How Sarah Ahn Built a TikTok Empire From Her Mom’s Korean Kitchen
Apr 1, 2025
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Sarah Ahn, a cookbook author and popular content creator behind 'Ahnest Kitchen', shares her family's inspiring journey from Korean War survival to TikTok fame. She discusses the emotional significance of '손 맛' (hand taste) in Korean cooking and reveals her mother's thoughts on their newfound social media stardom. Sarah dives into the challenges of preserving culinary heritage, the joy of family cooking, and the secrets to perfect dishes like kimchi and fried chicken. Her heartfelt reflections bring warmth and nostalgia to the kitchen.
Sarah Ahn emphasizes the importance of 손 맛, or 'hand taste,' depicting how love and skill in cooking create a unique flavor experience.
The impact of social media transformed Sarah's culinary career, allowing her to share authentic Korean cooking and family traditions with a global audience.
Deep dives
The Concept of 손 맛 and Its Significance
The Korean term 손 맛, translating to 'hand taste,' emphasizes the love and skill imbued in home cooking. In the episode, the guest describes how 손 맛 embodies the essence of traditional cooking, suggesting that food made with care and attention carries a unique flavor that is felt and appreciated by those who enjoy it. This notion reflects the broader theme of how family traditions and memories are interwoven with the experience of food, particularly in the context of Korean cuisine. As listeners explore this concept, they are invited to consider how their own cooking might also carry flavors shaped by love and family history.
A Journey Through Family and Cultural Heritage
The guest shares her experiences growing up in a Korean American household, recounting memories of her kitchen as a significant space for family bonding and cultural preservation. Her learning to cook alongside her mother highlights the passing down of recipes and techniques, rich with family history and personal narratives. The guest’s newly released cookbook, Ummah, serves as both a collection of recipes and a memoir, capturing the essence of her family’s journey and the challenges they faced, particularly during the Korean War. This blend of personal and cultural stories helps listeners connect with the food on a deeper level, understanding its history and significance.
The Role of Social Media in Culinary Storytelling
The guest discusses how social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram, have transformed her culinary career, allowing her to share her family's cooking with a wide audience. Her videos, showcasing her mother's cooking and cultural traditions, resonate with viewers who appreciate the authenticity of everyday life rather than extravagant cooking setups. Despite her mother’s initial confusion about the popularity of their content, the growing audience reflects a collective longing for relatable and genuine experiences in the kitchen. This exploration raises questions about the role of social media in shaping modern culinary traditions and connecting across cultures.
The Heart of Korean Cuisine: Tradition and Innovation
In the episode, the importance of traditional cooking techniques is highlighted, including the meticulous preparation of staple dishes like kimchi and kimbap. The guest describes how these foods are not only vital to Korean culture but also carry memories of hardship and resilience from past generations. As they navigate contemporary culinary landscapes, they emphasize that while recipes may evolve, the love and care behind the cooking—embodied in the concept of 손 맛—remain constant. This blend of tradition and personal storytelling enriches the listener's understanding of Korean cuisine's depth and the emotional connections it fosters.
Cookbook author and content creator Sarah Ahn—best known for “Ahnest Kitchen” on Instagram and TikTok—takes us inside her mama’s kitchen, a place you’ve likely seen on your feed! She shares her family’s incredible story of surviving the Korean War, the secret to perfect Korean fried chicken, and how her 66-year-old mother feels about her unexpected rise to social media stardom.
Your Mama’s Kitchen is a production of Higher Ground.
Produced by Sonia Htoon.
Associate Producers are Camila Thur de Koos and Jenna Levin.
Sound design and engineering from Andrew Eapen, Ryan Kozlowski and Roy Baum.
Executive producers for Higher Ground are Mukta Mohan, Dan Fierman and Michele Norris.
The show’s closing song is 504 by The Soul Rebels.
Editorial and web support from Melissa Bear and Say What Media. Talent booker is Angela Peluso.
Copyright 2024 by Higher Ground Audio, LLC / Sound Recording copyright 2024 by Higher Ground Audio, LLC.