The Lao Kitchen

Join chef Saeng Douangdara, a first-generation Lao-American, for an evening of food and conversation as he shares his essential guide to Lao cuisine.

In Lao kitchens, every dish tells a story. Discover the rich flavors of Laos and enjoy tastes from Douangdara’s new book The Lao Kitchen, which dives into the heart of Lao foodways — often overlooked, but deeply rooted in Southeast Asian traditions.

In conversation with WAMC host Joe Donahue, Douangdara will tell his story as a member of the Lao diaspora, exploring his roots through food. Since the food culture of Laos has historically been preserved through oral tradition, he draws on his expertise and the food knowledge passed down from his family to share the beauty and history of Lao cuisine.

Douangdara will join CulinaryArts@SPAC resident chef Kevin London in the kitchen to create this special Laotian meal. Bold, flavorful, and deeply personal, the evening is a celebration of community, the connection that food brings, and what it means to cook from the heart.

Guests will enjoy a dinner of tastings from The Lao Kitchen, alongside wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. A book signing and Q&A will follow the conversation. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of The Lao Kitchen and have it signed by the author.

The conversation will be recorded for future broadcast on WAMC’s The Roundtable.

Main Course Tastings

• First Course: Yum Salat — Egg Dressing Salad (GF)
• First Course: Nam Khao Tod — Crispy Rice Salad (GF)

• Second Course: Khao Niew — Lao Sticky Rice (VG, GF)
• Second Course: Laab Gai — Minced Chicken Salad (GF)
• Second Course: Jewo Bong — Luang Prabang Fermented Pepper Dip (GF)

• Third Course: Tom Khem — Caramelized Braised Pork Stew
• Third Course: Thum Mak Hoong — Lao Papaya Salad (GF)

Saeng Douangdara is a content creator and personal chef specializing in Lao cuisine. As a first-generation Lao American, food has always been central to his life. Saeng’s work has been featured in Delish, BuzzFeed, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, and he is the winner of an episode of TBS’s cooking show Rat in the Kitchen. A proud member of the Lao Food Movement, Saeng aims to inspire others to explore the delicious flavors of his culture.