Ep. 293 | David Tran
In this 293rd CHP episode, we feature the Sriracha Chili Sauce King, David Tran. His life is a great immigrant success story and an inspiration to many aspiring immigrants and entrepreneurs. It's not often that a living person is featured on the CHP. David Tran's ancestors came from the Chaozhou region of China and emigrated to Vietnam in the 19th century.
After a traumatic turn of events that forced him to flee his country, he ended up on the US west coast. There he went on to build his dream and ultimately become another great American immigrant success story. His culinary creation, Sriracha chili sauce, and his company, Huy Fong Foods, became a huge sensation in the US and later, all over the world.
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Terms in Episode
| 1907-2014 | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Xí Jìnpíng | 习近平 | General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of China |
| Run Run Shaw | 邵逸夫 | 1907 - 2014, Hong Kong entertainment tycoon and philanthropist |
| Li Ka-shing | 李嘉诚 | Business Tycoon and philanthropist |
| Cháozhōu | 潮州 | City in southeastern Guangdong near the Fujian border, called Teochew in the local language |
| Lim Por-yan | 林百欣 | 1914-2005, Hong Kong industrialist and founder of Lai Sun Development |
| Vincent Lo | 刘銮雄 | Hong Kong industrialist and boss of the Shui On Group |
| Chin Sophonpanich | 陈弼臣 | 1910-1988, Thai-Chinese entrepreneur and founder of Bangkok Bank and Bangkok Insurance |
| Dhanin Chearavanont | 谢国民 | Senior Chairman of the CP Group, founded bu his father Ek Chor |
| Leow Chia Heng | 廖正兴 | 1874-1931, Co-founder of the Sze Hai Tong Banking & Insurance Company Limited, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Singapore Po Leung Kuk |
| Trần Họ | 陈德 | David Tran |
| Wǔhú | 五胡 | The Five Northern Barbarian tribes of Xiōngnú 匈奴, Xiānbēi 鲜卑, Dī 氐, Qiāng 羌 and Jié 羯 |
| Míng Dynasty | 明朝 | Chinese imperial dynasty that lasted 1368-1644 |
| Emperor Yǒnglè | 永乐帝 | Ming Emperor who reigned 1402-1424. Son of the Ming founder Zhu Yuanzhang |
| Huá | 华 | Abbreviation for China or Chinese |
| Chợ Lớn District | 堤岸 | The Chinatown of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) |
| huājiāo | 花椒 | The Sichuan peppercorn |
| málà | 麻辣 | numbing and spicy, one of the many flavors of China |
| Làjiāō | 辣椒 | A chili pepper |
| Zhōngguó Nóngshí | 中国农食 | A Chinese agricultural journal |
| Liáoníng | 辽宁 | Province in northeast China |
| Huy Fong Foods | 匯豐食品 | The name of David Tran's company |
| Sriraja Panich | The top chili sauce in Thailand | |
| tương ớt | 辣椒酱 | Chili sauce (in Vietnamese) |
| Lee Kum Kee | 李錦記 | Founded in 1888, makers of Chinese sauces of all kinds. Most famous for their Oyster Flavored Sauce. Almost as ubiquitous as the Sriracha sauce from Huy Fong Foods |
| Zhāngzhōu | 漳州 | City in southern Fujian |
| Hokkien | 福建 | Fujian or people from mostly southern Fujian |
| Hokchiu | 福州 | Fuzhou and people who came from this northern Fujian region |
| Hakka | 客家 | People from one of the five major linguistic groups of southern China who are found around the world |
| nước mắm | 鱼露 | Fish Sauce |
| chả giò | 春卷 | Fried Spring Rolls, eaten Vietnamese style, wrapped in lettuce |
Resources
Books/Articles
How I Fled Communism and Built a Super Successful Company by Alexandra Starr for Inc. Magazine
The Story of Sriracha Is the Story of America, by Brian Gray and Connie Lo, VICE Magazine
The Willy Wonka of Sriracha: Behind the Gates of David Tran's Factory by Adam Chandler, The Atlantic
Hot stuff on both sides of Pacific by Jessica Meyers, L.A. Times
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Although all kinds of tension brewed beneath the surface, the mid to late 19th Century saw a continued bonanza for Singapore.