Skip to content
  • Monday, June 16, 2025
thebeerhousecafe

thebeerhousecafe

World's finest Food

  • Food & Cooking
  • Mexican Food
  • Organic Food
  • Healthy Food
  • Street Food
  • Fast Food
  • About Us
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
  • Home
  • Interview with Peter Chang: Where he’s cooking, his favorite dish & being a finalist for James Beard outstanding chef | Dining
Food & Cooking

Interview with Peter Chang: Where he’s cooking, his favorite dish & being a finalist for James Beard outstanding chef | Dining

April 25, 2022
Elizabeth W. Jernigan

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • People are also reading…
  • PHOTOS: Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang
  • Peter Chang

When Peter Chang opened his restaurant in Short Pump 10 years ago, the buzz was dizzying.

The China-born chef had cooked for dignitaries in China, developed a rabid fan following for his signature Sichuan cooking and was famously stalked by Calvin Trillin in his New Yorker piece “Where’s Chang?”

Since opening Peter Chang’s China Café in Short Pump, now located at 11408 W. Broad St., Chang has opened several more restaurants in the state from Virginia Beach to Fredericksburg, including a downtown Richmond location in Scott’s Addition at 2816 W. Broad St.

This spring, Chang was named a finalist for a James Beard award for outstanding chef, a high honor reserved for only five chefs in the country.

People are also reading…

  • Virginia ABC rolling out a new, ‘randomized’ way to purchase in-demand allocated bourbon
  • Williams: First, Montpelier reversed its power-sharing promise with descendants of the enslaved. Now, it’s retreating from its history of enslavement.
  • Trooper rescues baby after mother leads police on high-speed pursuit that ends in fiery crash in Powhatan
  • Va. Department of Education turns over info as ordered by judge in FOIA case
  • 5 students, 2 adults injured as Chesterfield school bus plunges down ravine
  • Henrico man indicted in $1.1 million federal fraud investigation
  • Teel: UVA officials hope $40 million pledge from former athlete ‘inspires others’
  • MLB announces multiple suspensions, fines in response to Flying Squirrels altercation
  • After another tumultuous week, is Dan Snyder any closer to losing the Washington Commanders?
  • Former defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton looks back on his time with Hokies, ahead to an NFL future
  • UPDATE: ‘A lifetime of healing’ ahead for family of VCU administrator as Henrico man gets three life sentences for her abduction, rape and murder
  • CarLotz founder and former CEO named to board of Richmond-based elder-care company
  • Police capture second escapee from state mental hospital
  • Former standout VCU player, assistant coach Chris Cheeks dies at 54
  • Sandston woman, 69, killed after car she was driving ran off I-64 in Henrico; child survives

The 59-year-old chef has been nominated for a James Beard award before, both as a nominee and twice as a semi-finalist for best chef in the Mid-Atlantic.







Peter Chang

Peter Chang has twice been nominated for a James Beard award, one of the top honors for chefs.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH


His daughter and business partner, Lydia Chang said, “He’s pretty shocked to be in the outstanding chef category. He’s honored and excited at the same time.”

Chang is known for his Sichuan-inspired entrées with hot and numbing spices such as crispy pork belly, hot pots and dry fried eggplant, to name a few.

“Chinese food rarely has been deigned worthy of awards and recognition by the powers-that-be in the food world. This is why Peter Chang, being the only Virginia chef nominated as a finalist for a James Beard this year, is such a big deal,” Richmond Times-Dispatch restaurant critic Justin Lo said.

“The brilliance of Peter Chang is that, without doing some sort of fusion thing, he captures the nuances of a specific regional style of Chinese cooking from the Sichuan province, while also translating the cuisine for a broader American audience. His food has integrity. It’s impactful. It’s thoughtful. And it really resonates,” Lo said.

Chang doesn’t speak English, but via his daughter Lydia who translated, he said that “the Sichuan taste profile is complex and well balanced with a combination of spice, sweet, soy and acid.”

The most common spices he cooks with are red pepper, Sichuan peppercorn and white pepper, he said.

Chang is still cooking every day at Q by Peter Chang in Bethesda, Md., close to his home in D.C. He also visits Mama Chang in Fairfax on a weekly basis, which celebrates the cooking of the Chang women including his mother, grandmother, wife and daughter Lydia.

As for his favorite dish at his restaurants, Chang said, “I love fish-steamed branzino with ginger and scallion or chopped fresh chili pepper. I could enjoy anytime of the day.”







Peter Chang

Ginger duck, left, Jumbo shrimp with pepper and garlic, right, and Dry-fried Broccoli at Peter Chang Scott’s Addition.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



When we visited Chang at his Scott’s Addition location, we were invited into the kitchen where we watched the celebrated chef cook spicy ginger duck with sliced ginger, celery, red bell pepper, garlic and cilantro in a giant wok over an open flame. Aromatic spices filled the air as a line of cooks gathered around him to watch.

As for what keeps him cooking in the kitchen, he said, “Keep doing what you love, follow your passion and stay curious.”

He also said he enjoys working with the next generation of chefs, like Simon Lam, a research chef at Peter Chang. “When we work together I show him how things are cooked classically. He then finds a way to replicate the dish using western cooking techniques,” Chang said.

He doesn’t cook in his Richmond restaurants much anymore, but said that “the local team has really outperformed themselves. They understand the standard, and are constantly improving the quality of food and service.”

Chang’s legendary story and rise to fame has inspired a whole new line of chefs.

“Growing up, I was always told not to go into the restaurant industry. There wasn’t much respect for Asian food in general,” said Vanna Hem, co-chef and co-owner of The Royal Pig, a buzzworthy Cambodian pop-up restaurant that has moved into more permanent digs in Hatch Local Food Hall at 400 Hull St.

“But looking at Peter Chang inspired me. It was like, ‘We can do this and make people think differently about our food in general,’” Hem said. “People think it’s cheap fast food. Peter Chang was the first who made it like an art. That’s been inspiring, just as a young Asian male, to have somebody to look up to and aspire to.”







Peter Chang

Peter Chang (foreground) and his staff cook for customers at his noted Scott’s Addition restaurant in Richmond. Chang was recently named a James Beard award finalist for outstanding chef, a high honor.



photos by Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH



Will Leung-Richardson, owner of Kudzu RVA food truck, also said that Peter Chang’s cooking opened his eyes to a whole new style of Sichuan cooking.

“Coming from a Cantonese background” — his grandparents owned the Moon Gate I restaurant in Chesterfield — “it was the first time Sichuan cooking stood out to me. It was like ‘Wow.’ His food inspired me to be more adventurous with my own cooking. His commitment to the traditions but utilizing innovations all his own, that was definitely inspiring.”

As for the James Beard award for outstanding chef, winners will be announced on June 13 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

“Thanks to Chef Chang, folks are finally coming to their senses and acknowledging that Chinese cuisine deserves to take its place alongside other cuisines that have long garnered such recognition,” Lo said.

PHOTOS: Peter Chang

Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Peter Chang is shown at his restaurant, Peter Chang Scott’s Addition, in Richmond, Va., on Monday, April 4, 2022.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Customers dine at Peter Chang Scott’s Addition restaurant, in Richmond, Va., on Monday, April 4, 2022.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Peter Chang (foreground) and his staff cook for customers at his noted Scott’s Addition restaurant in Richmond. Chang was recently named a James Beard award finalist for outstanding chef, a high honor.



photos by Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Dry-fried broccoli



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Jumbo shrimp seasoned with pepper and garlic



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Ginger duck



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Ginger duck, left, Jumbo shrimp with pepper and garlic, right, and Dry-fried Broccoli at Peter Chang Scott’s Addition.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Peter Chang has twice been nominated for a James Beard award, one of the top honors for chefs.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH


Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Exterior of Peter Chang Scott’s Addition, in Richmond, Va.



Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC



Peter Chang





Peter Chang

Peter Chang stands in his restaurant, Peter Chang Scott’s Addition. His legendary rise has inspired a whole new line of chefs.






[email protected](804) 649-6151

Twitter: @collcurran

Tags: A Food Affair, A Food Chain, A Food Italy Is Famous For, A Food Web, A Foodborne Illness Is A Disease That, A Foodborne Illness Is A Disease Transmitted, A Foodborne Illness Outbreak Occurs When, A Foods, B Food Dishes, B Food Grade, B Food Items, B Food Logo, B Food Names, B Food Near Me, B Food Rating, B Food Science Co. Ltd, C Food Crush, C Food Names, C Food Rapper, C Food Shack, Food Addiction, Food Allergy, Food Allergy Symptoms, Food Allergy Testing, Food And Drug Administration, Food And Wine, Food Around Me, Food Aversion, Food Bank, Food Bank Of The Rockies, Food Banks Near Me, Food Baskets, Food Bazaar, Food Chain, Food Chain Definition, Food City, Food City Ad, Food City Near Me, Food City Weekly Ad, Food Coloring, Food Court, Food Delivery Near Me, Food Lion, Food Lion Near Me, Food Near Me, Food Near Me Open, Food Network, Food Open Near Me, Food Poisoning, Food Stamps

Post navigation

Fast Food Chains Are Being Sued Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Their Packaging
Food Thickeners Market Exhibit The Highest CAGR Of 5.9% by 2027 | Market Research Future
June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    
  • May 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • July 2020
  • March 2020
  • Fast Food
  • Food & Cooking
  • Healthy Food
  • Mexican Food
  • Organic Food
  • Street Food
  • Delightful Mocktails: Celebrating Sobriety with Flavor
  • How to Plan a Corporate Catering Menu on a Budget
  • Scoring Big on Flavor: Exploring the Best Pizza Specials and Game Day Deals
  • How Regenerative Farming Differs From Organic Farming: Key Comparisons
  • Ruby Jewelry for the Bohemian Woman: Free-Spirited and Boho

Fiverr

Fiverr Logo

bl

BP

backlinkplacement.com

You may Missed

Fast Food

Delightful Mocktails: Celebrating Sobriety with Flavor

May 27, 2025
Elizabeth W. Jernigan
Fast Food

How to Plan a Corporate Catering Menu on a Budget

March 27, 2025
Elizabeth W. Jernigan
Fast Food

Scoring Big on Flavor: Exploring the Best Pizza Specials and Game Day Deals

February 26, 2025
Elizabeth W. Jernigan
Fast Food

How Regenerative Farming Differs From Organic Farming: Key Comparisons

January 28, 2025
Elizabeth W. Jernigan
Copyright © 2025 thebeerhousecafe
Theme by: Theme Horse
Proudly Powered by: WordPress

WhatsApp us