When asked about kitchen regrets, influencer chef Jon Kung points to a peculiar choice from his younger days. ‘In my early twenties, I bought this used SMEG fridge,’ the 42-year-old Chinese American TikTok creator tells me. It’s adorned with British flags and Sex Pistols stickers, transforming it into a quirky centrepiece at home.

Every holiday season, Kung hosts a seven-course spread that maps their upbringing across Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Detroit, offering dishes like mapo tofu, pumpkin and lotus root curry, and Cantonese roast duck. This layered, third-culture palate has made them one of the most compelling food personalities in their generation, with over 2 million online followers.

Kung’s favorite cooking techniques and kitchen gear include washing rice thoroughly, switching between a drip coffee and an Americano, avoiding combination pans, using AGA Total Control for induction stovetops, getting knives sharpened by professionals, and emphasizing meal-prep essentials. ‘No toxic fumes, no residual heat – it's easier to clean,’ Kung says about their preferred stove.

Good food should feel like home, Kung believes. It’s a sentiment echoed in their advice: invest in affordable but quality knives, use the right pan for each task, and always wash your rice.