Khrome Urban Wear founder Thanh Long Nguyen pays it forward with $1800 donation to YADA

Thanh Long Nguyen from Khrome Urban Wear gets a thank you hug from YADA co-ordinator Buffy McDonald and cheers from some of the YADA team.

A desire to give back to the community that gave him so much is behind Thanh Long Nguyen’s $1800 donation to the Young Adult Disabled Association.

More than a year after opening his own business, Khrome Urban Wear at Liverpool Westfield, business is booming for the former refugee.

“We are lucky to have found such a niche market and I really think it is important for all of us to give back when we can,” Mr Nguyen said.

“I grew up in Liverpool so I’ve always been aware of YADA, the team there is always helping people.”

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Mr Nguyen, with the help of promotional designs by Wheelability’s Angela Di Pietro, pulled together a special fundraiser called The Art of Hip Hop at Liverpool Markets in April, raising $1800 through the sale of T-shirts, a sausage sizzle and raffles.

“I grew up with a unique background as a refugee in Hong Kong. When I came to Australia with my family the Australian Government really helped us, our neighbours really helped us, and I guess this is a way I can give back.”

He hopes to develop a shirt or product line that would fundraise for local charities on an ongoing basis.

YADA coordinator Buffy McDonald and client Julie Thurlow accepting a fork lift from Coates Hire Executive General Manager of Fleet Ashley Lancaster at Moorebank earlier this year.

YADA association co-ordinator Buffy McDonald described the donation as “really heartening”.
“Everyone, particularly businesses, are struggling to a degree but there are still those who go above and beyond to do and give what they can,” Ms McDonald said.

“This money is another bit of relief for us to organise trips and pay bills, we are so grateful.”

Crustacean-inspired Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab Recipes

Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab pictures (1 of 8)

If you live in the Bay Area or the Greater Los Angeles Area, I am sure you have heard of–and most likely dined in–the famed Thanh Long Restaurant and its better known sister property Crustacean. Their signature garlic noodles and roasted crab not only won over food critics, foodies, and aficionados alike, they also help launched a multi-million restaurant empire (counting 3 and growing!) for the An’s family who hailed from Vietnam. The legacy lies in the “Secret Kitchen”–a completely enclosed kitchen within the main kitchen, off limits to all employees, where the family members churn out the legendary garlic noodles and roasted crab, using secret recipes that were passed down for three generations.

I had dined at Thanh Long in San Francisco many years ago and really enjoyed the garlic noodles and roasted crab, but it’s not until this week that I reacquainted myself with them. This time, the location was Crustacean Beverly Hills; the dishes ordered were roasted crab, grilled tiger prawns with garlic noodles, and Maine lobster with garlic noodles.

The taste of the garlic noodles was exactly what I remember. In my honest opinion, their roasted crab was too dry for my taste (I think the crab was boiled and then roasted in the oven hence it lost all its juicyness). The lobster garlic noodles was good, but not spectacular. The best dish was definitely grilled tiger prawns with garlic noodles. The sweetness of the grilled prawns complemented the garlic noodles perfectly. Everything ordered that night was also a tad too salty. Anyway, I was still smitten by their foods, and most importantly, intrigued by their “Secret Kitchen” and secret family recipes.

I resolved to figure out the secret recipes, using none other than my taste buds and keen eyes. I examined the remains of the roasted crab dish–cracked black peppers, check; coarsely chopped garlic, check; butter, check; exotic spices, maybe but I couldn’t find any evidence. I also packed a box of garlic noodles to go, for further examination at home.

I think I’ve got most things figured out. Maybe.

So, I spent hours in the kitchen yesterday, perfecting my version of Crustacean’s garlic noodles and roasted crab. I added the seasonings little by little, trying to get as close to the original taste as possible. I have no doubt that my recipes and techniques are somewhat different from the secret recipes, but there are really not that many “secret” ways to prepare garlic noodles and roasted crab. I think my garlic noodles and roasted crab are as good as they get compared to the originals at Crustacean, at a fraction of the cost/price! (One order of garlic noodles cost US$11.50 and the roasted crab is US$41.95.)