David Changis busy man.
Between season 2 ofUgly Delicious, anupcoming talk showwithChrissy Teigen, a popular podcast and a newly opened restaurant (with another one set to open later this year!) — all tacked on to the fact that he’s a new father — it’s shocking that the restaurateur ever finds a moment to breathe.
Chang, 41, isa foodie in every sense, rising in fame on an international scale since founding the Momofuku Restaurant Group back in 2004 — the same year he opened the popular N.Y.C.-basedMomofuku Noodle Barin Manhattan’s East Village. Chang married his wife Grace in 2017, and she became pregnant a year later.
Now, theMichelin-starred celebrity chefis opening up on what it’s like to be a dad and adapting to life with his sonHugo, who was born earlier this year.
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“Fatherhood is the best,” Chang tells PEOPLE, chatting over aMomofuku Ssämbar-catered dinner at an event for theAmerican Express Gold Card, for which he is a partner.
The dinner promoted their partnership with online wholesale delivery service Boxed, and theSummer Essentials Collectionthat Chang curated for the collaboration (Old Bay seasoning, Spindrift Raspberry Lime andGrey Poupon mustardare just a few of his must-have goodies).
“My outlook on fatherhood is: Support my wife, whatever she needs. That’s pretty much it. I’m just a butler,” he jokes to PEOPLE, laughing.
Chang admits he was shocked to find out just how careful his wife had to be with what she ate both during and after her pregnancy.
“I didn’t realizethat if you breastfeed, younot only need to alter what you consume while you’re pregnant but also postpartum,” he says. “She loves spicy foods and she can’t eat them right now, and that’s a real bummer for her.”
Now that he’s a new dad, Chang has found himself cooking for the family at his home in L.A. more often, as well — just look athis Instagram feed, where he posts photos of meals with the hashtags “#GraceWants” or “#HugoWants.”
But surprisingly, he says he’s still learning how to translate his restaurant skills into his home-cooked meals.
“I’ve never cooked at home, really, ever,” he tells PEOPLE. “So I’m trying to take a lot of what I’ve learned professionally andfigure out how to take shortcutsat home.”
One tip Chang does have for the average chef? “I think people need to use the microwave more. Really take advantage of it,” he advises.
source: people.com
