Chris and Lou make THE BEST chili oils (seriously). I reached out to Lou earlier this year to learn about their products and about their story. The more Lou talked about their business, the more I was drawn to it. Also, how cute are they as a couple?! Continue reading to learn more about the Founders of Holy Duck Chili Oil!
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?
Hi! We are Chris and Lou. We are the creators of Holy Duck Chili Oil and the line of Asian culinary-trends-inspired condiments. We are based in Vancouver but from time to time, you will find us in other parts of BC, very likely on a cabin trip because we love being in nature and cooking at a cabin in the woods is next-level fun to us!
2. What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?
Asian Canadian being the country’s fastest growing racial group makes being one quite an experience. We find the diversity of Asian Canadians, in terms of their various languages, cultures, and histories is remarkable. In a group of Chinese, one may have come from rural China, another from cosmopolitan Hong Kong, a third from war-torn Vietnam, a fourth from Jamaica, and a fifth from Ohio—each with obviously distinct stories to share.
3. How do you incorporate Chinese food therapy/Chinese herbs into your daily routine?
Soups and teas are our favourite home remedies when we are not feeling 100%. On busier days we don’t have time for regular meals, we make a simple clear broth with root vegetables and lean meat to nourish our bodies. On days our digestive system is not well, we drink teas to soothe our stomach. Our bodies are very smart. We just have to feed them what they need at the right time.
4. As Asian culture tends to put focus on the importance of family, can you share the fondest memory you have with your family?
Our fondest memory with our family is always at the dining table. Eating with my family is always a romance of chaos, laughter, banter and jokes. At the end of the night, our stomach is always full of love and gastronomic delights. There is something magical about a round-table dinner- it symbolizes togetherness and completeness.
5. Where can people find you?
Let's spice things up Vancouver! Check out the hot stuff at our store: www.holyduckchili.shop. Watch our #CabinViva series on our insta @HolyDuckChili where we share with you all the fun stuff i.e. our favorite quick-fix recipes for home, cabin and camping. Come watch Chris fry up some chilis!