What does it take to lose almost everything, and build it all back? In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, we sit down with Chicago chef Thai Dang for a deeply personal conversation about the journey that brought him here. After immigrating from Vietnam as a child, and inspired by his mother’s love of food, Thai worked his way through some of the country’s best kitchens and built a reputation as one of Chicago’s most exciting chefs. But as he neared the height of his success, everything changed. Thai found himself dealing with an embezzlement scandal involving a former business partner, and the devastating financial and personal fallout that followed. With his wife, Danielle, by his side, Thai rebuilt. Today, he's the iconic chef behind HaiSous and Crying Tiger, but his story goes far beyond restaurants. In this Season 2 premiere of Supper with Sylvia, we discuss family, ambition, betrayal, resilience, and the lessons Thai has learned from the highs and lows of the restaurant industry. Most of all, it’s a conversation about continuing to grow, and finding a way to lift others up along the way.

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Producer: Jennifer Waters

Video and Audio Editor: Donnie Cutting

Strategy and Partnerships: Iliana Blasdell