I own an Asian food company. Here's why we won't use the word 'authentic'

I own an Asian food company. Here's why we won't use the word 'authentic'
TODAY
5/3/2021
© Provided by TODAY
During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, TODAY is sharing the community’s history, pain, joy and what’s next for the AAPI movement. We will be publishing personal essays, stories, videos and specials throughout the entire month of May.
You can hardly scroll through Yelp without being bombarded with proclamations about restaurants being “authentic.”
As the co-founders of proud-and-loud Asian food brand Omsom, my sister Vanessa and I hear this word used a lot to describe what we do. It’s often coupled with good intentions and a complimentary tone, but it’s a word that we actually shy away from — it surprises folks to hear that we don’t ever use “authentic” when we describe our company.

Related Keywords

United States ,San Francisco ,California ,Americans ,American ,Deuki Hong ,Reza Estakhrian Getty ,Jenny Huang ,Maiko Kyogoku ,Yelp ,Youtube ,Foursquare ,Spicy Bulgogi Starter ,Sunday Family ,Jenny Huang This ,Vietnamese Americans ,Reza Estakhrian ,Getty Images ,Reza Estakhrian Woman ,Vietnamese American ,Yuzu Misoyaki Starter ,Mahjong Line ,ஒன்றுபட்டது மாநிலங்களில் ,சான் பிரான்சிஸ்கோ ,கலிஃபோர்னியா ,அமெரிக்கர்கள் ,அமெரிக்கன் ,ஜென்னி ஹுவாங் ,கத்தவும் ,வலைஒளி ,ஃபோர்ஸ்கொயர் ,ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை குடும்பம் ,வியட்நாமிய அமெரிக்கர்கள் ,கெட்டி படங்கள் ,வியட்நாமிய அமெரிக்கன் ,மஹ்ஜோங் வரி ,