Stories

Dive into the lives of those behind every dish and drink.

Most Recent

Asian Food

Twin Lion: How Woks and MSG Put Us Through College

Dec 20, 2025

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9 min read

Twin Lion: How Woks and MSG Put Us Through College

Behind the Bowls · No. 1 — My dad was orphaned and trafficked by eleven and eventually opened a restaurant in Austin, TX alongside his brothers. Take a peek at how a strip-mall Chinese joint carried five immigrant families.

Tong Ma

San Diego

BESHOCK: Ramen, The Trojan Horse for Sake

Mar 9, 2026

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14 min read

BESHOCK: Ramen, The Trojan Horse for Sake

BTB • No. 2 — Ayaka Ito discovered her passion for sake in Tōhoku in 2011. Years later, she opened BESHOCK in San Diego—using ramen as the on-ramp to a deeper sake culture. Today, she helps lead multiple concepts under Dreampeer, is at the helm of San Diego Sake Club, and might even be the matriarch of sake in San Diego.

Tong Ma

Taiwanese Food

May 4, 2026

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8 min read

Drunken Kitchen: The Orphans Behind Salt Lake City's Chinese Food Renaissance

BTB • No. 3—Tim and Joe Rammell were orphaned and uprooted from their foster homes in Asia, and eventually landed in Salt Lake City after being adopted. Take a peek at how the two brothers—and an unlikely best friend—are behind Salt Lake City’s Chinese food renaissance.

Tong Ma