Travel

On the road with Danielle Chang

Next month marks the fifth anniversary of the annual LuckyRice festival — the pan-Asian gastro-indulgence at restaurants and events spots city-wide.

Launched by Danielle Chang — a former Vivienne Tam CEO and Goldman Sachs alum — Lucky Rice has now spread to five US cities in partnership with gin-maker Bombay Sapphire East.

As she gears up for LuckyRice NYC’s anniversary gala next week — and LuckyRice national events throughout the summer and fall — Chang shared her personal list of top Asian eating spots from Manhattan to Hong Kong.

Mott Moves

Hakkasan in Miami is part of the Asian food revolution taking over South Beach.Hakkasan

I grew up hanging out in the night markets in Taiwan, so that type of lively, outdoor street-food scene reminds me of home. In New York, the closest replica of that experience is probably Chinatown — Mott Street, in particular. It may not have the exact same type of of street-food action like in Taiwan, but I love the street’s chaotic energy; its sights and smells. I shop there for groceries and I’ll dine at Amazing 66 for Chinese food.

The ‘next’ Asian

There’s still so much to be learned about, say, Filipino cuisine, which is surprising given that the Filipino population in the US is the second largest Asian American population after the Chinese. One great Filipino restaurant I love is Jeepney, the Filipino gastro-pub in the East Village.

Michelin in Mongkok

When it comes to dim sum, Tim Ho Wan in Mongkok offers the best in all of Hong Kong. The chef is a dim sum expert who left the Four Seasons Hotel to open his own restaurant — it’s the cheapest Michelin-star eatery in town, and everything on the menu is delicious and made to order. Their BBQ pork bun pastry in itself is worth the trip — the crust is flaky and pastry-like, but has texture of a soft roll. The chashu pork inside is hot, sweet and oozes like a cream puff.

Geneva goodness

Madam GenevaRichard Patterson

New York may have literally hundreds of Asian food spots, but I always gravitate to Madam Geneva, which is the Asian gin bar behind Saxon + Parole. Chef Brad Farmerie makes some pretty awesome Thai food and street food bites to go with the gin cocktails, as well. We actually worked with them to launch Bombay Sapphire East — the gin infused with Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorn.

Return to Saigon

I spent a couple of day in Vietnam a few years ago for work and have been fantasizing about going back ever since. The country is beautiful and diverse, and I want to see everything from Hanoi to Saigon, and experience some of the local fishing ports and beaches as well. Throughout town, there were steaming bowls of pho — a Vietnamese rice noodle soup served in steaming beef broth that is flavored with basil and lemongrass. Everyone was eating pho, from day into night. Mark Lowerson of Hanoi Street Food Tours offers great excursions through Hanoi’s famed street-food scene.

Miami undercover

The outdoor area at JuviaMichael Stavaridis

People don’t always think about Asian food when they think about Miami — yet Asian food feeds the city! One of our most popular festivals takes place every November in South Beach and we have dozens of chefs who are running the city’s culinary hot spots — which all happen to be Asian! Think places like Khong River House, Hakkasan, Juvia.