Why Cambodian-American chefs want to share their cuisine and stop talking about the past
Chef Phila Lorn was not necessarily aiming for authentic Cambodian food when he opened Mawn in Philadelphia, the US city where he was born, two years ago. So when he approached some Cambodian teen patrons he braced himself for questioning.
Advertisement
'Someone's going to say something like, 'That's not how my mom makes her oxtail soup',' Lorn says. 'So I walk up to the table. I'm like, 'How is everything?' And the kid looks up at me and he goes, 'It doesn't even matter, dude. So glad you're here'.'
It was at that moment that Lorn realised Mawn – the phonetic spelling of the Khmer word for 'chicken' – was more than a noodle shop. It meant representation.
In June, he will be representing his dual cultures – Cambodian and Philly – at his first James Beard Awards as a nominee for best emerging chef. In the food world, it is akin to getting nominated for the Academy Awards.
Phila Lorn and Rachel Lorn opened Mawn restaurant in Philadelphia two years ago. Photo: AP
Cambodian restaurants are not as common in the United States as Chinese takeaways or sushi spots. Cambodian food is often lazily lumped in with its Southeast Asian neighbours, despite distinct differences. But in recent years, enterprising Cambodian American chefs have come into their own, introducing traditional dishes or putting their own twist on them.
Advertisement
Many of them were raised in families who fled the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror, which began 50 years ago and killed about 1.7 million people. Since then, the Cambodian community in the US has grown and put down roots.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Manscaping 2.0: from proudly hairy Henry Cavill, Benny Blanco and Mark Ruffalo, to Bradley Cooper, Nick Jonas and Ed Westwick embracing a middle ground – plus the best tools for the modern male groome
Once upon a time, male grooming meant a splash of cologne after shaving nothing more than the facial area. But nowadays, men are wielding something called the Ballber (from male body care brand Happy Nuts), trimming below the belt like they're tending a high-end garden. Manscaping (aka male body grooming) has evolved from a whispered euphemism to a billion-dollar industry, packaged in matte black and stamped with bold, hypermasculine names. But behind the slick marketing lies something more revealing: a shift in how men relate to their bodies, their routines and their body hair. While the ads still trade in blades and bravado, manscaping has quietly become a cultural touchpoint – one tied to hygiene, confidence, athleticism and even how clothing fits. So the question is no longer whether men manscape – it's what, how and, perhaps most importantly, why. Henry Cavill in The Witcher, his shirt undone to show his chest hair. Photo: Handout Advertisement Hollywood has long shaped male grooming ideals, championing the clean-shaven, chiselled torso as the gold standard of sex appeal, but in recent years, that narrative has shifted. Henry Cavill, for one, has never hidden his body hair, whether brooding shirtless in The Witcher or walking red carpets with his natural chest hair on show. Mark Ruffalo has always leaned into a scruffier aesthetic, as does Benny Blanco , who recently posed alongside fiancée Selena Gomez in Interview magazine – facial, leg, chest and even shoulder hair fully intact. Stars like Bradley Cooper and Nick Jonas prove that body hair and grooming aren't mutually exclusive. The modern grooming landscape, it seems, finally has space for both the razor and the edge. Benny Blanco showing off his shoulder hair with Selena Gomez in a recent Interview shoot. Photo: Handout While women often brandish an arsenal of hyper-targeted products, men typically favour streamlined, all-in-one tools. The Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra by Manscaped is a case in point: a sleek, waterproof trimmer, it's designed to handle everything from chest hair to below-the-belt grooming. With skin-safe ceramic blades, dual cutting heads and cordless functionality, it's built for precision – wherever it's needed. Skims Men campaign. Photo: Handout According to Chee Min Hong, vice-president of product development at Manscaped, the groin grooming conversation now spans generations. 'We pioneered a white space in the market by introducing a whole new segment of grooming: groin grooming. At the time, grooming below the waist tended to skew younger. Older men are quickly catching up, and today, the groin grooming audience spans a broad demographic of men aged 18 to 65,' he explains, adding that Manscaped's customer base now includes everyone from first-time groomers to seasoned pros. Wahl Peanut Trimmer. Photo: Handout But beneath the sleek packaging and precision tools lies a quiet pursuit of confidence. For many, manscaping isn't just about aesthetics but about self-perception. In a culture saturated with shirtless selfies and gym mirrors reflecting chiselled torsos, the pressure to look polished is hard to ignore, and as a result, grooming has become increasingly shaped by the digital standards that now define beauty. 'Recently, I've noticed a fresh wave of folks waltzing into my office, all asking for procedures inspired by what I've fondly dubbed 'algorbeauty',' says Dr Benjamin Caughlin, facial plastic surgeon at Chicago-based Impressions Face + Body. 'Apparently, filters and AI-tweaked selfies are setting new bars for beauty, thanks to algorithms running the show on our socials. Now, I'm seeing a boom in guys coming into my office looking for sharpened jawlines and chin implants to make their facial hair pop.'
The Standard
15 hours ago
- The Standard
ImmD repatriates 56 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants in three-day operation
Download The Standard app to stay informed with news, updates, and significant events - The upgraded app is now available on both iOS and Android platforms.
The Standard
15 hours ago
- The Standard
Disgruntled monkey tears down 'No Feeding' banner in apparent protest
Download The Standard app to stay informed with news, updates, and significant events - The upgraded app is now available on both iOS and Android platforms.
