Meet Penn Hongthong

Penn Hongthong is the author of Simple Laotian Cooking 2003 and Healthy Lao Cuisine 2009, a cooking instructor and host of her own cooking show Simple Lao Cuisine on public access LTV East Hampton, New York and YouTube.

Ms. Hongthong’s primary motivation is to introduce Lao cuisine and culture to the world and to be a good role model to the new generation of Laotian Americans. Her second motivation is to give America a new flavor; and teach busy Americans how to cook simple, healthy and tasty Lao dishes. Lao cuisine uses a lot of fresh herbs and very little meats to flavor the vegetables. Every thing is made from rice; dairy free and gluten free.

Penn was born in Pak Lay, Sayaboury, Laos. She immigrated to Long Island, New York with her big family in 1980, she was 18 years old. In 1994, she started writing her first cookbook but not until 2001 that her manuscript was accepted by Hippocrene Books, Inc. To learn more about Penn, visit her Facebook page!

 

“My first memory of Lao food was Alt Gai (chicken stew) and Moke Nor Mai (Bamboo in Banana leaves) . My mom added the Lemongrass and lemon basil.

Lemongrass and lemon basil leaves were so spicy for a three year-old me. I thought that when I grow up, I will never use these ingredients. Now I love all of them and a lot of them.”

“I learned how to make Lao food by being in the kitchen with my mother and grandmothers.

For me, the process of learning how to cook Lao food comes naturally because as long as I can remember, I was in the kitchen or in the gardens with my grandmothers. I learn how to grow, harvest and cook every herb and vegetable from them.”

 
 

“My cooking style is Simple, Healthy and Tasty. I have modified the traditional recipes to be simple so the new generation Lao American and others can cook.

Lao food concentrated on only flavor so I modernized our delicious food and made it more attractive.”