Lopez (sixth from left) with Joshua Chan, Krista Nakamura, Long Vo, Kathy Fang, Katie Chung Hua and Lillian Phan
It isn’t every day that you get to watch a San Francisco-set reality series that features a predominantly Asian cast. After all, we know only too well how a lack of diversity and misrepresentation can negatively impact marginalized communities and perpetuate biases against them.
But the six-part series “Chef Dynasty: House of Fang,” which began airing its first season on Dec. 27 on Food Network and is currently being streamed on Discovery+ in the Philippines, pushes the diversity card way beyond the norm—and that’s all to the good.
The show revolves around Chef Kathy Fang, co-owner of Chinese specialty restaurants Fang and House of Nanking, attempting to expand the family’s culinary brand while honoring the legacy of her famous father Peter Fang, dubbed “the godfather of Chinese cuisine” by some culinary experts.
While a considerable chunk of the show’s crowd-drawing tension relies heavily on Kathy trying to get her “conservative” dad to warm up to her fusion dishes and other new ideas, the series also cleverly banks on its all-Asian cast, whose individual quirks, antics and collective charm help amp up the viewability, friction and the ensuing “drama” between Kathy and her disapproving father.
Keeping Kathy and Peter company in this reality TV-driven adventure are the social media-savvy Lillian Phan, Chef Krista Nakamura (whose calming presence we love), Fil-Am beauty queen/server Christy-Anne Lopez, fitness expert/server Katie Chung Hua, the towering model/athlete/bartender Joshua Chan and the perpetually polarizing manager Long Vo, who is sometimes seen butting heads with Lillian in the show.
We spoke to Christy-Anne—C. Lo to friends and followers—recently to talk about not just her participation in the series, but also about her “proudly Filipino” roots.
Asked how a beauty queen (she has seven crowns up her pretty sleeve) and pageant coach (she is the director of Regency West Coast Pageant) ended up in a show like “Chef Dynasty,” Christy-Anne said, “You’re right (laughs). But everything happens for a reason. Being in the hospitality, food and restaurant industry was never my goal in life. However, I’m seeing so many parallels between this and the pageant world. I find it easy to connect with my guests.
“Also, a beauty queen is always a brand ambassador in a way, always doing her best to promote something—which is similar to what it’s like being in a restaurant. It gives me confidence to do a good job. And much of the work involves presentation and promotion.
“Moreover, Kathy’s expectations for excellence with her staff aligns with how I am being Asian—because we’re known to be perfectionists. It’s just funny the way life works. Add to that the big opportunity to be on television. So, I think it was all meant to work out this way.”
Christy-Anne Lopez (left) with Chan in “Chef Dynasty: House of Fang”
Our Q&A with Christy-Anne:
When was Season 1 filmed and how did you end up being part of the show?
It was actually between October 2021, around fall all the way through fall of 2022. We shot the pilots in 2021, and I had already been working in the restaurant for a few weeks. And thanks to the Lord in the universe (laughs), the pilot was greenlit for a full season. Then, we were filming from May all the way through July. We had to shoot every once in a while to pick up and fill in some scenes. I was approached for my live-event background as an event producer, coordinator and host. They were looking for staff during the huge legacy expansion because they wanted to put on these fabulous high-caliber events. I have to say it wasn’t as easy as it looks, but as with anything, there’s a learning curve [that we all benefitted from].
You mentioned that you’re first-generation Filipino American. Could you talk about your Filipino roots?
Yes, I was born here in the States, in California. My mom was from Baguio City, and my dad is from Pangasinan. Basically, my father’s way to the US was through the military. After serving and going through boot camp, he was able to bring my mom over to the States in the early ‘80s.
Have you ever been to the Philippines?
Unfortunately, I’ve never been there. Actually, I recently just began reconnecting with family members in Baguio, and it’s always around this time that I talk to them—about 7 p.m. my time, and 11 a.m. for them.
I’m crossing my fingers that this (2023) will be the year for me to head off to my motherland—that would be a dream come true! Because truly, the Philippines is the most beautiful place in the world, with the most beautiful people. So, I hope to finally experience that sooner than later.
What’s Pinoy about you?
Honestly, I think I embody everything that is Filipino. When I think of the word Pinoy, I think of being hospitable, welcoming, warm, encouraging, hardworking, entertaining and humble. I can go on and on (laughs).
In one of the episodes, you were disappointed when you weren’t initially chosen to attend the fundraiser of Kristi Yamaguchi, the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 1992, because you said she was one of your idols. Which other women do you look up to?
I’ve always loved Vanessa Minnillo, wife of 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey. She was Miss Teen Universe. She was also the very first Filipina host of an MTV show (“Total Request Live”). She’s an actress and reality-show host and producer (“Love is Blind”).
She has accomplished so much, has written books, and built her own empire, yet she remains real and humble. Best of all, she has always embraced the fact that she is half-Filipino and half-Caucasian. Vanessa continues to represent us as a community.
Right now, I am obsessed with our current Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel, who’s also Fil-Am. She has overcome so much in her career. As a beauty queen, she’s really bringing back the authenticity of what pageantry is all about.
R’Bonney is beautiful inside and out. Her career revolves around her advocacy of sustainability. She has had to overcome a lot of tough things in the public eye, which demonstrates her resilience.
Again and again, it’s a Filipino woman going through the highs and lows in front of everyone. So, I admire her in so many ways, and I’m really rooting for her this whole year during her reign as Miss Universe.
Do you get along well with your colleagues at Fang? And more importantly, after his outbursts, is Long still with you?(Laughs) Yes, we’re an actual family in real life. We basically act like siblings. Josh is like my older brother, and I’m like his annoying little sister. Katie, Krista and I are super close.
Then, there’s Long (laughs). We get along… we really do! It’s so funny because when we’re at the restaurant, people expect us to have “issues.” But to give you the inside scoop about the show… of course, some (of the drama) are played up for the TV show.
We all love and truly care about each other. We do our best to always check on each other to make sure that we’re all doing well through this whole process.
And when it comes to Kathy and Lillian, I couldn’t ask for better role models. Kathy is one of my greatest mentors now, and we talk every day.
Will there be a Season 2?Well, I don’t even know yet if there’s going to be a Season 2, [because] I myself was just as surprised as you to see that cliffhanger in the final episode.
But we, in the cast, are doing our best to spread the word and create a call to action to our fans and viewers to [draw attention to it and] ask for another season. There has to be a clamor for it.