This week on Let’s Eat In, Cathy Erway sits down with Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese Food to talk about the history of Mission Street Food, different styles of Chinese food, and the new Mission Chinese location in the Lower East Side. Tune in to hear about Mission’s involvement charitable organizations, learning to cook Chinese food, growing up and eating in Oklahoma City, and the differences between New York and San Francisco cuisine. Listen in to hear Danny’s ultimate date meal. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

“When we started Mission Chinese, I had never been to China, I had never cooked Chinese food. [Chinese food] is so awesome because there’s so many types of Chinese food, and they did a lot of things first. A lot can be traced back to Chinese cooking.”

“Growing up, we weren’t the most well-off family, so we always ate at home. My mom cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I just so was fascinated and would stay in the kitchen and with my mom. And I think that’s what inspired me…cooking and bringing people together.”

— Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese Food