Once I ask influencer chef Jon Kung to call the acquisition they remorse most, there is no deliberation. “In my early twenties, I purchased this used SMEG fridge,” the 42-year-old Chinese language American TikTok creator tells me. “It is received this big British flag on it, and I nonetheless have it. I’ve caught Intercourse Pistols, Ozzy Osbourne, and Spice Women stickers on the edges to attempt to make it slightly higher.”
It is grow to be a dialog piece on the dinner events Kung hosts at residence. Each vacation season, Kung whips up their Chinese language takeout feast; it is a seven-course unfold that maps their upbringing throughout Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Detroit—mapo tofu, pumpkin and lotus root curry, superior inventory wonton noodle soup, crab rangoons, Balinese crab fried rice, mushroom lo mein, and, for the grand finale, Cantonese roast duck with cherry duck sauce. And, clearly, dessert.
That layered, third-culture palate is strictly what has made Kung one of the crucial compelling meals personalities of his era, with over 2 million on-line followers. (Additionally they printed a cookbook, Kung Meals, with over 100 recipes.) Whether or not they’re demystifying world substances for a Western viewers or sharing meal prep suggestions, Kung’s perspective stays the identical: good meals ought to really feel like residence.
I caught up with Jon Kung over Zoom to speak about their favourite cooking methods and kitchen gear.
Wash Your Rice
Once I ask Kung what they want they’d that doesn’t exist already, they don’t hesitate: “A rice cooker that additionally washes your rice.”
“It’s so necessary to scrub your rice, particularly when you’re making Asian rice. Italians don’t wash their rice as a result of they want that starch for risotto, however in nearly every other tradition, you need to wash your rice. Additionally, I don’t suppose folks know there are bug eggs in rice. They’re known as rice weevils, and until you’re shopping for that tremendous costly prewashed rice, there are many bugs in rice.”
For now, you will want to scrub your rice by hand, however when you want a rice cooker, King likes the identical Japanese rice cookers the WIRED Opinions workforce swears by: “Zojirushi rice cookers are implausible, particularly those which have strain choices, as a result of they hold rice contemporary for therefore lengthy.”
Drip Espresso Completed Proper
“I change between a drip espresso and an Americano after I make it for myself,” says Kung. “I used to do a Chemex pour-over, however lately I switched to the tremendous automated Terra Kaffe. It’s form of superior.” (Our reviewers additionally actually just like the Terra Kaffe.)
Skip the Mixture Pans
“Mixture pans—those which can be a mixture between nonstick and stainless-steel—simply find yourself being rubbish variations for each jobs,” says Kung. “I might quite folks simply get one ceramic nonstick pan and one stainless-steel pan.”
