Saeng Douangdara

10/07/2026

Laos, I’m coming home soon and bringing The Lao Kitchen with me! 🇱🇦❤️ I’m so excited to share that I’ll be back in the motherland for a special book signing at Monument Books and Toys Laos ຮ້ານຂາຍປື້ມ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງຫຼິ້ນ ໂມນິວເມັນ in Vientiane!

📍 Monument Books & Toys, Vientiane
📅 Thursday, October 22
⏰ 3:00–4:00 PM

Copies of The Lao Kitchen will be available for purchase while supplies last. If you already have a copy, bring it with you and I’d be happy to sign it! Come say hi, get your book signed, and let’s take a photo together. It means so much to me to be able to bring this book back to Laos and celebrate it with you all.

See you soon, Laos! 🇱🇦❤️

09/27/2026

Thank you so much Central Wisconsin Book Festival for having me! I had a blast and was so happy to see the Wausau community come out and join the event. We sold out of the books so I hope everyone enjoys cooking Lao food from it! 📕🧡

09/17/2026

Chicago, I’m coming your way! 📚🇱🇦 I’m excited to bring The Lao Kitchen to the Alliance Française de Chicago for a special evening.

I’ll be joined in conversation by Anna Romina Guevarra, Founding Director and Professor of Global Asian Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, as we talk about the journey behind my cookbook, preserving our culinary traditions, and the ways food connects us to our history and identity.

After the conversation, I’ll be signing books and hanging out with everyone over Lao food catered by Laos To Your House and a complimentary glass of French w**e. 🍷🌶️ Bring your copy of The Lao Kitchen or pick one up from The Book Stall at the event, and come say sabaidee!

📍 Alliance Française de Chicago�📅 September 23�📚 Book signing + reception to follow�🎟️ Tickets available at the link in my bio! Hope to see you there! 🇱🇦❤️

09/16/2026

Here's a taste of what's in store!

Saeng Douangdara is headed to the Marathon County Public Library's Wausau Headquater's on September 26 from 3–4 p.m. Hear from the author about the stories behind the recipes, learn about the history and culture behind Lao cuisine, and even have your books from The Story Cellar signed. See you there!

09/05/2026

Wausau, Wisconsin! 📚 I’m excited to be part of the Central Wisconsin Book Festival on Saturday, September 26!

I’ll be sharing stories from The Lao Kitchen and talking about Lao food, culture, and the refugee and immigrant experience, and how food can help us better understand our neighbors and each other.

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 3–4 PM
📍 Marathon County Public Library — Wausau Headquarters
Community Room (Level 2)
300 First Street, Wausau, WI 54403

The event is FREE and open to everyone! Books will be available to purchase from Story Cellar at the event, and I’ll be signing copies afterward.

Hope to see you there! 🇱🇦❤️📚

09/02/2026

Once you try fried rice with Lao sausage and jeow b**g, you won’t want to go back to any other fried rice! This is one of my favorite recipes to make because it’s fast, easy, and turns leftovers into something new and delicious. The full written recipe is on my website, linked in my bio.

Some kitchen items I loved using to make this:
🔪 Knives from �🔥 Electric induction wok from .now

08/26/2026

I’m bringing The Lao Kitchen to Kyoto, Japan! 🇯🇵🇱🇦 I’m so excited to celebrate at one of my favorite Lao restaurants with my amazing friend, Chef Seiji of ._thammasart.

Join us on September 5 from 6–7 PM for a special evening of Lao food with great company. Reservations are ¥8,000 (about $50) and include a signed copy of The Lao Kitchen and a Lao course meal.

Spots are limited, so DM ._thammasart to reserve your spot. Hope to see you in Kyoto!

08/08/2026

A dip made with fish bones and all, jeow pa hang. Whenever I want something simple for dinner, I make this dip and enjoy it with steamed veggies and Lao sticky rice. Simple, comforting, and so good.

06/26/2026

It’s taken me some time to process what happened over the past month as I traveled across the country celebrating The Lao Kitchen with all of you. It was an experience I’ll never forget. You filled every room with laughter, joy, meaningful conversations, and sometimes even tears. Thank you for being part of this journey.

I created this video to capture those moments and to share what they meant to me. It felt like the perfect addition to this series about the refugee experience, not only honoring the hardships, but also celebrating the moments of joy, healing, and accomplishment that can follow.

In the video, I also make pun khao soi, the lettuce wrap version of the beloved Lao dish khao soi. Instead of serving it as a noodle soup, fresh rice sheets are paired with lettuce, herbs, and a rich tomato meat sauce. You can find the recipe on my website.

I’m excited to watch The Lao Kitchen continue finding its place in the world and, hopefully, in your kitchen too.

06/12/2026

Loved chatting about Lao food on The Splendid Table! Thank you so much for having me.

New episode day! 🎉

This week, food editor and author Monti Carlo talks about her visit home to Puerto Rico after many years away, and how reconnecting with her roots shaped her approach to cooking traditional dishes.

Then, we get into the spicy, savory, sticky food of Laos with Saeng Douangdara, including his take on the Laab Taco.

Listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts: bit.ly/4osbqfQ