Dylan James Ho

Cantonese and Laotian Roots Through the Lens of SGV Food Culture

Episode 246

On this episode of the MySGV Podcast, I sit down with a Temple City raised creative who turned a lifelong love of food and travel into a full time career behind the camera and on the page. We talk about how growing up in the San Gabriel Valley shaped his palate, his point of view, and the way he tells stories that feel both personal and cinematic.

He shares the pivot from advertising art direction and digital design into commercial and editorial work centered on food, travel, cocktails, portraiture, interiors, and lifestyle. We get into what it actually looks like to bet on your taste, build a portfolio, and keep showing up until your work starts landing in the rooms you once only studied from the outside.

This conversation also goes deeper than gigs and gear. We talk about Cantonese Chinese and Laotian heritage, identity, and how culture shows up in the dishes we crave and the memories we chase. His work has earned recognition from the James Beard Foundation in both photography and writing, and his images and stories have appeared in major publications across food and travel media.

If you love the SGV, care about craft, or you are considering your own leap into a creative career, this episode will hit. Watch the full interview, then check out his work and writing, and follow along on Instagram at @dylanjho

Dylan James Ho Takeaways

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Music Credits

Intro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG

Stinger
Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library

Outro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG

Picture of Dylan James Ho

Dylan James Ho

My 1st recommended place in SGV

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