Food is never merely food, it is a distillation of culture and history, a communication satellite through which love is given and received. That was what I felt every time I walked into Kitchen Cô Út, tucked along 85 Chrystie Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown – a small room that somehow carried the scent of my mother’s kitchen all the way from Vietnam. 

In October 2025, my husband Nick and I showed up to a beautiful community space in Manhattan's Chinatown with dice, character sheets, and a big dream. We were about to run our very first public tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) event. We had no track record, no past customers, and a concept that was genuinely hard to explain in one sentence.

What happened next set us on a path to making our dreams become reality. And in the process, helped us connect with other founders who are realizing their big dreams, too.

From coming to America for a fresh start to becoming the general manager of three Korean restaurants in the heart of Chinatown, Kelly's journey is a true testament to the power of passion and community. We got to sit down with her to hear the inside scoop: the story of a Korean immigrant who found her footing, her purpose, and her people.