Today we’d like to introduce you to Huong Mai Newman.
Hi Huong Mai, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Like many other immigrant chefs, working in a kitchen was not my first choice for a career path.
I was an English teacher for ten years in Vietnam. The corridor from classroom to kitchen was unfamiliar and sometimes lonely, but immigrating to America meant putting down my felt-tip marker and picking up a deba knife.
I started out at a supermarket on Hawaii Island making sandwiches next to a sushi station. I remember watching the sushi chef, seeing his artwork and thinking, “That’s what I want to do.” I loved seeing guests enjoying their food. Before long I was blessed to get the chance to start working with sushi.
Having worked in both Hawaii and DC as a sushi chef, I started seeking a bigger challenge. That was what led me to take a position as executive chef at Sushi Sato Restaurant.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m pretty much self-taught. In the beginning I spent countless hours practicing, and in the kitchen I constantly watched other chefs and learned from them. As the Japanese say, “Steal with your eyes.”
I learned that female head sushi chefs were not common in the sushi profession, and might be viewed with skepticism. But fortunately, that prejudice was easily overcome working with experienced chefs and earning mutual respect.
We’ve been impressed with Sushi Sato, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Quality sushi can often be unaffordable to most people. At Sato we offer high quality at a reasonable price. We want people to enjoy their favorite food without worrying about the price.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Chef Marco Pierre White: “Cooking is a philosophy, not a recipe”
“A person who works with their hands is a laborer; a person who works with their hands and their brain is a craftsman; a person who works with their hands, their brain, and their heart is an artist. Be an artist.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sushisatodc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushisatodc/
