Popular foodie magazine Bon Appétit is being criticized for a recent video and accompanying article discussing “how to eat” pho.
The two-minute video – now taken down by the publication, but circulating online nonetheless – features the Philadelphia-based chef, Tyler Akin of Stock, discussing his way of eating pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup. The companion article is titled “PSA: This Is How You Should be Eating Pho.”
The video includes tips for flavor, garnishes and a technique to efficiently grab your noodles. Akin said he never claimed to be an expert on pho, and that the video was merely his way of preparing it. “I was baited into this ‘opinion’ segment during a little Q&A at the end of the visit when in reality the supposed purpose of the filming was to show how I make pho,” Akin explained on Facebook. “And I stressed repeatedly that I’m one guy in a million making this dish.”
Still, Akin’s video did not sit well with members of the Asian community, who took to social media to comment.
Really @bonappetit really? You have a white chef tell Vietnamese people how to eat their #Pho? SMH #fail https://t.co/ChvarCLGUg
— Manda Bear (@1MandaBear) September 8, 2016
Chef mansplaining how to eat pho. Cause my peeps have been eating this #SoWrongForSoLong! SMH @bonappetit!https://t.co/ZD0AfjwHgX
— Souris Hong (@souris) September 8, 2016
In “honor” of the @bonappetit #columbusing debacle, I had #pho for lunch and ate it however I damn well wanted to. pic.twitter.com/QOhiZehRtD
— Bruce Reyes-Chow (@breyeschow) September 9, 2016
Also note: not an actual apology. Just a “we’ll do better next time.” @bonappetit #pho
— Euna Park (@eunapark) September 8, 2016
Another commented on Facebook: “So I guess we Asian people had been eating wrong the wrong way for generation(s).”
Bon Appétit has since apologized for the soupy debacle. “What I do know from these past few days and through your feedback and comments is that we made a mistake – and we intend to learn from it,” wrote Adam Rapoport, Bon Appétit editor-in-chief. “Expect better from us in the future.”
