Summary: Desmond Tan, Owner and Founder of Burma, Inc., a restaurant group comprising three locations in the Bay Area; an Amazon best-selling cookbook; and a compelling charity called Future Superstars which supports children’s education in Burma and the Bay Area joins Enterprise Radio. Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Desmond Tan discuss the following: * Can you tell us about your life story? * Can you tell us about the restaurants? * What exactly is Burmese cuisine? * I know you have an Amazon best-selling cookbook: Why is it so successful? And, what is your favorite recipe? * Can you tell us about Future Superstars? Born in Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Myanmar’s largest city, Desmond Tan arrived in San Francisco’s Richmond District at age 11, in 1979, as one of four children with their two parents. The family had less than $200 in their pockets and spoke only limited English. As for many immigrant children, there was a fairly tough “settling in” stage which resulted in a strong lifetime drive for success. Desmond was pursuing an accounting degree at San Francisco State University when his father died; Desmond chose to leave school to support the family. After a few hard-scrabble years things were back on course, and Desmond was recruited by Lehman Brothers. This jump-started a career which went on to include stints as a corporate head hunter; a consultant for the international banking industry with particular focus on India, Taiwan, and Mexico; and a nursing recruiter focused on the Philippines. On the side, Desmond bought and sold real estate. Around that time, Desmond and his former wife, Jocelyn Lee, used to visit a Burmese restaurant on Clement Street twice a week: it was the only place Desmond could find the salty, sweet, sour Burmese food that he grew up with. According to Desmond, it was a solid place that served good food; when the owners looked to retire in 2000, Desmond and Jocelyn bought it and became restaurateurs. Though neither of them had any formal training in the food industry, Desmond found that the work-ethic, entrepreneurial streak, international outlook, knowledge of finance, real estate acumen, and interest in caring professions that he had developed in his past jobs all contributed toward their restaurant’s success. Desmond explains: “As an immigrant, I always had to be better than my peers in order to compete. It taught me to always be learning, and that everything worth earning takes sacrifice. It made me person who is most comfortable in uncomfortable places.” Today, Desmond’s restaurants include two Burma Superstar Locations (Alameda and Oakland), as well as Burma Love in San Francisco’s Mission District. Known for their bustling tables, the sizzle of onions and garlic in the wok, and a wait time so legendary that customers start to line up before the doors even open, Burma Superstar is a Bay Area institution. With influences from neighboring India and China, as well as Thailand and Laos, Burmese food is a unique blend of flavors, and all of the menus include the iconic Tea Leaf Salad; Chili Lamb; Pork and Pumpkin Stew; Platha (a buttery layered flatbread); and Mohinga, a catfish noodle soup that is arguably Myanmar’s national dish. The group’s next location, Burma Club, is set to open in 2018 near the Mint Building in the Mission. In 2008, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) contacted Desmond as they had an influx of Burmese refugees who needed jobs. Desmond was happy to help: though most were from rural areas an...
