Known as "Basil Babe," the mother-and-daughter duo work together making Asian dumplings selling and serving them at pop-up events around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Lisa Barry speaks with the daughter, Thai Inhmathong, about how the business got started and what she envisions happening in the future.
Haluthai Inhmathong and her mother Vasanna Inhmathong, who used to own Siam Square in Ann Arbor, describe themselves as the "dumpling duo," striving to bring our community closer together, one meal at a time.
Thai grew up in the restaurant her mother owned and learned to cook along the way. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in advertising but began making Asian dumplings during the pandemic and filled her freezer with her many attempts at getting them the way she wanted them to be. So, she decided to start selling them.
Their dumplings are available at pop-ups at Cultivate in Ypsilantion Wednesday evenings, and there will be one this coming Mother's Day, May 9th, 2021 at York in Ann Arbor from 5:00 until 8:00pm.
They are hoping to one day have a brick-and-mortar location but will continue to be at various Washtenaw County locations until then.
You can learn more about Basil Babe at its website, and you can follow it on Facebook and Instagram.
**Special thanks to Paul Keller for providing the Art & Soul theme music.**
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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu