0:00 - Introduction, living in Chinatown and Flushing and moving as a child, family history. The properties his family owns in China, the war in China with the Japanese and his father immigrating to Cuba. When Castro came into power and communism rose in Cuba Liao’s father moved to Chinatown in America. He then worked at a restaurant in Chinatown and saved up money to open a few restaurants himself. He opened Estrella Chino Oro, La Nueva Estrella Chino d’Oro, and Old Gold Star.
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9:59 - Other Chinese-Cubans and a Chinese-Cuban restaurant. Discusses how some individuals get into the restaurant business and some get more 9 to 5 jobs. When he was younger he though about perusing rapping. Speaking Spanish and saying that Latino people are humble and willing to talk with people learning their language.
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14:52 - Liao discusses the type of food he ate growing up, he had Chinese food that his mom made, and she also cooked American food. His dad would bring home Hispanic food that he would eat. Discusses his mom sewing, working at the restaurant with his father, and cats at the restaurant. Talks about how great the money was working at the restaurant and how he learned how to wash dishes fast. Talks about trying different professions such as telemarketing and modeling along with meeting different women.
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24:19 - Reflects on foods associated with his grandfather. He would bring Liao cha siu fan, and cook beef and vegetables in peanut oil. Discusses how his food tastes change as he got older and his love for Materva soda. Says he learned how to cook many dishes but the right equipment is key to a successful dish.
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29:08 - Working with Spanish food makes him crave Chinese food even more and makes him appreciate his identity. Says he used to want to be White but as he got older he learned to appreciate his identity even more and became proud of his Chinese heritage. He talks about going to different clubs and knowing different DJs and being into music.
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34:44 - Says that the signature dish he makes is Arroz Fritos con Bistec Palomilla with Maduro which is a fusion of Chinese, American and Latin food. Says the fusion of food helps to bring in diversity. Talks about the music video he is making for “Hit Em In The Face”, a song that tells children they can do wherever they want to do in life. He says life is about giving it your all and that is the same message in the video.
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44:07 - Talks about how Americans love fusion food such as Cuban-Chinese fusion. Liao says that American taste has changed because people are more willing to try different foods. Says the economy has also changed business and more people have started to cook at home rather than eat out. Talks about how to cook steak and how he learned from watching others.
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54:33 - The legacy he wants to leave behind is for his children, how his children get into the same interests Liao has himself such as food and videos. He never wants his children to have a career they do not want. Says that he wanted to work outside of the restaurant with music but when he was away from the restaurant he missed it. Talks about the community of his restaurant. Says that making the business profitable is crucial in a restaurant.
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