In-Depth Insights

Family and Growing Up

Summary: Donnie's childhood was filled with diverse culinary experiences and a sense of community fostered by his mother's cooking, shaping his appreciation for food and its ability to bring people together.

Donnie Huesing: "My mom loved to cook so she's always cooking for you know, anybody or everybody. So from there, I knew that food is the thing, right? And, and just going out to different places, you go to different events, they always have food, you're always like, hungry, they're gonna have food, right?" This quote highlights how Donnie’s early experiences with food, facilitated by his mother’s passion for cooking, fostered a sense of community and connection.

Donnie Huesing: "We had all kinds of food. So and we were blessed to be able to go out eat a lot and things like that. But my mom did when it came to authentic Vietnamese, she would cook every week. Some type of food. So I got that but we also went out to eat a lot so I got to see a lot of different foods." This underscores the diverse culinary exposure Donnie experienced growing up, which shaped his appreciation for various cuisines.

Donnie Huesing: "I don't think there was any defining moment when I was younger, just as you go along in life, you just kind of do different things, you kind of appreciate it. And you kind of see how it does bring people together." This statement reflects how his connection to food developed organically over time, emphasizing the role of food in fostering communal bonds.

Connection to Food and Culture

Summary: Donnie's dedication to his Vietnamese heritage is reflected in his fusion approach at The Bao Spot, making traditional flavors accessible and appealing to a wider audience.

Donnie Huesing: "I wanted to stick to my heritage because I'm Vietnamese. Baos pretty much come from the Vietnamese background, but we wanted to do a fusion of different things to make them appealing to everyone." This quote illustrates Donnie’s dedication to preserving his cultural heritage while also making it accessible and appealing to a broader audience.

Donnie Huesing: "My mom loved to cook so she's always cooking for you know, anybody or everybody. So from there, I knew that food is the thing, right?" This emphasizes how his mother's culinary skills and passion influenced his approach to food and culture.

Community Building

Summary: The Bao Spot serves as a community hub, bringing people together through food, events, and social media engagement, fostering strong connections with patrons.

Donnie Huesing: "Meeting a lot of good people, getting to know the mayor of Orlando, he did our ribbon cutting one day. And that was great publicity, meeting all the foodies that come in, taking the videos and being able to, you know, serve them and seeing their videos on Instagram and TikTok." This highlights the role of The Bao Spot as a community hub where people connect over food and share their experiences.

Donnie Huesing: "You want to bring people in you always have food, it's just everybody loves to eat. Everybody likes to try different things. And we try to accommodate that try to, you know, make a lot of different things and, and just to bring in I mean, yeah, so we're out there just sometimes giving out free baos, just people like also so Graham, I tell you, I'm gonna come back, or I'm gonna tell my friends about y'all." This illustrates how food can attract and engage community members, fostering connections and repeat visits.

Importance of Food in Personal Identity

Summary: Donnie's personal identity is deeply connected to his diverse food experiences and the memories associated with family meals.

Donnie Huesing: "We had all kinds of food. So and we were blessed to be able to go out eat a lot and things like that. But my mom did when it came to authentic Vietnamese, she would cook every week. Some type of food. So I got that but we also went out to eat a lot so I got to see a lot of different foods." This highlights how Donnie's personal identity and culinary style have been shaped by his diverse food experiences growing up.

Donnie Huesing: "Food is memories. It’s like when I go to my mom’s for dinner. I was at my mom’s house last night for dinner, and she made chicken cutlets. To me, that’s memories, growing up. Food is memories." This captures the essence of how food is deeply intertwined with personal and familial memories, forming a crucial part of one's identity.

Food as a Means of Connection

Summary: The Bao Spot uses food to create a welcoming environment that fosters community and inclusivity, bringing people together from diverse backgrounds.

Donnie Huesing: "It also brings a good gathering of people and friends and things like that. I always have my friends out there, we just, you know, I serve them get to eat and we just have a good time. And just, it just brings people together as everybody loves to eat in lots of different things." This emphasizes how food acts as a universal connector, bringing people together across different backgrounds.

Donnie Huesing: "By creating a welcoming environment and engaging with the community, The Bao Spot has become more than just a place to eat; it has become a gathering place for the community." This highlights how food establishments can act as bridges, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.

Why The Savory Stories Project?

Real Stories from Real People. The Savory Stories Project is dedicated to documenting the rich and diverse cultural groups in Central Florida to forge cohesion, educate communities, and preserve intangible heritage. These oral histories contextualize the shared but different struggles, triumphs, and journeys of our community members through food.

Connecting Communities Through Food