David Chang headlines USC Annenberg’s 2023 commencement ceremony

David Chang headlines USC Annenberg’s 2023 commencement ceremony
David Chang - Asian male in blue collard shirt smiles for camera

Founder of culinary brand Momofuku and entertainment company Majordomo Media, David Chang is one of the most influential chefs of his generation. (Photo by Andrew Bezek)

Food, culture and media innovator David Chang will deliver the keynote address at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s 2023 commencement ceremony on May 12. 

As founder of culinary brand Momofuku, Chang is considered one of the most influential chefs of his generation. His restaurants, beginning with Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City, have reinvented the casual dining experience around the globe. Challenging conventional expectations and cultural norms, Chang pushes the boundaries of taste infusing his dishes with an edgy take on Modern Asian cuisine. 

Chang is also a pioneer in original culinary storytelling. Co-founding Majordomo Media, he has produced and hosted groundbreaking documentaries, including Netflix’s “Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner” and “Ugly Delicious,” which focuses on foods and the cultures, or mixes of cultures, that produce them. In his latest series, “The Next Thing You Eat” on Hulu, Chang explores how the food industry is addressing issues of climate change, health and food scarcity. His hit Spotify podcasts, The Dave Chang Show and Recipe Club, as well as his New York Times-bestselling cookbooks Momofuku and Cooking At Home, and memoir Eat a Peach, round out his food media empire.

“With his remarkable ability to communicate across mediums and industries, David expands our world view through a fascinating exploration of food and culture,” said Willow Bay, dean of USC Annenberg. “While leveraging the power of storytelling, he has become a trailblazing force for connecting new ideas and traditions in kitchens and the cultures they represent. I know our graduates will be inspired by David’s unique wisdom and perspective.”

Chang has been named one of “the most influential people of the 21st century” by Esquire, has received six James Beard Awards, and has been recognized as GQ’s Man of the Year and a Time 100 honoree. His New York restaurant Ko has held two Michelin stars since 2009. The first celebrity on ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to win $1 million, Chang donated the prize to Southern Smoke, a charity providing relief to hospitality workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The son of Korean immigrants, Chang was raised in suburban Washington, D.C., before earning his undergraduate degree in religious studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Following a brief stint in finance after graduating, he enrolled in the International Culinary Center’s Classic Culinary Arts program. After spending time with legendary chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Tom Colicchio and Daniel Boulud, Chang combined a classic European culinary training with studying the art of soba making in Japan, creating his own dishes for Noodle Bar, which he opened in 2004.

USC Annenberg’s past speakers have included global media leader Oprah Winfrey; media innovator and entrepreneur Maverick Carter; ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott ’15; former First Lady of California and journalist Maria Shriver; television pioneer Norman Lear; Chairman and CEO of BET Networks Debra L. Lee; and anchor for Univision and Fusion Jorge Ramos. 

The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism will honor more than 1,000 candidates for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations. USC Annenberg’s commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on McCarthy Quad following the main USC commencement ceremony, which starts at 8:30 a.m. in Alumni Park. 

Chef David Rose shares last minute holiday cooking tips that keep the stress out of the kitchen

Chef David Rose shares last minute holiday cooking tips that keep the stress out of the kitchen

From the seasoned chef to the newbie cook dinner, vacation cooking suggestions can make people moments in the kitchen area a lot less stress filled. Even if the holiday food stuff television displays make that photo excellent desk appear effortless, the reality may possibly feel diverse in the property kitchen area. Fortunately, Chef David Rose, from Omaha Steaks, has some final-minute holiday getaway cooking assistance that is the ultimate food stuff present this calendar year.

From the holiday break occasion to a particular event to even just Sunday relatives dinners, Omaha Steaks is a mainstay in lots of people’s homes. Though every person appreciates the flavor and price that the food items brand name presents, it is typically the comfort of owning that evening meal prepared and ready that will make men and women change to the brand around and around once more.

With the massive celebration approaching, FoodSided asked Chef David Rose for some previous-moment holiday break cooking tips to guarantee that the every thing goes smoothly. When the celebrated chef appreciates his way all-around the kitchen area, there was one particular idea that guarantees almost everything goes smoothly. It really arrives down to setting up.

Chef Rose claimed, “planning ahead of time is vital. Prep as a great deal as you can the day ahead of. Regardless of whether it is that macaroni and cheese, yet another aspect dish or even dessert, that preparing is important.”

While the qualified chef appreciates mise en spot, every little thing in its area, the actuality is that this idea is one thing a house prepare dinner can easily adopt. As Chef Rose stated, “when you’re thoroughly clean, structured, centered, everything is extra productive. You’re not jogging close to like a rooster with its head minimize off.”

Introducing onto that thought, Chef Rose mentioned that dwelling cooks really should not be afraid to get a tiny support. Incorporating a couple retail store purchased or pre-made items to the meal can be a enormous worry reducer. Irrespective of whether it is an Omaha Steaks dessert, like the apple tarts, or a easy aspect dish like people hashbrowns, it can enable the residence cook to emphasis on the more substantial part of the food.

Chef David Rose shares the solution to trying to keep a protein juicy and flavorful.

As quite a few cooks make the closing preparing for that getaway feast, Chef David Rose shared a magic formula that can help ensure a much more flavorful food. Because Omaha Steaks arrive frozen, it is essential to thaw that meals appropriately. Even if the time is brief, the appropriate method is imperative.

In accordance to Chef Rose, it is very best to thaw elements in the fridge. This system “allows the protein to keep much more of its pure juices and all these juices usually means that there is flavor.” The thought is identical to why it is essential for meat to rest prior to cutting it. No one particular needs the flavor to operate out on the cutting board. The proteins should not absence taste prior to it hits the pan.

But, every person has had that “forgotten” minute when it is virtually time to prepare dinner and the protein is however frozen. Chef Rose suggests to slowly thaw the meat (sealed in the packaging) in water. The course of action is faster than the refrigerator system, but it need to be finished with care. Under no circumstances submerge a product or service in tremendous sizzling water. General, plan is to maintain things as light as possible.

The most critical tips that Chef Rose wishes everybody to don’t forget is to steer clear of thawing proteins on the kitchen area counter. This system will not generate the ideal results.

Even now, some cooks may possibly be involved that the “oops” second could derail the getaway food. Even though cooks respect that the “pivot” is 2nd character in the kitchen area, the property prepare dinner requires to respect that every thing will get the job done out. Even if an item is still frozen, the roast gets too “roasted” or something else, there are a lot of other Omaha Steaks goods that can substituted in a pinch. It is the delicious purpose why they really should be a staple in the freezer.

The best present that cooks can give to themselves is to embrace the miscalculation. Perfection is not as tasty as the spirited discussion about the desk. The good thing is, individuals moments are constantly entire of flavor.