Tue Nguyen is a young cook who came to the US from Vietnam as a kid. She became extremely well-known on TikTok for demonstrating how to prepare Vietnamese food. She went from posting videos of her cooking Vietnamese dishes on TikTok during the pandemic to opening her own restaurant called Di Di near Los Angeles.

“I think that’s always kind of been like a dream. But… I honestly didn’t know that it would come this fast,” Nguyen shared in a recent interview with AFP.

She learned cooking in a special school, but her real talent came from her family’s way of cooking. Her mom and stepdad taught her how to make good food and trust her taste.

At first, Tue put videos online as TwayDaBae where she did mukbangs. People liked them, but they loved her cooking videos more. She saw that most of her audience didn’t just want to watch, they also wanted to learn how to make the delicious food themselves.

Tue didn’t start by making a big restaurant. She began with small places where she cooked for people. The first place where she did this is now her restaurant, called Di Di. Many people follow her on social media like Instagram and TikTok. They like her videos a lot, but Tue thinks that sharing recipes online won’t stop people from coming to her restaurant. She says her online recipes are simple, while her restaurant food looks and tastes more special.

Di Di, which means “Let’s go” in Vietnamese, is like a piece of Tue’s heart. It’s filled with comfy chairs, pretty lamps, and plants. It opened recently and is already making people happy. Tue mixes what she learned in cooking school with the flavors from her family.

Featured Image Source: Eater LA

Growing up in Vietnam, Leila Jace cherished the simple joys of childhood, like the intoxicating aroma of smoky grilled corn wafting from street vendors as she walked home from school. She didn’t have much money, but she saved up her lunch money to buy a treat she loved – a slightly charred corn on the cob sprinkled with scallions for extra flavor.

Little did she know that this fond memory would become the star of her own restaurant in Fresno, California.

Just nine months ago, Leila’s dream came true as she opened the doors to Sizzle n’ Steam, a cozy spot at Maroa and Shields avenues in Fresno. This Vietnamese street food joint has quickly become a hit, boasting an impressive 4.5-star rating on Yelp.com and even snagging the third spot in The Bee’s poll for the most underrated restaurant in town.

Leila’s journey to becoming a food entrepreneur is quite a story. According to The Fresno Bee, Leila came to California at 14 without speaking much English. She pursued her studies and even built a successful career in retirement planning. But a longing for change and a desire to be close to her parents led her to Fresno, where she decided to give life a new flavor – by opening a restaurant.

What makes Sizzle n’ Steam so special? It’s all about fusing Leila’s unique style and travel adventures with the mouthwatering Vietnamese street food. Yes, the menu features well-known delicacies like pho, spring rolls, and bowls of vermicelli noodles. But the real magic lies in the lesser-known treats that Leila has added, like the Gilroy garlicky fries that pay homage to the place her family first settled when they came to the U.S. The restaurant also offers an array of vegan and vegetarian options, catering to a diverse clientele.

Aside from what her restaurant has to offer, Leila’s warm hospitality is outstanding, transforming her customers into friends, and turning Sizzle n’ Steam into a hub where diners feel right at home.

Featured Image Source: The Fresno Bee

Dubai has long been known as a hub of opportunity, a place where dreams can flourish and aspirations come true. Frando Sarmiento’s journey from a regular worker to a successful entrepreneur is a great example of this. He now owns not one, not two, but three thriving businesses in the UAE. Let’s dive into his inspiring story and see how he made it happen.

Frando Sarmiento’s story began in a small fishing village in the Philippines. His parents worked hard to raise him and provide a good education. Even though life was simple, his parents’ efforts and support shaped his dreams of doing something big one day.

In 2005, Sarmiento came to Dubai to explore job options. He started with jobs like sales manager and gained experience in different companies. These experiences gave him insights into various industries and ignited his desire to run his own businesses someday.

The efficient process of setting up a company surprised him and made his entrepreneurial journey smoother. According to Gulf News, Sarmiento was amazed by how easy it was to start a business in the UAE, and this played a big role in his success.

“It is best to start while you’re young. Whatever happens, one is bound to learn something profound that will benefit him in many ways. When we are young, we are not afraid of making mistakes. There is a lot of time left to recover and learn. This is something I would have told myself during my younger years. But, as they say, it is never too late to start building what you want,” Sarmiento shared with Gulf News.

Featured Image Source: Gulf News