“Umma” Author Sarah Ahn On Family, Food, And Finding Her Voice

Radio Cherry Bombe

The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Restaurants, 591312, Business, Arts, Food Radio, Interviews, Kerry Diamond, Female Chefs, Radio Cherry Bombe, Entrepreneurs, Society & Culture, Women, Careers, Women In Food, Food, Cherry Bombe Magazine, Talk Radio, Chefs, Restaurateurs

4.6 • 592 Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today’s guest is viral culinary storyteller Sarah Ahn—creator of Ahnest Kitchen and co-author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook “Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes” with her mother, Nam Soon Ahn. Sarah joins host Kerry Diamond to share the inspiration behind her intimate food writing, the bond she forged with her mother through cooking, and the journey from grief to gratitude that shaped her debut book. They also talk about her role at America's Test Kitchen, how she navigates vulnerability online, and why food remains one of the most powerful ways to keep memories alive. Get the Kimchi Grilled Cheese recipe from "Umma" here. Thank you to Cartolina for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe. Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Sarah: Instagram, Ahnest Kitchen, “Umma” cookbook More on Kerry: Instagram

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, everyone. You are listening to Radio Cherry Bomb, and I'm your host, Carrie Diamond.
0:09.0	I just got back from Portland, Oregon, where I ate a lot of amazing food and had a great time hanging out with the Portland Bomb Squad.
0:16.0	So my voice is a little froggy. I was there working on a special project that you'll hear more
0:21.7	about very soon. Today's guest is from the West Coast, but by way of California. It's cookbook
0:28.0	and social media sensation, Sarah On. You might know Sarah is the creator behind Honest Kitchen
0:33.6	on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares deeply personal stories about her mother's
0:38.5	cooking and their life together. She's also the co-author, along with her mother of OMA,
0:44.2	a Korean mom's kitchen wisdom and 100 family recipes. Oma hit number two on the New York
0:49.9	Times bestseller list, Way to Go, Sarah, and it is one of the most acclaimed cookbooks of the
0:55.0	season for its beautiful blend of recipes, advice, and emotional essays. It is a love letter to
1:01.5	family, resilience, and the way food preserve stories across generations. Sarah is also a social
1:07.9	media manager at America's Test Kitchen. She joins me in just a minute to talk about her book,
1:13.2	her family's struggles and successes, and her approach to social media.
1:17.5	My interview with Sarah was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.
1:22.2	Stay tuned for our chat.
1:24.2	Today's show is presented by the fashion brand Cardalina.
1:27.6	It's finally springtime in my Brooklyn neighborhood, and I could not be happier.
1:31.8	The lilacs are out, and everything smells wonderful.
1:35.2	To me, spring also means dress season.
1:37.8	I can finally put my winter stuff in the back of my closet and think of warmer days ahead.
1:42.4	That's why I've loved getting to know Cardalina, the fashion
1:45.3	brand that was founded by Margaret Ann Nolan. Margaret started Cardalina as a tribute to her elegant
	...

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