @kevinijelekhai3339 2 роки тому +7

      @@tyangetc542 I understand you but I still disagree.
      Love at its core is sacrifice (Agape the ultimate form of love given to us by the Greeks). How can I sacrifice something that I don’t have? Love is sacrifice.
      For example, it would be a loving act if I gave you my kidney if you were sick. The existence of ownership doesn’t make the act any less loving. The existence of the sacrifice makes it loving.
      So, with respect I disagree

    • @donutdouglas67
      @donutdouglas67 2 роки тому +3

      @@kevinijelekhai3339 Right, you have to bomb it!

  • @thoughtfulstargazer
    @thoughtfulstargazer 2 роки тому +1049

    Only thing missing is 5-6 guys standing around with beers.

  • @tylervue306
    @tylervue306 2 роки тому +367

    As a Hmong person, it makes me extremely happy that people even know who we are.

    • @pokerstar2004
      @pokerstar2004 2 роки тому +25

      Living in Minneapolis / St Paul the Hmong community is wonderful. The Hmong marketplace is amazing.

    • @ryanlefurge2404
      @ryanlefurge2404 2 роки тому +21

      I’m from Fresno, CA and there’s also a huge Hmong population out here. Grew up alongside y’all.

    • @503zzach
      @503zzach 2 роки тому +5

      HMONG = Mountain tribe, short Chinese looking people who have no country. LOL

    • @bleed7378
      @bleed7378 2 роки тому +3

      @@503zzach
      WHITE WORSHIPPING LUS OUT

    • @503zzach
      @503zzach 2 роки тому +4

      You can go back to a mountain side hill or deep in the jungle where's your short little munchkin HMONG ancestor are from. ;) LOL

  • @SlickyJeffy23
    @SlickyJeffy23 2 роки тому +284

    This guy has so much wisdom, doesn’t feel like he’s cooking but more like teaching

    • @westlee1626
      @westlee1626 2 роки тому

      That’s what we call slowly turnin into an OG

  • @TeraraNetwork
    @TeraraNetwork 2 роки тому +184

    “ When you say this is mine, you have less. but when you say this is ours, you have more.” Only this will save the world.

    • @sleekytips8162
      @sleekytips8162 2 роки тому +13

      That's how communist works

    • @carpy1252
      @carpy1252 2 роки тому +5

      Yeah lets see how well that works when the bigger people with bigger appetites eat more than the little people and they all had to pay the same price for the meal.

    • @maxxyang3723
      @maxxyang3723 2 роки тому

      @@carpy1252 sometimes the little people just dont care

  • @goodcompanycoffee
    @goodcompanycoffee 2 роки тому +215

    Clicked for the food, but what made the video was chef's attitude! Very refreshing to learn about Hmong people and culture.

  • @touvang9923
    @touvang9923 2 роки тому +250

    So proud of brother Yia for taking our food, culture, and philosophy to mainstream America!!

    • @damiandmb2092
      @damiandmb2092 2 роки тому +2

      We don't eat any of this in the "homeland" stop lying. We take other cultures and just change it to make it "ours"......

    • @sunnydayyss7171
      @sunnydayyss7171 2 роки тому +11

      @@damiandmb2092 I'm guessing you're Hmong too but ain't no one lying around here. Like you seriously have to be so negative? If you don't have anything nice to say, other than putting down our people and calling us liars, get out of here. This isn't the only comment you made of the same thing.

    • @CrayZJo3Davola
      @CrayZJo3Davola 2 роки тому +5

      This is not cultural Hmong food. This is just recipe from chef yia's book. Traditional Hmong food are just boiled vegetables, boiled green leaf with pork, stir fry slice of pork with lemon grass and ginger, beef stew with blood and beef insides. Another one is beef raw with poop 😂

    • @Xentradi97
      @Xentradi97 2 роки тому +1

      @@sunnydayyss7171 well the title is quite missleading if so, don't you think? Maybe it should've said, Hmong American chef take on American BBQ or something.

    • @sunnydayyss7171
      @sunnydayyss7171 2 роки тому

      @@Xentradi97 Thank you for your opinion, therefore imo it is not a misleading title.

  • @PeanutButterAndJellyBros
    @PeanutButterAndJellyBros 2 роки тому +88

    Betcha his restaurant soon-to-be opened is gonna be jammed packed. He's truly the only Hmong chef that is really out there with his character and personality. He's gonna draw a lot of community attention when his restaurant is in business.

  • @rayfordhickman3087
    @rayfordhickman3087 2 роки тому +100

    I had Hmong neighbors when I lived in North Minneapolis. What he's saying about togetherness is how they are. Thanks to Pao Vang and his family.

    • @nitto24
      @nitto24 2 роки тому +1

      Unfortunately, that "our" philosophy is fading away aHmongs the new generations. Money and greed changes people.

  • @arunavaacharya9463
    @arunavaacharya9463 2 роки тому +32

    Props to the Eater team for finding such human voices that tell you about cooking but with humanity.

  • @p90p90
    @p90p90 2 роки тому +70

    We made it boys! Chef Yia is amazing. I must try his food one day.

    • @thomaslandcaster9638
      @thomaslandcaster9638 2 роки тому +2

      He made it not you, don't group yourself as the same.

    • @p90p90
      @p90p90 2 роки тому +7

      @@thomaslandcaster9638 took the comment wayyyyy to literally but okay.

    • @stormhost5324
      @stormhost5324 2 роки тому +4

      @@thomaslandcaster9638 The reason he says we made it is because chef Yia is a Vang and His UA-cam name is a Vang so that make them like a clan brother. So what he is saying the whole Clan of Vang

  • @b-choi7521
    @b-choi7521 2 роки тому +7

    "I love being Hmong because our people have never had the most ideal conditions. But I'm not trying to be a martyr, I'm not trying to be a victim about it. But it's like, ok like, think through it, what's the next thing you have to do." Thank you, its refreshing to see people thinking this way nowadays

  • @SlapMyGorillaGorilla
    @SlapMyGorillaGorilla 2 роки тому +134

    Chuck Norris, MacGyver, and Jean Claude Van Damm.... Something tells me this is a universal Asian thing lmao
    Because that’s the trio i watched

    • @recoil53
      @recoil53 2 роки тому +1

      No, but in an '80s-'90s window they would have been action shows.
      This century the Thais and Indonesians (this decade) have better action.

    • @indroputranto1850
      @indroputranto1850 2 роки тому +1

      I'm Indonesian and yes, they are like my childhood heroes lol

    • @bigkou_916
      @bigkou_916 2 роки тому

      It was more Clint Eastwood, Chuck Norris, and Charles Bronson. Those where the heroes to the elders. McGuiver, A-Team and Michael Knight were more our generation. I'm 42 by the way. Lol

    • @willienillie6337
      @willienillie6337 2 роки тому

      Damn, how can you leave out Bruce Lee.....

    • @bigkou_916
      @bigkou_916 2 роки тому

      @@willienillie6337 they were so use to war, anything having to do with it. We didn't start to watch Kung Fu movies until later, becuz we didn't have access to the videos then

  • @mmageek
    @mmageek 2 роки тому +16

    10:00 I lived in Fresno for six months of high school, had a few Hmong friends with very similar stories. I will always treasure that time.

    • @mlgjudgejudy6723
      @mlgjudgejudy6723 2 роки тому +1

      Yea Fresno has a lot of hmong people as well as alot of Armenians idk why but its cool

    • @mmageek
      @mmageek 2 роки тому +1

      @@mlgjudgejudy6723 Farming, mostly Hmong people live in Iowa, Minnesota and previously mentioned Fresno. I don’t know if that has changed over the years. I can’t explain the migration patterns of Armenians (Noho, Glendale, Fresno, etc).

    • @westlee1626
      @westlee1626 2 роки тому

      @@mmageek mainly these states, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Michigan, now in Oklahoma the population is growin too

  • @ronnys.nielsen5118
    @ronnys.nielsen5118 2 роки тому +20

    I Iove his mentality same with my Samoan Culture it doesn’t matter how many are in there it’s for everybody 🤙🏾

    • @krnpowr
      @krnpowr 2 роки тому +2

      Most non-Westerns are communal. The first thing they think about is splitting things equally with others in the group. Westerners only think about themselves.

  • @bnyang84
    @bnyang84 2 роки тому +10

    The Hmong brother putting on for the culture. Respect. Thank you Eater.

  • @jenht3260
    @jenht3260 2 роки тому +26

    "When you say this is mine, you have less. But when you say this is ours, you have more." DAMN. Such a great lesson

    • @corynn.l5146
      @corynn.l5146 2 роки тому

      @@wineordie honestly, a socialist lifestyle is only good when it's not involving government control

  • @jasonsong6747
    @jasonsong6747 2 роки тому +33

    Love this guy's mentality - here's the situation, now what do we do about it? How do we move forward? I feel like this philosophy is present in his foods and you can tell its delicious because you know he's the type to keep on improving the recipe/taste.

  • @mintbot4657
    @mintbot4657 2 роки тому +11

    I never once thought I'd see the Hmong Community featured in such big UA-cam channel.

  • @kouleeofficial
    @kouleeofficial 2 роки тому +11

    Chef Yia changing the game! I went to a few of his pop up restaurants in Minnesota and had the chance to have a conversation with him. Awesome guy!

  • @ToddAndelin
    @ToddAndelin 2 роки тому +1

    This chef is so amazing and your crew captured it all so well. Wow. Amazing!

  • @ChaiNinja
    @ChaiNinja 2 роки тому +4

    Much love to you brother. I love your dads advice! Good to see your community being recognized and it is thanks to you and what you are doing.

  • @turbojefe3432
    @turbojefe3432 2 роки тому +2

    This guy is awesome. The way he talks about and the use of the ingredients.
    I had to watch this multiple times. Keep up the great work.

  • @LoveandGrace22
    @LoveandGrace22 2 роки тому +15

    Beautiful episode. I love the stories of people's heritage infused in their cooking.

  • @haymarketpantry8056
    @haymarketpantry8056 2 роки тому +3

    This was so much fun! It's awesome cooking with everyone at Vinai. They're the best 🙏🏻

  • @fleggy123
    @fleggy123 2 роки тому +2

    Proud, positive ambassador for his people. What a great dude, I learned so much from this.

  • @nicholaswilson9882
    @nicholaswilson9882 2 роки тому +2

    amazing personality on this man, would love to see more of him

  • @TouVang1
    @TouVang1 2 роки тому +1

    This is awesome brother. I was born in Vinai. Although we moved to the US when I was just 2, I definitely know what our parents went through. Thanks for making this vid. It does bring back memories.

  • @michaelkaszynski7658
    @michaelkaszynski7658 2 роки тому +17

    I like that he's teaching some white guy named Kenny how to make Hmong food. Sharing your culture with others is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

  • @jm5642
    @jm5642 2 роки тому

    This is the best episode I have seen so far. Great wisdom by this young chef guided well by his elders.

  • @gillsmoke
    @gillsmoke 2 роки тому +2

    "When you say this is mine you have less. When you say this is ours we have more." I needed that today, thank you.

  • @cjuare123
    @cjuare123 2 роки тому +15

    I grew up around Hmong people. They are some of the nicest people i ever mer.

  • @otnielsabajo9537
    @otnielsabajo9537 2 роки тому +4

    Chef Yia lots of respect for the way you talk about your culture and the food you making and bringing it together..

  • @johnconnor2402
    @johnconnor2402 2 роки тому

    Man, you can feel the dedication and passion in the chefs voice. This guy is a great speaker, super likeable

  • @LuisGGomezPhoto
    @LuisGGomezPhoto 2 роки тому +1

    I love the philosophy of Chef Yia, what a human, and a cook. thanks!!!

  • @Caleyfan86
    @Caleyfan86 2 роки тому +2

    Love this guy, such a good dude. That’s a lot of work to set up right there. 💪🏽

  • @keganwallace8753
    @keganwallace8753 2 роки тому

    That's the definition of a legendary cookout! So impressive and everything looks so delicious.

  • @kryptoniterxn117
    @kryptoniterxn117 2 роки тому +1

    The passion and wisdom combined with his illustration of a lifestyle was beautifully executed here. All he needed was some wood and basic cinder blocks.

  • @mathewjacob3075
    @mathewjacob3075 2 роки тому +2

    One of the best episodes ever the last bit just made me cry

  • @TomSaysHi
    @TomSaysHi 2 роки тому

    Awesome! I enjoyed watching every bit of it. Keep it up Yia!

  • @yolandaowens4748
    @yolandaowens4748 Рік тому

    I love this chef I try to catch him anytime he has anything up on UA-cam 🙌🏾❣️💯

  • @shualy8058
    @shualy8058 2 роки тому +1

    Awesome job brother! Keep it up. Glad to see Eater document your delicious Hmong food.

  • @danielburgess7785
    @danielburgess7785 2 роки тому

    Mr. Vang is worth listening to.
    Thank you for sharing.

  • @jonathanwoodham4165
    @jonathanwoodham4165 2 роки тому +3

    May you be blessed beyond measure Young Man...you are well studied
    in the traditions of your cultural nationality and express to the rest of us a learned wisdom...making it ours!

  • @ryan49805
    @ryan49805 2 роки тому +1

    Man that looks good. I love that this dudes fam got to America and is sharing his culture. We could all use some more of this attitude about life.

  • @lucasj893
    @lucasj893 2 роки тому

    My grandma (rest her soul) loved McGyver too! All we ever watched on TV in the early 90s. Love the storytelling in these segments, thanks Munchies!

  • @the_truck_farmer
    @the_truck_farmer 2 роки тому

    Well spoken and presented Yia. Much love from La Crosse!

  • @bbbt8090
    @bbbt8090 2 роки тому +1

    So proud of this Dude!

  • @boxingboy1043
    @boxingboy1043 2 роки тому

    Finally, we get some recognition to the world. Good job brother 👍

  • @reeze1895
    @reeze1895 2 роки тому +2

    I live in Sacramento plenty of Hmong out here very cultural people awesome people I love their food as well

  • @brianyim5191
    @brianyim5191 2 роки тому

    Beautiful episode.

  • @oliverjamesspicer
    @oliverjamesspicer 2 роки тому

    Fascinating and a great message at the end

  • @martinbakunawa1240
    @martinbakunawa1240 2 роки тому

    My happy place too Chef!! Great video, straight, honest and good faith. My kind of way of life! Thank you for this inspiring video!! Props to all of you

  • @bleed7378
    @bleed7378 2 роки тому +7

    I could've sworn this guy got written up in a Bon Appetit article on Hmong cuisine in the US. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Hmong cooking is nevertheless on the rise, and it's wonderful to see.

    • @williammartin9612
      @williammartin9612 2 роки тому

      yeah you right, his issue was a couple months ago i think

    • @bleed7378
      @bleed7378 2 роки тому

      @@williammartin9612 It had to have been over a year ago. I remember the issue contained a recipe for a rice dish of some sort (was it purple in color?). Perhaps they've done two spotlights on Hmong chefs, both of whom were men that did open air cooking?

  • @GruneD
    @GruneD 2 роки тому +1

    Wow, it looks amazing!

  • @neilbiswas6191
    @neilbiswas6191 2 роки тому

    Glad to see a Hmong chef being highlighted. Chef via is very skilled and has a great attitude

  • @leothechibowow9920
    @leothechibowow9920 7 місяців тому

    Great video bro.

  • @DestroBB
    @DestroBB 2 роки тому +1

    I dated a Hmong woman for a while. She was very proud of her culture, I loved hearing about it. This brings back find memories.

  • @sharkloo7482
    @sharkloo7482 Рік тому

    Yooo watched this dude in iron chef! You did your best chef! Super proud of the Hmong cuisine

  • @itawambamingo
    @itawambamingo 2 роки тому +15

    I love Chef Vang's unbridled passion!

  • @funfunstuie
    @funfunstuie 2 роки тому

    Best smoke point video. Great attitude and philosophy.

  • @4shorefishing779
    @4shorefishing779 2 роки тому +1

    Hmong people are family to me. Food looks amazing thanks for sharing!

  • @ianzuppan6503
    @ianzuppan6503 2 роки тому

    So much love for this! That’s what it’s all about, no timer, no thermometer. Effort and that family love. 🙏✊ (I gotta get to this spot! + that wood splitter is great - hammer with a 4lb head will turn that effort into a tap & not a couple whacks)
    Best part “YEAAAAH NICE!” 🙌

  • @shakazulu576
    @shakazulu576 2 роки тому +1

    For only watching a 11sum min video on UA-cam u get the sense of this guys culture thru the way he prepares as well as cooks his meals. Crazy thru food we can experience any culture. Because as human beings food is something we can all relate too.

  • @Hope-u-have-a-great-day
    @Hope-u-have-a-great-day 2 роки тому +2

    I watched your entire video this is super reminds me of some Mexican get together so we haven’t had an a while but you’ve inspired me to organize some thing and incorporate some of your tricks

  • @psychoness999
    @psychoness999 2 роки тому

    Bro this chef is such a refreshing dude. I could easily drink 2-25 beers with him and just talk shop about culture food amything. What a joy

  • @olddays8266
    @olddays8266 2 роки тому

    Love the video. Reminds me of how my mom BBQ after a long day of traditional parties. She would gather the left over bones that weren't used for soup, sprinkle some salt and throw them onto her huge homemade open flame grill to smoke for hours with all the aunties gathered together to reminense about the old days.

  • @gepaolor9898
    @gepaolor9898 2 роки тому

    Love this brother spirit of cooking... keep going....

  • @carsonsigrah4886
    @carsonsigrah4886 2 роки тому

    Love this dude,learned a lot from one video,thanks for sharing 👍👍

  • @Joshuakartawinata
    @Joshuakartawinata 2 роки тому +1

    Love his energy

  • @fengyang7719
    @fengyang7719 2 роки тому

    👏 👏 👏 Awesome awesome just awesome. Good ups brother !! Food looks amazing and thanks for sharing with the world !

  • @HangryD4D
    @HangryD4D 2 роки тому +31

    It's true. The Hmong elderly loves Chuck Norris.

    • @nitto24
      @nitto24 2 роки тому

      That's until Chuck fought Bruce. Lol many thought it was real...

  • @ruslanaiman6196
    @ruslanaiman6196 2 роки тому +2

    Only thing i knew about the Hmong was they were a main part in the movie “Gran Torino”. This is refreshing to hear from this video. Big respect 👍🏻

  • @whiskymarko
    @whiskymarko 2 роки тому +1

    Damn I wish I could join this dude on one of his cookouts
    Cool dude with a passion

  • @MrJohnmoua26
    @MrJohnmoua26 2 роки тому

    Keep blazing the trail!! Wishing nothing but success

  • @elsanto8879
    @elsanto8879 2 роки тому

    Simply beautiful

  • @tosh8377
    @tosh8377 2 роки тому

    I’ve always said food is more that texture and flavour. Unbelievable video.
    Thanks

  • @r.j.davila7393
    @r.j.davila7393 2 роки тому

    Love this video. Nice job.

  • @maurreese
    @maurreese 2 роки тому

    Wow this was incredible and he is so relatable!

  • @honeymir805
    @honeymir805 2 роки тому

    I like this dude a lot. He’s got a great philosophy on food and life in general.

  • @JohnDoe-gk6jp
    @JohnDoe-gk6jp 2 роки тому +1

    Glad to see Hmong culture in the spotlight!! As soon as I saw Hmong I clicked and hoped his food was in MPLS and glad I was right!

  • @paulzeuz9326
    @paulzeuz9326 2 роки тому

    Wow the ending food presentation on the table looks really delicious and abundant!

  • @gc5Hayward
    @gc5Hayward 2 роки тому

    This is a physical spiritual feast! I wish I was there to connect, share and enjoy!

  • @davejack8973
    @davejack8973 2 роки тому

    NGL guys ... this is by far one of ur best episodes

  • @r2dxhate
    @r2dxhate 2 роки тому +1

    I use to love going over to Hmong cookouts. They do it BIG.

  • @Swiftwinter
    @Swiftwinter 2 роки тому

    ..."we'll adjust what we need to adjust". Words of a true master.

  • @HIBredAsian808
    @HIBredAsian808 2 роки тому

    Love your dad! That saying he has is what I've learned when I was younger. Aloha brother!🤙

  • @eyang7
    @eyang7 2 роки тому

    Ayeeeee thanks for featuring our hmong peeps 😁

  • @First_Emperor
    @First_Emperor 2 роки тому

    Simply incredible.

  • @elischonbrod4563
    @elischonbrod4563 Рік тому +1

    From the GrillWorks to a block grill. Love it

  • @drewcee_
    @drewcee_ 2 роки тому

    This was amazing

  • @dstarkspp
    @dstarkspp 2 роки тому

    this guy is awesome....great video

  • @MaddVisions
    @MaddVisions 2 роки тому +1

    Amazing video 🙏

  • @Mihawk1848
    @Mihawk1848 2 роки тому

    Great wisdom from your dad, respect!

  • @robdobson5056
    @robdobson5056 2 роки тому +3

    Dude you are cooking my dream BBQ! Just awesome assortment of meats!

  • @Skyy_415
    @Skyy_415 2 роки тому

    law of abundance at the end there...awesome video with a great story

  • @brianlew86
    @brianlew86 2 роки тому

    Great video. Knowledge is power.

  • @thordlotorthao
    @thordlotorthao 2 роки тому

    Great to see my people on videos like this!

  • @hawtdawg2821
    @hawtdawg2821 2 роки тому

    Cool stuff, hope to hit up his restaurant one day.

  • @oneshotme
    @oneshotme 2 роки тому

    Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up