Grace Young: The ‘Wok Therapist’ and Stir Fry Guru Helping Save America’s Chinatowns episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 26, 2026 · 55 MIN

Grace Young: The ‘Wok Therapist’ and Stir Fry Guru Helping Save America’s Chinatowns

from Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie · host NYC Hospitality Alliance

Grace Young is a cookbook author, culinary historian, filmmaker, and advocate for America’s historic Chinatowns. Grace is the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, a USA Today Women of the Year honoree for her work to save America’s Chinatowns and has been dubbed the “accidental voice for Chinatown”. In this conversation, we discuss her viral ‘Wok Therapist’ video, the importance of maintaining legacy in America’s Chinatowns, and the challenges Chinatowns are facing across the US.https://www.thenycalliance.org/https://www.instagram.com/thenycalliance/ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome Grace to Hospitality & Politics00:24 Stir Fry Guru Origins02:12 Becoming the Wok Therapist06:15 Julia Child Spark09:38 Why Chinatown Matters14:34 Wo Hop and Family Stories21:06 Affordable Lunch Economics24:28 Hidden Gems to Try28:18 Tea Shop Storytelling32:54 COVID Hits Chinatown38:19 Chinatown Stories Project44:48 Congestion Pricing Fallout48:11 Keeping Legacy Alive52:00 New Wave Restaurants57:27 Support Chinatown Now#newyorkcity #restaurant #politics #hospital #business #smallbusiness

Grace Young is a cookbook author, culinary historian, filmmaker, and advocate for America’s historic Chinatowns. Grace is the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, a USA Today Women of the Year honoree for her work to save America’s Chinatowns and has been dubbed the “accidental voice for Chinatown”. In this conversation, we discuss her viral ‘Wok Therapist’ video, the importance of maintaining legacy in America’s Chinatowns, and the challenges Chinatowns are facing across the US.https://www.thenycalliance.org/https://www.instagram.com/thenycalliance/ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome Grace to Hospitality & Politics00:24 Stir Fry Guru Origins02:12 Becoming the Wok Therapist06:15 Julia Child Spark09:38 Why Chinatown Matters14:34 Wo Hop and Family Stories21:06 Affordable Lunch Economics24:28 Hidden Gems to Try28:18 Tea Shop Storytelling32:54 COVID Hits Chinatown38:19 Chinatown Stories Project44:48 Congestion Pricing Fallout48:11 Keeping Legacy Alive52:00 New Wave Restaurants57:27 Support Chinatown Now#newyorkcity #restaurant #politics #hospital #business #smallbusiness

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Grace Young: The ‘Wok Therapist’ and Stir Fry Guru Helping Save America’s Chinatowns

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This episode was published on February 26, 2026.

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Grace Young is a cookbook author, culinary historian, filmmaker, and advocate for America’s historic Chinatowns. Grace is the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, a USA Today Women of the Year honoree for her...

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