The Power of Food | Vicki Young | TEDxUOA | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Vicki shares her journey of leaving law school to pursue her passion for baking and the power of food in storytelling.

Key Insights

• 👪 Vicki's culinary journey is heavily influenced by her market gardening family and sustainable cooking practices.
• 👨‍🏫 Leaving law school to enroll in pastry school allowed Vicki to find her true passion and craft a unique career path.
• 🙂 Food has the power to bring people together, educate, and shine a light on local producers and growers.
• 🍰 Vicki's approach to dessert focuses on recreating nostalgic childhood memories and surprising flavors.
• 😋 She combines her immigrant background with her culinary voice to tell personal stories through her food.
• 😒 Vicki values sustainability and aims to use every part of an ingredient to minimize waste.
• 😋 Storytelling through food can bridge cultural gaps and create connections among diverse communities.

Transcript

hi everyone don't open the bag yet all right wait wait I see if you already have put it back in the bag put it back in the bag okay well in front of each and every one of you there's a small paper bag now I want you to open it oh look at that music to my ears look at the beautiful ridges in front of you field of valleys imagine the stories these tr... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Vicki's upbringing influence her approach to food and cooking?

Vicki's market gardening family emphasized cooking with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, which instilled in her a deep appreciation for sustainability and the use of every last bit of food.

Q: What led Vicki to pursue a career in baking and dessert?

Vicki had a revelation while working multiple jobs and baking cakes, realizing her passion for baking and the power of desserts to create connections and evoke childhood memories.

Q: How does Vicki utilize storytelling in her culinary creations?

Vicki aims to transport diners back to nostalgic childhood moments through her desserts, such as recreating the iconic New Zealand ice cream, jelly tip. She combines flavors, textures, and local produce to tell stories through taste.

Q: How does Vicki merge her immigrant Chinese-New Zealander background with her culinary journey?

Vicki combines her cultural background with her culinary voice to create surprising flavor combinations. She shares stories of her parents' struggles and aspirations to provide a better life, intertwining her personal narrative with her cooking.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vicki grew up in a market gardening family, where cooking with local and sustainable ingredients was a way of life.

• After leaving law school, Vicki enrolled in pastry school and embarked on a culinary journey focused on dessert and nostalgic childhood memories.

• She combines her immigrant Chinese-New Zealander background with her culinary voice to create unique flavor profiles and bring communities together.