Editor’s note: September 25 is National Daughters’ Day! We’re celebrating with a special mother-daughter installment of our FACES of Nashville series. Enjoy!
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Meet Mama Yang and Grace, the mother-daughter team behind the delicious dumplings you can find online and at Richland Park farmers’ market on Saturdays. Channeling decades of love and tradition, the Mama Yang & Daughter duo is bringing their family’s beloved homestyle recipes to Nashville.
Together, they’re on a mission to expand our local food culture with authentic Taiwanese delicacies like boba tea and dumplings — and for the official record, they declare pork and cabbage the best dumpling filling ever. Get to know Mama Yang and Grace (who was kind enough to translate on behalf of her mom!).
Where were you raised?
Mama Yang: I was born and raised in a town called Guangfu in Hualien City, Taiwan. I started following alongside my mother and cooking in the kitchen when I was 13 years old. To this day, whenever I go back, I am still the designated cook for my family!
Grace: I was born and raised in Taiwan. My family immigrated to Gallatin when I was 14 years old. Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by world languages and cultures. Today, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to share Taiwanese cultures and foods through Mama Yang & Daughter.
What inspired you to go into business together, and what led to launching Mama Yang & Daughter?
Grace: The dumpling business idea came about when I was traveling with students during my teaching days. I started noticing every time when students sat down in a restaurant in China, the first thing they wanted to order was dumplings. From there, in addition to growing up eating my mom’s dumplings, I knew there was something that Nashville’s community was lacking — Mama Yang’s authentic homestyle dumplings! I talked to my mom about the idea, and without hesitation, she agreed to launch this family business with me.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of working together as mother and daughter?
Mama Yang: I get to see my daughter almost every single day! The challenging part? I’ll let Grace tell you.
Grace: At the beginning, it was hard for us not to get into each other’s business. We had both agreed that I was on the business front and my mom was in the kitchen. I would interfere with my mom’s workflow, and my mom would interfere with “how to best save money.” Eventually, after several rounds of communications (yes, we fought plenty), we finally were able to give each other space and respect each other’s decisions.
If we’ve never had your food, what should we try first? What’s the most popular dish?
Grace: Mama’s Original Pork Dumplings and our Specialty Sauce! We include the sauce with every bag of dumplings purchased.
What is the secret to great dumplings? Do you have a favorite ingredient you always keep in stock?
Mama Yang: [It’s about] the right balance of lean and fat meat, the freshness of the ingredients, the texture of the fillings, the thickness (in our case, the thinner, the better) of the wrappers, and finally, the overall ratio of filling and wrapper. My favorite ingredient is sesame oil!
What is your favorite comfort food, and where do you get it?
Mama Yang: I typically enjoy a good bowl of noodle soup at home, with the ingredients purchased from K&S International Market.
Grace: Other than my mom’s food, I also really enjoy Southern food! I go to Wendell Smith’s weekly to satisfy that part of my cravings.
What is the most exciting part of being able to pass along your heritage — both from a personal and a culinary standpoint?
Mama Yang: Honestly, I am just happy to see that people are enjoying my family recipes.
Grace: I love that I get to share my knowledge of Taiwanese cultures and food through my mom’s cooking. We are extremely excited that Nashville has the opportunity to try many authentic dishes through Mama Yang & Daughter without having to travel afar.
Where can we find/buy your dumplings?
Grace: Richland Park Farmers’ Market every Saturday, special pop-up events in Nashville, and catering.
What do you wish more Americans knew about your Taiwanese heritage or culture?
Grace: Taiwan is such an interesting country, especially with its culinary scene. It has been influenced by many cuisines around the world. I wish many people could taste the differences in our food, be inspired, and eventually want to travel to Taiwan!
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Mama Yang: Believe in your ability; trust yourself.
Grace: You can’t control what other people think of you, but you can control what you think of you!
Name three things can’t you live without.
Mama Yang: My three children and cooking, of course.
Grace: Food, food, and FOOD!
LIGHTNING ROUND
Most underrated ingredient you wish everyone knew about?
Mama Yang: Star anise
Grace: Thai basil
Favorite self-care product/treatment/secret?
Mama Yang: Cooking my meals and eating in as much as possible
Grace: A full body massage and alone time
Most memorable recent meal?
Mama Yang: A Cuban restaurant that our family went to in Miami.
Grace: Maiz de la Vida at Tiki Chopper.
What do you miss most about Taiwan?
Mama Yang: The convenience
Grace: Street food
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Nashville women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
