CREATIVE DIRECTION, content planning, PHOTO EDITING/POST-PRODUCTION, RECIPE DEVELOPMENT, copy editingThe James Beard Award-nominated
Made Here: Recipes & Reflections from New York City’s Asian Communities
As a member of volunteer-led organization Send Chinatown Love, I co-authored and creative directed this 352-page cookbook and narrative collection documenting the successes, struggles, and culinary legacies of immigrant-run restaurants across the city. The 60+ food businesses featured come from all five boroughs, and their food represents and innovates on the traditions of 20+ countries—from China to Sri Lanka, Indonesia to The Phillipines. The book has been recognized by The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Vogue, Forbes, The Los Angeles Times, Food Network, Saveur, and PRINT Magazine as one of the 2023’s essential cookbooks.
“You know what they say about too many cooks? It did not happen with Made Here: Recipes and Reflections From New York City’s Asian Communities, a cookbook celebrating New York’s extended and diverse Asian communities. This hefty, brightly photographed volume was assembled and written by volunteers at Send Chinatown Love, a nonprofit that grew out of Covid to support small Asian-owned businesses. It is stuffed and overflowing with more than just recipes from dozens of establishments, many of them under the radar. Migration, politics, culture and appetite are seen through a New York lens, with the particulars and especially the cooking of various nationalities explained and illustrated with personal stories. It’s worth reading even if you don’t cook.”
FLORENCE Fabricant; front burner ‘A COOKBOOK THAT CELEBRATES new YORK CITY’S ASIAN COMMUNITIES’
“A timely yet timeless microcosm of a thriving community that never sleeps. Meticulously researched, strikingly photographed, and tenderly written, Made Here is an important historical document as well as a cultural artifact.”
Hetty Lui McKinnon, author of five cookbooks including To Asia, With Love and Tenderheart“Exactly what we all need in our kitchens… Superb stories, authentic voices, all real people sharing their culture, their pride and their food.”
Andrew Zimmern, chef, restaurateur, television and radio personality“Made Here pays homage to the strength and resilience of New York City’s Asian communities, whose businesses shape its culinary landscape and enrich our city’s culture. These profound stories are the kind that make this city the pace it is and make for a true love letter to NYC.”
Nicholas Heller, @NewYorkNico, social media personality and documentary film director“A fascinating and heartwarming glimpse of one of New York's most treasured communities—with delicious recipes!”
Fuchsia Dunlop, author of The Food of Sichuan, and Invitation to a Banquet
Nat Belkov
Creative DirectorElaine Mao
Editorial DirectorTina Zhou
Art Director + Lead designerNat Belkov, Irena Huang, Diana Le, Patty Lee, Alice Luo, Elaine Mao, Jessica Mao, Kelisha Menon, Hannah Miao, Matthew Prockup, Christoph Tsang-Grosse
EditorsTyler Andrew, Janice Chung, Joy Kim, Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet, Will Stevens, Cindy Trinh, Jessie YuChen
PhotographersIllustratorsAshley Deng, Lisa Kogawa, Vanessa Nguyen, Zoya To, Justin Tran
Research + Fact checkGloria Chua, Nicole Tan , Robin Zhang
Chloe Chan, Christina Chann, Anna Huang, Valerie Imbruce, Julia Le, Avni Nijhawan, Elizabeth Yan, Vivian Zhong
Contributorsmanaging directorsAlice Luo, Tuyen Tran
Account managerIris Cai
Digital ProductJacob Barnett, Ling Song, Will Stevens, Nanxi Yang
Behind the Grassroots Organization
Send Chinatown LoveFounded in March 2020 by a small group of friends horrified by the mistreatment of Asian communities in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Send Chinatown Love’s mission has always been to promote and preserve the unique cultural fabric intrinsic to New York City’s Chinatowns.
Weeks before a single case of the Coronavirus landed on New York soil, we watched as our favorite noodle shops, grocers, hair salons and dim sum parlors shuttered, unable to stay in business as their livelihoods were jeopardized by the uptick in racially and xenophobically-charged hate crimes ravaging the city’s Asian populations. Send Chinatown Love began as a means to raise money and assist these merchants in crippling overhead costs and business optimization services. Today, the organization boasts over 100 volunteers with skills and expertise in engineering, marketing, product design, operations and beyond. Thus far, the organization as a whole has raised over $650,000, provided need-based assistance to over 30 different mom-and-pop businesses throughout the five boroughs, and distributed over 14,000 meals and hygiene necessities to Chinatown’s elderly and impoverished residents.