Saeng Douangdara

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.

07/18/2026

This birthday feels different because so much has changed. I’ve been able to reach lifelong goals, continue growing in love with my friends and family, and find a place in the world that often feels so loud.

I intentionally wanted this birthday to be quieter and more peaceful. Not because I didn’t want to celebrate, but because I wanted to appreciate the joy found in those quiet moments of solitude.

I’ve pushed myself and my creativity in ways I didn’t know I could, and I’m excited to see what else will blossom during this season of life. With every year that passes, I get to settle more confidently into who I am: a proud q***r Lao American who wants to share delicious Lao food with the world and, most importantly, the people and stories behind it.

Please join me in celebrating both me and Galabao’s birthday (her birthday was earlier this month) by cooking with your parents, visiting your local Lao restaurant, and/or picking up a copy of The Lao Kitchen. Thank you for all the love and support. I’m excited to see what the future holds.

With laab,

Saeng

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

06/09/2026

A beautifully written piece capturing JuJubee's journey while spotlighting Lao food. Its a great read! Article link is in the coments.

06/01/2026

I can’t believe I got to travel across the country, meet so many of you, and share these special book events alongside friends and community partners.

I just wrapped up the second and final leg of the book tour, and you all truly showed up. Thank you for filling these rooms with excitement, curiosity, and a desire to learn more about Lao food and the journey it took to bring this book to life.

These are the people and organizations who helped make the second half of the tour possible:
Fresno –
San Francisco –
Seattle –
Minneapolis – .mpls
Madison –
Milwaukee –
Oahu –

I hope everyone is enjoying The Lao Kitchen. I’m going to take some time to reflect on this experience, but I’ll be sharing more soon. Thank you for being part of this journey.

05/17/2026

Minneapolis! There are a few signed copies of my cookbook at XIA Books & Café. Grab them before they’re gone.