Saeng Douagdara is a personal chef specializing in Lao cuisine who has become a content creator with over 800K followers and millions of views on social media. As a first-generation Lao American, food has always been central to Saeng’s life, especially the dishes his mother cooked for the family. His passion for food began in childhood, learning from his mother in the kitchen. Noticing a lack of representation for Lao food on mainstream media, Saeng uses his platform to advocate for Lao cuisine. Saeng’s work has been featured in Delish, Buzzfeed, the New York Times, and LA Times. He even won an episode of TBS's cooking show Rat In The Kitchen. Proud to be part of the #LaoFoodMovement, a grassroots effort to center and empower Lao cuisine, Saeng aims to inspire others to explore the delicious flavors of his culture. He is currently working on his much-anticipated first Lao cookbook, set to be released in 2026.

Meet Chef Saeng at two Laos In The House hosted events:

• Friday 10/4 Happy Hour Meet & Greet 6-8:30PM (CultureWorks 1315 Walnut Street Suite 300)

  • Enjoy Lao-inspired cocktails and snacks

  • Get 1-1 time with Saeng for photos and autographs

  • Buy Saeng’s Lao Spices & LITH merch, or win them via raffle!

• Saturday 10/5 Cooking Demo & Culinary Talk 3-5:30PM
  (BOK Building 1901 S. 9th Street Room 316)

  • Watch and learn how Saeng makes both sweet and savory versions of khanom nap (coconut stuffed sticky rice dumplings), along with a tasting of premade jeow bong

  • Join a culinary discussion about Saeng’s upcoming cookbook and how Lao food intersects with culture, politics and health, plus a Q&A with audience