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‘Farm to Table Mama’

January 31, 2014

Patricia Wong-Kim’s two PBS shows focus on bringing family together through food

“Studies show kids who eat with their family grow up healthier and happier”

Clive (from right) and Patrick Kim couldn’t be happier with their mom’s cooking. All pictures are clips from the shows.

Patricia, left, says cooking at home doesn’t have to be hard, but it shouldn’t be boring either. Looks like her kids agree.

Videos are meant to inspire and teach new parents

By Lee Kyutae

When Austin Kim got married, the father of the bride said to him when giving a toast at their wedding reception, “You are a lucky man, because my daughter is a really good cook.” He wasn’t kidding. She now has cooking shows with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) called ‘Farm to Table Mama’ and ‘Farm to Table Family.’

“Studies show kids who eat with their family grow up healthier and happier,” said PBS in a statement on its website. “Farm to Table Family focuses on bringing the family together through food.”

From a formal sit-down dinner to what baby snacks on, Patricia Wong finds inspiration in the everyday family meal. She says cooking at home doesn’t have to be hard, but it shouldn’t be boring either. By using simple but beautiful ingredients, Patricia makes dishes for her family that are both tasty and healthy. It’s the best of both worlds.

Patrick Kim. 3, loves to watch her mother cook.

Patricia’s YouTube video channels, ”Farm to Table Baby Mama” and “Farm to Table Family,” which are part of a partnership with PBS, feature easy to follow how-to cooking segments. Her love for food and the joy of being a home-cook shine through all while providing valuable information on how to feed your baby. The videos are meant to inspire and teach new parents who might not be sure about how to introduce solids to their babies for the first time. They’re also great for busy parents because she keeps the ingredients short, the prep time minimal and the music catchy.

“Farm to Table Baby Mama” started when Patricia began to get the same questions over and over again from friends about how she made certain dishes. She decided to make a few videos as a way to show how simple cooking at home for baby could be. “With Farm to Table Family,” her vision has grown to highlight dishes for the whole family, with entrees like Roasted Chicken with Vegetables to desserts such as Rustic French Apple Pie, with slight modifications made for the littlest of ones.

By using simple but beautiful ingredients, Patricia makes dishes for her family that are both tasty and healthy.

Patricia found her way to food via her mother who, for as long as she can remember, has always been an amazing, self-taught cook and source of culinary inspiration. As the oldest child, Patricia quickly settled into the role of her Mother’s sous chef.

Born and raised in California, Patricia went to New York for college, but not without missing home. It was then she really started forging her own way with food, still with her mom’s help of course. She’d call her mom on the phone and ask, “How do you make this? How do you make that?” Patricia remembers her first dish: really simple pasta – angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil. While her dishes have progressed from that, “beautiful, simple food” is still her foundation.

Once Patricia had her own kids, Patrick, 3, and Clive, 1, cooking took on a whole new meaning. She didn’t want to just make food for her family she wanted to pass on her love for nutritious food to her children, which isn’t hard when you watch her videos and get a sense of how truly fresh and seasonal her ingredients are. “I just use pure ingredients and prepare things simply,” she says, “while still using interesting flavor combinations.”

“Farm to Table Baby Mama” and “Farm to Table Family” are about more than just making food. It’s about nourishing the ones you love and sharing moments together. She loves that her little ones get to see how raw veggies can turn into an entire dish. She hopes her YouTube video channels can bring the magic of that transformation to other families in their own kitchens.