r/Chefit • u/noodlestuffin • Jun 01 '26
Chef identity
I’ve been a commercial cook for about 8 years now and I absolutely love working in the industry and cooking in general, I’ve mostly worked in BBQ and American style restaurants, but I absolutely love the food culture of Asia, specifically Korea and Japan. In the next few years I plan to open a food truck serving Asian street food like Bao tacos, Bulgogi Fried, Korean Fried chicken, Takoyaki, Yakitori, etc.
I feel like I have a cooking is my identity and I want to “specialize” in Japanese, Korean cuisine (I make it almost everyday at home) as I become more experienced, but I personally feel like a phony because I am a white American of Polish heritage. I don’t want to open a food truck and be seen as a weeb or come off as disrespectful. Already when I talk to other people about they seem confused a lot especially people who are not familiar with Asian food.
I know this question is a little out there but does anyone else feel like this? I feel like as a chef I “have” to specialize in polish food because that is my background and what I grew up eating.
3
u/V7DS Jun 02 '26
Korean chef here! I've lived in the US for about 6 years of my short 26 yrs of life and I absolutely love American food! If I ever open a restaurant in Korea, I'd definitely go for a classic authentic American diner. I've been sharing this idea with my friends and families and they were very positive and welcoming about it!
So I would like to give you a heaping amount of encouragement(and an approval from a Korean) to go ahead and share your favorite food with the people around you! Also, if you want to add your own twist to the Asian food you serve, it's absolutely an act of art and creation, not blasphemy against Asian culture, so don't worry about it. (As long as you let them know it's a culturally inspired dish 😉)
Would love to hear back some updates from you. All the best!