Chef Esther Choi (Food expert and owner of Mokbar)

8/18/2023

Chef Esther Choi

c/o Mokbar

Chelsea Market

75 9th Avenue

New York, NY  10011

Dear Chef Choi,

My name is Matt Winick, an Asian American from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I have a strong interest in learning history and culture. In these subjects, I like to learn the need for civil rights to reduce discrimination and learn how different cultures help make in impact on society.  Chef Choi,  the main reason I'm writing you a letter is to explain how I find your work as a chef/food expert on different video platforms (Youtube, social media, and Tik Tok) and some of your activism to be very inspiring to me.  

On your Tik Tok Choibites and on your YouTube channel Choibites,  I think that you do an excellent job on explaining different recipes, educating people about different foods including basic food safety, and many others. Also on your Tik Tok including your Youtube platform, I really like on how you use it to help educate people about Asian culture including Asian American culture, sharing on your experience as an Asian American navigating society, speak out against hate on people who are different or who have a disability, and address on how you are working hard to improve yourself.  Also to mention is I enjoy listening to your podcast Get Down With K-town because I like on how you talk about Korean American culture, the challenges that Asian including Asian Americans face in society, and many others. Besides your work as a chef/food expert, I truly appreciate on how you are a strong supporter of civil rights including people with disabilities' rights causes to reduce discrimination. I like on how you use your role as an Asian American to help advocate with support Asian Americans including Asian Americans with disabilities rights, express the need for educational awareness about Asian American culture, and many others. 

Chef Choi, I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different advance subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased. Also with my disability, I have trouble fitting into social groups,  sometimes I struggle to understand different topics, and people including other adults get judgmental about me being different. Also being an Asian American with a disability is difficult for me due to some Asians and some Asians Americans get judgmental about me being different from them. When  I deal with these challenges, I feel ashamed of myself along with feeling depressed about myself. Your commitment to be a strong supporter of civil rights including people with disabilities' rights causes really inspires me to work hard on my disability. Also your role as an Asian American on supporting Asian Americans with disabilities' rights helps give me some confidence about being an Asian American when there are struggles.  Your role as a chef/ food expert and your platform and and as an Asian American advocate helps give me motivation to continue to learn history and culture. 

I strongly believe that you are a very talented chef and talented on Tik Tok including Youtube with your creativity. You do an excellent job presenting recipes while give advice about how to prepare or cook a recipe. Also I truly appreciate your activism to help make society a better place. You truly inspire me to work hard on my disability, be a fan of your work, learn different things, and continue to be confident about being an Asian American when there are challenges.  I was wondering if you could please share with some advice about working hard on my disability.  Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference, and inspiring me. Please continue to make a great impact on society.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick