Episode 16

Chef Winnie Yee-Lakhani: how she’s creating a new style of BBQ by weaving in her Malaysian-Chinese roots (S8/Ep.16)

Published on: 18th January, 2023

Winnie Yee-Lakhani is a chef, mom, entrepreneur and the self-taught “Pit Madam” / founder of Smoke Queen Barbecue. She was a finalist on Food Network's “BBQ Brawl” (Season 3) and was featured on the “Kelly Clarkson Show.” In this episode, we learn how Winnie weaves in the flavors of her Malaysian-born Chinese childhood with traditional American smoking techniques to create a unique style of barbecue. We discuss her thoughts on stepping into a mostly male dominant field, how she balances owning multiple businesses while being a mom of two kids, and what inspired her to create a restaurant during the pandemic. Winnie is a proud supporter of Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), an organization that has been dedicated to enhancing the health, social, and economic well-being of the under-served populations in Orange County, CA. Enjoy this episode as we go Beyond the Plate… with Chef Winnie Yee-Lakhani.

This episode is brought to you by Fords Gin.

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About the Podcast

Beyond the Plate
Social Impact in the Culinary World
Join Andrew “Kappy” Kaplan as he sits down in-person with the world’s culinary elite to explore their journey into the food industry and the social impact they have made in their community. Every episode will share inspiring stories of what it means to be in today’s hospitality industry.

About your host

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Andrew Kaplan