From Bac Ninh to Corsica: Hoang Kim’s Culinary Journey

Hoang Kim, a self-taught Vietnamese chef in Corsica, has transformed her culinary passion into a thriving business. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain, she creatively adapted local ingredients to feature authentic Vietnamese dishes. Facing challenges, she focused on maintaining quality and authenticity, earning recognition for her cooking. She aims to open a Vietnamese restaurant and promote her cuisine across France.

Hoang Kim, a self-taught chef from Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam, never envisioned a culinary career before relocating to France with her husband. Inspired by American chef Anthony Bourdain, she developed a passion for Vietnamese cuisine after experiencing his admiration for her homeland’s food. “The way he spoke about Vietnam—with love, respect, and passion—made me want to cook even more,” she explains.

In April 2023, Kim arrived in Corsica, known as the “island of beauty” for its stunning scenery. As she settled into her new life, her yearning for home fueled her culinary creativity, prompting her to use local ingredients to replicate Vietnamese flavors. Her dishes like fried spring rolls and chicken pho quickly impressed her French in-laws.

Recognizing an opportunity, her husband’s cousin, who worked on a cruise ship, suggested she explore a business idea. He noted the absence of Vietnamese cuisine for tourists, apart from sushi, highlighting a market for her cooking. Encouraged, Kim started with small batches of fried spring rolls, which earned a spot on the cruise ship’s menu and became popular at local markets, leading to extensive orders.

Challenges arose as she scaled her production. Some dishes varied in quality, resulting in customer dissatisfaction. To combat this, Kim meticulously documented recipes and portion sizes, prioritizing fresh ingredients to ensure authenticity. “With some dishes, especially spring rolls, using frozen ingredients can lower the quality by half,” she notes, emphasizing her commitment to homemade flavors.

In February 2024, she launched a TikTok cooking channel, where she showcased traditional Vietnamese dishes. The initial video garnered significant attention, and she has since shared over 60 videos. Her channel, particularly popular among Vietnamese expatriates, resonated with viewers, many of whom expressed nostalgia for their homeland. “When people tell me my recipes make them feel at home, it means more to me than any number of views or likes,” Kim reflects.

A month after starting her TikTok journey, Kim received a job offer at a four-star restaurant, where the owner sought to incorporate Vietnamese dishes into the menu. Despite lacking formal training, she accepted a position as a kitchen assistant, where she learned vital culinary skills and terminology. After three months of dedicated work, she was elevated to head chef, overseeing appetizers, including her beloved fried spring rolls.

Despite success, Kim faced hurdles, including a language barrier that occasionally led to misunderstandings with the head chef. The stress from high expectations sometimes pushed her to the brink of quitting, but she persisted, motivated by the chance to promote Vietnamese cuisine. “There were times I wanted to quit, but the head chef encouraged me to keep going,” she shares.

Alongside her role in the restaurant, Kim collaborates with her husband, Quentin Farrari, to sell her dishes. Each morning, she prepares ingredients and teaches him how to cook various Vietnamese specialties. “Thanks to my wife, I’ve learned how to cook Vietnamese dishes—earlier I only knew how to eat them,” he jokes.

Kim plans to open a Vietnamese restaurant in Corsica and dreams of expanding her culinary offerings throughout France, aiming to promote her nation’s traditional dishes even further.

Hoang Kim’s journey from Bac Ninh, Vietnam, to becoming a celebrated chef in Corsica highlights the potential of culinary entrepreneurship grounded in cultural heritage. By leveraging her passion for Vietnamese cuisine, she has successfully navigated the challenges of a new environment and aims to expand her offerings beyond Corsica, sharing the rich flavors of her homeland throughout France.

Original Source: e.vnexpress.net