This A-Profiler we bring you Doreen Fang, one of the finalists on the Food Network's The Next Food Network Star season 6. Find out how she became a finalist on The Next Food Network Star, how pole dancing may have helped her stand out from the others auditioning, her thoughts on food trucks in Los Angeles, and what famous cute character she has on her bowling ball.

Your site URL:
www.diningwithdoreen.com

You were one of the finalists on the Food Network's The Next Food Network Star, how did you become a finalist and what was the road like to become a finalist?
Last year, I was still living in Las Vegas and I happened to be on a flight with my friend Alison. We were going to Seattle for the day to spend the day eating at Pike Place Market and returning the same night. While Alison was sleeping, it just hit me that I wanted to take this passion for travelling, eating and hanging out with friends and create my own show. At the time I was also taking pole dancing classes for exercise and I really wanted to do a show were I visited different pole dancing studios around the world and combine that with visiting restaurants too.

I decided it was time for me to move back to California and so I could pursue this idea of creating my own television food show. I know, the pole dancing thing was a bit hard for people to wrap their heads around, but I really wanted women out there know what great exercise it was.

Sometime in July, my business partner and best friend Anna Johnson called me one afternoon and asked me what I was doing on Aug 10, and I had some plans, but she told me to change it, because The Next Food Network Star was having open casting calls in L.A.. I had my good friend Liza take a couple of head shots for me, I took some of my favorite shots of some difficult moves on the pole and I brought them to the casting call with me. There were hundreds of people waiting for the turn, so while I waited with Liza, we had lunch and just hung out. Finally it was my turn, I went out, showed them my pictures, talked a bit and they immediately said we want you to come back!

The call back then required me to make a dish for a 3 minute demo and I had a long interview process, as well as a test to show my basic knowledge of food. That again, went really well.

Finally, I got the call back to go to New York in Sept, September 17th to be exact. And I flew to NY in the beginning of October, had a ton of interviews, got to do my own live kitchen demo...which was like an iron chef kind of thing, where they gave me a 3 or 4 items that I had to use and made a dish with them...while telling stories. It was really nice because everyone thought I was funny and just a natural in front of the camera.

Then the waiting, the call finally came on Nov 5th I believe, I was actually in Arizona, visiting my friend Anna's nana's grave, bringing her flowers, and there was a number I didn't recognize and I picked it up it was the Food Network! I got it! I laughed a lot because I was really excited! I just laugh a lot in general but it was just kind of surreal. The most amazing part of this whole process to me was that, at one point in my life, I decided that I wanted to pursue this goal to get into television and literally 11 months later, it was going to happen. I don't take this opportunity for granted in anyway. I know many people work so hard and I felt and still feel incredibly blessed for this chance to make my dreams and passions come true.

Do you think the pole dancing photos helped you stand out?
For sure! I brought them because I knew it was something unique and it was also something that I am very proud of doing. I love the artistry and strength that it takes to do that.

The obvious question is how you actually discovered pole dancing as a fitness vehicle?
Let me preface this by saying, I do not like working out at the gym because I find it to be very boring. So back in the early 2000's while I was living in L.A. and I was my mom's caregiver, I was really interested in taking classes because I thought it would be a lot of fun. At the time a couple of my other girl friends and I talked about a variety of classes to take, belly dancing being one of them also. Anyhow, when we looked into classes the only one I could find was in the Valley, S Factor, and it was really expensive and just too far for me to drive. Plus it was more about sensual dance and you had to wear the stilettos and super short shorts etc., and that wasn't my main reason for taking the classes. So I just kind of put it on the back burner. Finally, when I moved out to Vegas I thought PERFECT! There should be tons of classes available! haha Again, I searched, but I still couldn't find any! (i'm the worst when it comes to researching online!) Finally one day, there was a segment on the news featuring this lady named Fawnia who was teaching pole dancing for fitness at a Pilates studio out in Henderson and I immediately called her up after the segment was over and told her I wanted to join and that's where it all started! Fawnia Dietrich was my first teacher and she later on opened her own studio, Pole Fitness Studio. As time went on, I had other teachers, Tracy Gray-Reese, Christine Boyer from Aradia Fitness (who had merged with Pole Fitness Studio for a time being) and my last teacher was Jenyne Butterfly, who was the US Champion in 2009 I believe and also silver medalist in the World Pole Competition.

You could have actually named your blog "Dining and Dancing with Doreen!"
Haha yes! I must mention one other very special person, my friend Jenny Bascos. When I started getting back into pole dancing after some time off, I would see this girl there all the time and she was so amazing on the pole (she is a ballerina and yogi) so you can imagine the insane amount of flexibility. Anyhow, she really inspired me even more so to work harder and get stronger and do more difficult moves. Then from there, we started taking classes from Jenyne which then started this interest for the silks and hoop. Aerial apparatuses. I spent more time on the hoop, but I absolutely loved doing that so much! If there is anything I can share with other women out there, it's don't be afraid to try something new, it is so empowering and for me, it's the challenge of doing something new and doing it well. It's kind of like how playing pool was to me. I like doing things that challenge me as an individual. I like to push myself to be the best I can be at anything I try to do.

That's inspiring! I almost want to take up pole dancing myself!
Thank you Nelson!! You totally should take it up! The have Chinese Pole, which is (so i've heard) really hard! I think in Vegas this is taught by a man by the name of Alvin Tam who was in Cirque before. I went to his handstand class, which was super fun and I've taken belly dancing from his wife Jaime Tam aka Jada Fire. They are just amazing artists who share their love for their craft with regular people like you and me. But going back to taking pole for men, it is not unusual at all, Cirque du Soleil would be a perfect example of men and women doing these different forms of art, which is in essence another way of working out. Except you enjoy it. At least I do. =)

Bringing this back to food (we could have a long discussion about pole dancing, I'm sure), is there a particular memory from your childhood that inspired your passion for food?
Haha...I think was the overall theme of my childhood. It was always about food, people and gatherings. Being in the kitchen with my mom, helping her cook all the time whether it was for dinner for the family or the many parties we had at our house. Potluck for church or at a friends house. Food was always the center of everything and it brought so many family and friends together...all the time. I just love eating good food and at a very young age actually understood the importance of texture. I always needed something crunchy to go with my food! =)

What was the one dish that your mom made that you say is the best you've ever had?
The one that stands out the most is the potstickers. I'd eat like 30 of them every time she made them. I think my record was like 35 in one sitting.

Wow, 35?!? That's a lot of pole dancing to work that off!
Haha!! I have a pretty big belly! I can eat a lot!

You should try out for those hot dog eating contests against that famous Japanese guy.
Hahaha! I've thought about it but I'm not a true competitive eater! I tried eating that Pho Challenge in San Francisco and after awhile the flavors just become monotonous. But I do love eating hot dogs!! Perhaps I should give it a go! =)

I've toyed with the idea of trying that Pho challenge too but don't think I could even eat 1/4 of it. That's just too much. I think I saw a picture of you with the bowl. That was huge!
Hahaha ...Nelson, I'm sure you could do some damage! I wasn't even hungry and I still ate about 1/3 of the bowl. Yes! That bowl was massive!! Near the end I was resting my arms on it like it was the porcelain god. haha It was a lot of fun though.

How about those food trucks that seem so prevalent around Los Angeles? Are you into them? Which are your favorites?
It's funny, years ago, my business partner Anna and I had talked about doing a food truck, but since we were out in Vegas, decided not to. I think it's great that so many entrepreneurs are able to get their products out there without a lot of overhead costs of a brick and mortar restaurant. I actually did follow them around a few times to see what all the hype was about and of course to see if the food was worth all the time spent waiting in line. My first experience was over at the American in Glendale, it was the Street Fest, I think. But the lines were so ridiculously long! It took an hour just to get Dim Sum, but the owner Alex Chu was very nice and by the time we got up there, a few of the times we wanted were sold out and he offered us some free sesame balls. The food was good and besides the wait I really can't say anything negative about it. It was difficult because we had kids with us and it was freezing, so the long lines were not very appealing at all. I went down the to the Brig off Abbot Kinney in Venice for First Friday, and let me just say, the parking situation is a nightmare! I drove around for an hour and my friend and I were going to give up, but other friends were meeting us there, so stuck it out. But again it was just insane. I'll wrap this up, over all the food is ok - there was nothing so amazing that it would make me ever want to wait for hours to eat it. If the lines are shorter I think it would be different. The Kogi truck was always sold out, so I haven't even had that yet! Overall, I think there are so many people jumping on this bandwagon to do a truck, and I do wish them a ton of success. I met Alex Chu again on another eating excursion and I just want to say what a great guy he was. (I'm not plugging his Dim Sum Truck for any other reason than to say that he was always very hospitable, and the last time we got there, they ran out of propane so we waited half an hour for them to return.)

Doing these trucks is not an easy life, and I just wish him and all the other food truck owners good luck and thanks for working so hard to feed so many people out there.

Oh, I still want to try the Grilled Cheese truck, but one day, I'm not in a rush.

Since much of your life revolves around food, what would you say is the food that you will go out of your way to avoid? What is the food you would go to all ends of the earth to savor? And what is the strangest, but delicious, thing you make for yourself that others might find weird?
My most detested food I would move mountains to avoid would be stinky tofu! I have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell and the stench of stinky tofu makes every hair in my nostrils curl up. Even thinking about it makes me cringe!

Wow, that's a tough one, I love so many things for a variety of reasons. I really have a thing for truffles, black and white. OMG, or cheese! You are making this very difficult for me Nelson!! Great Chinese comfort food! I can't be stuck with just one choice!! =(

And as for strangest, but delicious thing others may find weird...oh, tendons. I did a Chinese style braised beef and tendons, where the meat is just falling apart and the tendons are so soft and tender that when you eat it and the sauce and tendons pass your lips, it feels kind of sticky and candy like. I love pouring the sauce over rice! The sauce itself is a little gives you a bit of that "sticky" feel because the tendons have broken down so much. OMG...I can just imagine it! I love love love that! (For people who love tendon, even oxtail, you know what i'm talking about when I say "sticky" on your lips!)

Given your culinary experience and background, do you see yourself expanding more into the media with either a TV show or online tutorials? What things are you working on for the future?
I would love to expand this opportunity and have my own TV show. Dining with Doreen, which I am continuing to do online. I have my website, Diningwithdoreen.com and I am still shooting videos and writing posts about restaurants and the food. But I am not limited to just that as far as my career goes. My business partner and I are working on opening a restaurant, writing cookbooks, (all things we've discussed and have been working towards for years). All of this is kind of happening simultaneously, but my focus right now is to continue getting myself out there for and to have my own show.

We certainly could use more Asian Americans out there with cooking shows. They definitely seem to have become less visible in this day and age.
Yes, I would love to see more Asian Americans out there with their own cooking show! I am extremely proud to be Chinese American/Asian American, but Chinese food is not my area of expertise and though I cook tons of Asian food at home - my speciality is California Cuisine. For shows that have Asian Americans as the chef or host, I don't believe that the focus only has to be on Asian cuisines. I was born and raised in California, a serious melting pot of all types of cuisines and I love embracing all of it. Just because I am Asian, I don't feel like I should be boxed into one type of cuisine. Many chefs of varying ethnic backgrounds specialize in other cuisines, for example Rick Bayless, obviously not Mexican, but is amazing at cooking Mexican cuisine. I think that Asian Americans have just as much credibility to talk about any other cuisine that is out there! It is my belief that anyone who has a passion or interest in food can cook anything that they love. If we look at the kitchens of most restaurants(not all, but many), whether its Chinese, Japanese, French - tell me who you see cooking in the back. Look at the story of Anthony Bourdain's restaurant L'Halles, an entire staff that was not French.

I just get annoyed that because of my ethnic background people think I'm turning my cheek from my heritage, which is absolutely ridiculous and insulting. I love who I am, I just happen to love a variety of foods and cultures as well. I'd rather be someone who is open to others than stereo type and be narrow-minded as to not be able to look beyond the color of someone's skin.

I would love to be that person to open up this idea to them and to the nation. Each and every single one of us is American, we all just happen to have our own unique ethnic makeup. I think it is incredibly important for us to be able to embrace each other's unique ethnicities, and to stop stereotyping and pigeonholing people into staying within the confines of their background.

What does California Cuisine mean to you? It's such a loose term that is used out there. I often hear it described as as "fresh."
Ok, great! Haha...yes...Fresh would be one of the terms I'd use. California Cuisine does mean freshness and seasonality to me. It's using the best possible products at that time and creating dishes that enhance those flavors at its peak time.

Do you find it difficult to explain "California Cuisine" to people outside of California? I know some people who move out of California often miss the "fresh" produce that we have more abundantly available.
Haha...Well, first of all, we are incredibly fortunate to live in California where the fresh produce is so abundant! But I think more people are really getting into and understanding food that they get what it is. Overall most people know now because the term has been around for quite some time now.

Outside of food and pole dancing, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time to relax? Guilty pleasures?
I love spending time with my friends and family. Being able to hang out, eat and laugh - quality time. That's really important to me. I like to go back to Vegas and do absolutely nothing. I like to try and get out to Hawaii at least once a year and again, do nothing but eat, hang out at the beach, and relax. Sound boring?! My life is seriously non-stop sometimes and being able to catch up on rest or spending time with my friends or family make me really happy.

As for guilty pleasures...haha....who says any pleasures have to be guilty?! Hahaha I love eating ice cream. Does that count?!

Sure! What flavor?
I love chocolate first and foremost! But I also eat mint chocolate chip, mocha almond fudge, oreo cookies and cream, pistachio...so many to name! I just love ice cream! oh Rainbow Sherbert!

Do you eat one flavor of the rainbow sherbert first before the others?
No, I am unbiased and lick the whole thing to get all the flavors at once!

You also joined a bowling league? What's your average?
I love my bowling league!! We are on break so I really miss it! haha My average sucks. I think it's 122. hahah...I just enjoy bowling for the fun of it! My highest score though was a 175! Which I even won a magnet for! haha I have a Hello Kitty bowling ball.

Oh my, you are SOOOOOO Asian!
Haha! Hey! We grew up with Hello Kitty! I can't help it! I might get a Monkey ball next, one based on Tokidoki! =)

Or you could get one that looks like a Sesame Ball!
hahaha...true...but honestly, I don't like eating those...it hurts my belly! too greasy!

Finally, what would you like to say to the fans out there who discovered you on The Next Food Network Star?
First and foremost, Thank you for the overwhelming support! It really means so much to me, I can't truly express it in words because thank you doesn't seem strong enough. Secondly, keep watching me on DiningwithDoreen.com because you will continue to see my true personality shine and know that this is not the last you will see of me. I am truly passionate and driven about what I do and I am going to continue pursuing my goals and know that I will reach each one. All of their support and encouragement helps me know that I am on the right path. I wish each one of them all the very best in life, much love and happy eating!!

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to Doreen Fang.

Photos by Kevin Hszieh. Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).