Food Storytelling
“The way they think about food is also how they think about the people, and that becomes an issue. So for us to raise awareness about what's happening in Myanmar, we have to start breaking down the stereotypes as well. Food storytelling can entice people into talking about geopolitics.”
Trish is a Burmese chef who turned her culinary skills into a form of nonviolent protest following the military coup in Myanmar. Initially, she cooked and distributed meals to hungry protesters, but as her activism drew attention, it became too dangerous for her to continue, prompting her to relocate to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In a recent episode, Trish shares her journey of exploring Burmese cuisine, not just from the dominant Bamar ethnic group but also from Myanmar's diverse ethnic and religious communities. Inspired by a Chef’s Table episode on preserving traditional recipes, she delved into the importance of fermentation in Burmese cooking, a technique essential for food preservation in the country’s tropical climate. While initially experimenting with blending Burmese and French culinary styles, Trish ultimately decided to focus on authentic flavors to honor the culture she sought to represent.
Her work has evolved into "Bamama Cooks," a platform that combines food content creation, community-building, and supporting displaced Burmese individuals, including those affected by the coup. Trish’s efforts also include organizing events like Can't Stop, Won't Stop, blending food, music, and art to showcase resilience amidst the ongoing crisis. Through her work, Trish redefines the meaning of food as not just sustenance but a tool for cultural preservation and resistance.
Moreover, for her, each dish is more than just a recipe; it’s a chapter in the story of Myanmar—a tale of flavors shaped by history, geography, and the struggles of its people. But as Trish realized, the way people perceive food mirrors the way they perceive each other. A nation’s cuisine can carry stereotypes, biases, and misunderstandings, just as its people often do.
When Trish cooks, she doesn’t just prepare a meal—she crafts an invitation. Every dish is a conversation starter, a gentle challenge to preconceived notions. She asks us to see beyond the curry and noodles, to taste the labor, love, and resilience of a people who refuse to be erased. Through her creations, Trish reclaims the narrative, serving plates that tell stories of diversity, unity, and defiance.
In a world quick to judge and even quicker to forget, Trish uses her craft to remind us of something essential: food has the power to connect us, to open hearts and minds. It’s not just sustenance—it’s resistance. By reintroducing the world to Myanmar’s cuisine, Trish fights for her people’s dignity, one bite at a time. It’s a revolution, plated with passion and served with purpose.