The Twin Cities PBS original series “Relish” returns with a bold new take and a longer format that features more local chefs, more music and more flavor. Hosted by contagiously enthusiastic Chef Yia Vang of Union Hmong Kitchen and Vinai, “Relish” delves into the rich tapestry of food traditions, history, cultural influences, and modern expressions of taste and flavor, catering to those eager to explore new culinary horizons in Minnesota. All six new episodes are available to stream for free on the PBS app ahead of the broadcast premiere later this fall.
Apart from transforming Hmong classic dishes into modern marvels, Vang believes food is rooted in the power of narrative, making him the perfect host to draw out the intimate stories the connect other local chefs’ cuisine to their cultural roots. This season, we venture with him as he explores the veritable globe of the Minnesota food scene, and meets luminaries such as Sean Sherman of Owamni, John Ng of Zen Box Izakaya, Milissa Silva of El Burrito Mercado, and Aubry and Kale Walch of The Herbivorous Butcher, among many others.
We caught up with Vang to get the inside scoop on his experiences hosting this new expression on “Relish.”
Q: “Relish” is back! How do you describe this show to people?
Vang: “Relish” to me is the digging in of stories that start from food. As humans, we search for restoration and to be restored, and that’s “Relish.” It’s a sense of belonging; all of us asking the question, “Where and how do I belong?” This season, we’re spending more time in each episode digging deeper into the relationships and the stories.
Q: What was your favorite part of making these new episodes?
Vang: During interviewing, cooking, and understanding the food and the stories behind it, I have these light-bulb moments of connection. When we were at Olsen’s Fish Co., learning about lutefisk and talking about Norway, our photographer, who is from Nigeria, starts talking about the dried cod fish he ate during childhood. The Olsens said they get a lot of it and that West African folks request it. It was this moment of connection, where lutefisk is a global thing.
Q: What kind of reception have you gotten for “Relish” and your role as the host of the show?
Vang: I have a stack of letters from a school out in Saint Louis Park. They watched a bunch of the “Relish“ shows and then they sent me these letters as part of their assignment. One of them was like, “Hey, I’m Asian, but I’m adopted into a white family, and I don’t know where I belong. But when I watch these shows, I feel a sense inside of me.” And so that’s the why for me, this is the passion for me. This is that part where it’s like, this is so incredible what we get to do.
