4. New York City w/ Empress Hot Sauce: Pizza, Bagels, Hot Sauce

5. Orange County w/ Mai Bach, Ooh Cha Cha: Vegan, Plant-Based Food, First Gen

Mai Bach is the founder of Ooh Cha Cha, the first B Corp certified vegan restaurant in Taiwan. Mai grew up in Orange County, which has the biggest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. She shares her family’s story of how they fled the Vietnam War and settled in Orange County, and her journey of becoming a vegan. Mayra Alvarado is the Deputy Chief of the Economic Section at the American Institute in Taiwan. Similar to Mai, she is also from the L.A. area and shares many similar memories of growing up there.  You can find the transcript for this episode here. [https://gimpod.me/ait-orange-county-food-transcript] Welcome to the AIT Podcast, from the American Institute in Taiwan and Ghost Island Media.  We’re here to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: food. In each episode, we discuss – with a special guest – food from an American city. Season 1, we’re heading to Boston, New York, San Jose, Orange County, and New Orleans. Subscribe to The AIT Podcast, now on all your favorite podcast platforms. Check out all five episodes on our show-site - https://aitpodcast.com/ [https://aitpodcast.com/] Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes photos:  Ghost Island Media | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ghostislandme/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ghostislandme/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/ghostislandme] American Institute in Taiwan | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AIT.Social.Media] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ait_taipei/?fbclid=IwAR3-CkupUrhBgzJjUgow_zllsDwmaU8IXyf0xfEoyFf7GedYfTRuuWzNtKw] Co-Produced by the American Institute in Taiwan, Ghost Island Media [https://ghostisland.media/], and American Spaces [https://www.ait.org.tw/education-exchanges/american-spaces/] Producer - Emily Y. Wu [https://twitter.com/emilyywu] Editor + Production Coordinator - Teresa Yen Editing Assistant - Gerald Williams Engineering Supervisor - Dino Lin Graphics - Logan Dosher Interns - Chloe Ramond, Mikey Redding See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

4. New York City w/ Empress Hot Sauce: Pizza, Bagels, Hot Sauce

Jane Chen and Alex Denner are the co-founders of Empress Hot Sauce, a local brand working to bring Taiwanese flavors to the world. They spent several years in New York City and are big fans of the Big Apple. Jane and Alex share with us their favorite pizza shops, bagel bakeries, and other must-try food spots. Pat Boland is an Economic Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan. He’s a big fan of hot sauce and New York City, so he’s eager to learn more from Jane and Alex. He also got try some of their hot sauces on New York Style Pizzas. You can find the transcript for this episode here. [https://gimpod.me/ait-new-york-food-transcript] Welcome to the AIT Podcast, from the American Institute in Taiwan and Ghost Island Media.  We’re here to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: food. In each episode, we discuss – with a special guest – food from an American city. Season 1, we’re heading to Boston, New York, San Jose, Orange County, and New Orleans. Subscribe to The AIT Podcast, now on all your favorite podcast platforms. Check out all five episodes on our show-site - https://aitpodcast.com/ [https://aitpodcast.com/] Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes photos:  Ghost Island Media | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ghostislandme/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ghostislandme/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/ghostislandme] American Institute in Taiwan | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AIT.Social.Media] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ait_taipei/?fbclid=IwAR3-CkupUrhBgzJjUgow_zllsDwmaU8IXyf0xfEoyFf7GedYfTRuuWzNtKw] Co-Produced by the American Institute in Taiwan, Ghost Island Media [https://ghostisland.media/], and American Spaces [https://www.ait.org.tw/education-exchanges/american-spaces/] Producer - Emily Y. Wu [https://twitter.com/emilyywu] Editor + Production Coordinator - Teresa Yen Editing Assistant - Gerald Williams Engineering Supervisor - Dino Lin Graphics - Logan Dosher Interns - Chloe Ramond, Mikey Redding See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

3. San Jose w/ Dennis Nieh (TV & radio host): Dungeness Crabs, Fishing, Silicon Valley

Dennis Nieh (聶雲) is a household name here in Taiwan. He’s a famous TV and radio host and owns a food brand. But Dennis actually grew up in San Jose, California. He talks to us about his memories of fishing with his father, great seafood places in the Bay Area, and the beginnings of Silicon Valley. Kevin Kallmyer is a Political Officer at AIT. Even though he’s from the East Coast, he shares Dennis’ love for fishing. He’s never been to San Jose, so he’s excited to hear Dennis talk about the city and offer some tips on where to go for his visit. You can find the transcript for this episode here. [https://gimpod.me/ait-san-jose-food-transcript] Welcome to the AIT Podcast, from the American Institute in Taiwan and Ghost Island Media.  We’re here to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: food. In each episode, we discuss – with a special guest – food from an American city. Season 1, we’re heading to Boston, New York, San Jose, Orange County, and New Orleans. Subscribe to The AIT Podcast, now on all your favorite podcast platforms. Check out all five episodes on our show-site - https://aitpodcast.com/ [https://aitpodcast.com/] Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes photos:  Ghost Island Media | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ghostislandme/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ghostislandme/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/ghostislandme] American Institute in Taiwan | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AIT.Social.Media] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ait_taipei/?fbclid=IwAR3-CkupUrhBgzJjUgow_zllsDwmaU8IXyf0xfEoyFf7GedYfTRuuWzNtKw] Co-Produced by the American Institute in Taiwan, Ghost Island Media [https://ghostisland.media/], and American Spaces [https://www.ait.org.tw/education-exchanges/american-spaces/] Producer - Emily Y. Wu [https://twitter.com/emilyywu] Editor + Production Coordinator - Teresa Yen Editing Assistant - Gerald Williams Engineering Supervisor - Dino Lin Graphics - Logan Dosher Interns - Chloe Ramond, Mikey Redding See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

2. New Orleans w/ Kevin Lin (Twitch): Gumbo, Fried Chicken, Jazz

Kevin Lin is the co-founder of Twitch and the founder of MetaTheory. He’s talked about the tech industry in many interviews before, so we asked him about his hometown, New Orleans, instead. Kevin shares with us how to make gumbo, argues for the best fried-chicken brand, and tells us how New Orleans came to rebuild itself after Hurricane Katrina. Julienne Lauler is a Public Diplomacy Officer at AIT. She’s spent time in Haiti and speaks a bit of Creole. She’s only been to New Orleans once as a teenager but is eager to visit again. You can find the transcript for this episode here. [https://gimpod.me/ait-new-orleans-food-transcript] Welcome to the AIT Podcast, from the American Institute in Taiwan and Ghost Island Media.  We’re here to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: food. In each episode, we discuss – with a special guest – food from an American city. Season 1, we’re heading to Boston, New York, San Jose, Orange County, and New Orleans. Subscribe to The AIT Podcast, now on all your favorite podcast platforms. Check out all five episodes on our show-site - https://aitpodcast.com/ [https://aitpodcast.com/] Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes photos:  Ghost Island Media | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ghostislandme/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ghostislandme/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/ghostislandme] American Institute in Taiwan | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AIT.Social.Media] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ait_taipei/?fbclid=IwAR3-CkupUrhBgzJjUgow_zllsDwmaU8IXyf0xfEoyFf7GedYfTRuuWzNtKw] Co-Produced by the American Institute in Taiwan, Ghost Island Media [https://ghostisland.media/], and American Spaces [https://www.ait.org.tw/education-exchanges/american-spaces/] Producer - Emily Y. Wu [https://twitter.com/emilyywu] Editor + Production Coordinator - Teresa Yen Editing Assistant - Gerald Williams Engineering Supervisor - Dino Lin Graphics - Logan Dosher Interns - Chloe Ramond, Mikey Redding See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

1. Boston w/ Chai Lee (Uber Eats): Wellesley, Clam Chowders, Super 88

Chai Lee is the General Manager of Uber Eats in Taiwan, but before that, she was an international student in Boston. Chai shares her experiences studying at Wellesley and Harvard, shopping at Newbury St., and going on grocery runs at Super88. Host today is Luke Martin, Cultural Affairs Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan. We also talk about how our eating habits have changed since the global COVID pandemic. (Spoiler alert: we're eating healthier!) You can find the transcript for this episode here. [https://gimpod.me/ait-boston-food-transcript] Welcome to the AIT Podcast, from the American Institute in Taiwan and Ghost Island Media.  We’re here to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: food. In each episode, we discuss – with a special guest – food from an American city. Season 1, we’re heading to Boston, New York, San Jose, Orange County, and New Orleans. Subscribe to The AIT Podcast, now on all your favorite podcast platforms. Check out all five episodes on our show-site - https://aitpodcast.com/ [https://aitpodcast.com/] Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes photos:  Ghost Island Media | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ghostislandme/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ghostislandme/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/ghostislandme] American Institute in Taiwan | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AIT.Social.Media] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ait_taipei/?fbclid=IwAR3-CkupUrhBgzJjUgow_zllsDwmaU8IXyf0xfEoyFf7GedYfTRuuWzNtKw] Co-Produced by the American Institute in Taiwan, Ghost Island Media [https://ghostisland.media/], and American Spaces [https://www.ait.org.tw/education-exchanges/american-spaces/] Producer - Emily Y. Wu [https://twitter.com/emilyywu] Editor + Production Coordinator - Teresa Yen Editing Assistant - Gerald Williams Engineering Supervisor - Dino Lin Graphics - Logan Dosher Interns - Chloe Ramond, Mikey Redding   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.