Ae Asia

@aeasiavip

If you've ever scrolled through TikTok craving authentic Southeast Asian recipes that don't require specialty ingredients you can't find at your local grocery, you've probably stumbled upon @aeasiavip. What started as simple kitchen experiments born from homesickness has blossomed into a vibrant digital space where Laotian flavors meet relatable millennial struggles. Ae (real name Southammavong, though most fans just know her as Chef Ae) cooks with the kind of effortless charm that makes you feel like you're hanging out in her actual kitchen—complete with the occasional smoke alarm going off when she gets too absorbed in explaining how to properly balance sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

Born and raised in Vientiane, Laos, Ae didn't initially follow the culinary path. She spent nearly a decade working a corporate job before realizing her true passion was simmering away in her memories of family dinners. "My parents taught me that eating together isn't just about filling your stomach—it's about filling your heart," she's mentioned in casual asides between recipe steps. What makes her stand out isn't just her killer papaya salad or her technique for perfect sticky rice, but how she seamlessly blends traditional Lao cooking with the realities of modern life. You'll catch her using a rice cooker for multiple purposes while simultaneously addressing common immigrant experiences—like trying to explain to non-Asian friends why "all Asian food" isn't just Chinese takeout.

Her videos often feature quick cuts between beautifully plated dishes and unscripted moments where she's laughing at her own mistakes. In one popular clip, she's attempting to make khao soi (a Northern Thai curry noodle soup) while her cat tries to jump into the frame—she doesn't stop filming, just casually shoves a treat toward the camera to distract the furry interruption. This authenticity has built a community that feels less like followers and more like friends gathered around the dinner table. Food lovers regularly comment things like "I made your laab recipe for my family and my non-Asian partner FINALLY understood why I talk about Lao food so much."

Beyond the recipes, Ae's impact comes through how she normalizes immigrant stories without making them heavy. She'll casually mention how her parents saved food scraps for days because of their experiences during difficult times in Laos, then pivot to demonstrating how that frugality informs her "zero waste kitchen" philosophy. Her segment on "What I Eat in a Day as a Lao-American" went viral not because it was pretentious, but because it featured realistic portions of sticky rice with dipping sauces alongside store-bought yogurt.

Recently, she's been documenting her experience as a contestant on FOX's NEXT LEVEL CHEF, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses that show both the pressure of competition and the joy of representing Lao cuisine on a national platform. Whether she's teaching viewers how to make fermented fish sauce at home or joking about the "American portion size vs. Asian portion size" phenomenon, Ae keeps it real, relatable, and really delicious.