We're so excited to announce the first special guest of #BLESSED: Chef Donny Srisavath, the talented culinary mind behind Khao Noodle Shop and Darkoo's restaurant in East Dallas. Driven by his passion for Laotian cuisine and Texas culture, Chef Donny often creates each of his dishes with a unique story, drawing inspiration from his upbringing, his surrounding community, and the women in his family who have influenced his cooking style, especially his mom whose cooking was a constant source of inspiration. 

After opening Khao Noodle Shop in December 2018, he's received numerous accolades which include being named Second-Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Appetit in 2020, Food and Wine's Top 10 Best New Chefs of 2020 and James Beard Award Semi-Finalist in 2020. The pandemic forced Donny to close Khao Noodle Shop, which they quickly transformed into Darkoo's Chicken Shack offering a variety of Asian fried chicken dishes, including Lao-style fried chicken. Unfortunately, Darkoo's was also forced to close due to landlord-tenant conflict.

Undeterred, Chef Donny is currently working on hosting more pop-up events across the state to continue sharing his passion for cooking and bringing people together. For Chef Donny, food is more than just sustenance; it is a language that he uses to express his joy for cooking and to bridge the gap between cultures. His mission is to create dishes that evoke the memories and flavors of his upbringing, while also celebrating the diversity and richness of the Lao Texan Asian American experience.