Our Family Story
​
From Cambodia to the US
My family has a rich, intense history of enduring the Cambodian genocide in the late 70s and immigrating to the US in the early 80s - a narrative I've always wanted to document and share.
During this terrifying period of Communist rule, the regime known as the Khmer Rouge attempted to create a Cambodian "master race" - a social re-engineering which ultimately led to the deaths of more than 2 million people. Those killed were either executed as enemies of the regime, or died from starvation, disease, or overwork.
​
Most of my extended family on both my mother and father's side were extremely fortunate to survive and rebuild their lives in the US. The stories featured alongside my recipes tell details of each family members' experience.
​
I hope to preserve our history and honor past sacrifices which were made for the present to exist.
My father, his younger sister, her husband and child. Taken at the Thai Refugee Camp, where they lived for 2 years, after having survived the Khmer Rouge. My aunt is pregnant with Cousin Johnny.
Taken at the Philippines Refugee Center, where they were relocated to for 3 months before immigrating to the US. Cousin Johnny, newly born in the Thai Refugee camp.
Landed in America. My aunts stepping off the plane in Orange County, their first day in the U.S.
This project is very much about triumph and perseverance.
As much as there are tragedies and atrocities written into our past, most of my family was lucky enough to survive and prosper in a new country. What has also endured is the rich and colorful cuisine of our blended Chinese and Cambodian cultures. As a lover of food and cooking, I decided this uniting medium would be the perfect way to tell the story of my family’s history.
For me this is more than just sharing home recipes. It’s about using the culinary experience to explore one's roots, enjoy quality time with loved ones, and honor the past.
​
From China to Cambodia to the US, these recipes have followed our family across many borders and multiple generations. My hope is to continue these traditions and to share them with the world.
"The Old House."
Santa Ana, California
Tastes Like Home
"The Old House" was the first home my father's family purchased in America. 6+ families and up to 18 bodies crammed into this 3 bed, 2 bath house, with sleeping areas spread out in unexpected places including the garage, dining room, and living room.
​
Located off Newhope St., a fitting name for a place which bordered two immigrant enclaves - Little Saigon to the West and Santa Ana, a predominantly Latino community to the East. I spent most of my weekends here as a kid, and even now my aunts and uncles still gather here on a weekly basis .
My first memories of food happened within these walls.
In the backyard, my grandmother would hang and dry sausages from a clothesline. Cambodians are used to cooking outside, so the backyard had an outdoor kitchen with a large propane-fueled stove, fit for commercial-sized woks and pots. On holidays, weddings, or special birthdays, we would cook for up to 200 guests in this little house.
​
Through this family cookbook project, I'll be sharing many of the dishes that were made at the Old House. These are our tastes of home.