Charles Phan, a groundbreaking self-taught chef known for his influence on American Asian cuisine, passed away at 62 in San Francisco after cardiac arrest. His renowned restaurant, Slanted Door, opened in 1995, elevated Vietnamese food by integrating high-quality local ingredients. Phan gained fame through cookbooks, the Iron Chef competition, and collaborations with notable figures like Anthony Bourdain, all while remaining committed to charitable causes. His success inspired other immigrant chefs, changing how Asian dishes were perceived in fine dining, challenging the dominance of Italian and French cuisines.
We knew right away when he opened the restaurant what it was going to be, Rob Lam, the chef and owner of Lily in San Francisco, said in an interview. We were like, dude, this is a game changer. This takes it from the street to dining room.
Mr. Phan realized that making his mother's dishes with the kind of local, top-notch ingredients used in kitchens like San Francisco's Zuni Cafe was a gamble.
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