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Charles Phan

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Charles Phan
Phan in 2014
Born
Toàn Phan

(1962-07-30)July 30, 1962
Da Lat, South Vietnam (now Vietnam)
DiedJanuary 20, 2025(2025-01-20) (aged 62)
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
Culinary career
Current restaurant(s)
  • The Slanted Door, San Francisco

Charles Phan (né Toàn Phan; July 30, 1962 – January 20, 2025) was an American chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur. He was the executive chef and founder of "The Slanted Door" restaurant in San Francisco, California and The Slanted Door Group of restaurants. He published two cookbooks about Vietnamese cuisine.

Early life and education

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Phan grew up in Da Lat, South Vietnam (now Vietnam) after his parents fled China in the 1960s.[1] His surname is of Vietnamese origin and pronounced “fän”. His given name is Toàn but that later changed to Charles when he came to the U.S.[2] In Vietnam, his father, Quyen Phan, and uncle opened a small grocery store where Phan and his five siblings helped with the family business. This would eventually become the inspiration for his San Francisco restaurant, Wo Hing General Store (2011–2013).[3]

In April 1975, just before Saigon fell to the Vietcong, 13 year old Phan and his family of 8 fled with 400 other people aboard a cargo ship. The ship eventually arrived to Guam where they lived for 18 months.[4] There, Phan's family was sponsored by an American couple who supported them with housing. While helping his aunt to cook and watching Jacques Pépin's television show, Phan became interested in cooking.[5]

After living on Guam for 18 months, the family immigrated again and settled in San Francisco, California.[4][6] He was raised in the Chinatown neighborhood and attended Mission High School, graduating in 1982. He was admitted to the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Architecture but dropped out his third year to protest a steep tuition increase.[2] After leaving college early, Phan worked in software sales and other various jobs while he was developing the concept for his first restaurant, The Slanted Door.[2]

Career

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As a teenager, his curiosity for food began at home while watching his aunt cook and while exploring the food scene of San Francisco.[5] Phan saw an opportunity to introduce American diners to the world of Vietnamese food. He started by hosting small dinners for friends, refining his style of cooking and developing his restaurant idea.[1]

In 1995, Phan opened his first restaurant, The Slanted Door, as a fine dining restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine. Its goal was to elevate Vietnamese food with modern design, sustainable local ingredients, quality teas and wine pairings.[7]

The Slanted Door’s first location was on Valencia Street in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco.[8] It later moved to the SOMA (South of Market) neighborhood in 2002 and finally to its famous location at the historic Ferry Building in 2005.[8] Slanted Door was one of the first restaurants in San Francisco to feature craft cocktails.[7]

In 2004, Phan was recognized as “Best Chef: California” from the James Beard Foundation.[9] In the years that followed, Phan continued to expand his restaurant group with more cafes and bars.

Personal life and death

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Phan resided in San Francisco, California with his wife and three children.[2][6]

Phan died from a cardiac arrest on January 20, 2025, at the age of 62.[10]

Restaurants

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Slanted Door (2010), San Francisco
Slanted Door (2010), San Francisco

Active restaurants

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  • Slanted Door, San Ramon (2019–present)[11]
  • Slanted Door, Napa (2023-present)[12]
  • Slanted Door, Beaune (2024–present)[13]
  • Chuck's Takeaway, San Francisco (2022–present)[14][15]
  • Moonset, Larkspur (opening soon)[16]
  • Slanted Door, San Francisco (1995–reopening in 2025)[17][8][18]

Closed restaurants

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  • Out The Door at Westfield San Francisco Centre, San Francisco (2007–unknown)
  • Academy Cafe at California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (2008–2014)[19][20]
  • The Coachman, San Francisco (2014–2015)[21][22]
  • Hard Water, San Francisco (2013–2020)[23]
  • Heaven's Dog, San Francisco (2009–2012)[21]
  • OTD (Out The Door Bush Street), San Francisco (2010–2021)[17][24]
  • Out The Door at Ferry Building, San Francisco (2005–2020)
  • Rice and Bones at Wurster Hall, University of California, Berkeley (2017–2023)[25][26]
  • South at SFJazz, San Francisco (2013–2017)[27][28][29]
  • Wo Hing General Store, San Francisco (2011–2013)[30]
  • Slanted Door, Las Vegas (2020)[31]

Publications

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  • Phan, Charles (2012). Vietnamese Home Cooking. Jessica Battilana, Eric Wolfinger, Slanted Door. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-1-60774-053-7.
  • Phan, Charles (2014). The Slanted Door : Modern Vietnamese Food. Janny Hu, Ed Anderson. Berkeley: Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-1-60774-054-4.

Awards

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  • 2004 – Phan was recognized as “Best Chef: California” from the James Beard Foundation[32]
  • 2011 – Phan was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America[32]
  • 2013 – Phan's book “Vietnamese Home Cooking” won the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Cookbook Award for Chefs and Restaurants[33]
  • 2014 – The Slanted Door was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as an Outstanding Restaurant in America[34]
  • 2015 – Phan's book “The Slanted Door” won the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Cookbook Award for Photography

References

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  1. ^ a b Phan, Charles (2012). Vietnamese Home Cooking. Ten Speed Press. p. 222. ISBN 9781607740537. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Witchel, Alex. "As a teenage refugee, he was the family cook. Now, he's a lauded chef". No. 11 September 2017. The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Manual Design and Brand Consultancy. "Wo Hing General Store". Manual Creative. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Bittman, Mark. "THE CHEF/Charles Phan; The Flavors of Vietnam, Captured in a Pot". No. 07 April 2004. New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Sung, Esther. "A Conversation with Charles Phan". Epicurious. Epicurious. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Nathan, Joan (January 15, 2013). "Holding Fast to a Vietnamese Heritage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Phan, Charles (2014). The Slanted Door Modern Vietnamese Food. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 261. ISBN 9781607740544.
  8. ^ a b c "Ferry Building's Slanted Door restaurant is getting remodel and staying put". Hoodline.com. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "James Beard Foundation Charles Phan Award Winner". James Beard Foundation. James Beard Foundation. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Saria, Lauren (January 21, 2025). "Legendary SF chef Charles Phan of the Slanted Door has died". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  11. ^ Bitker, Janelle (January 7, 2019). "Slanted Door Opens Sleek New East Bay Location". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Warerkar, Tanay (June 4, 2021). "Famed Vietnamese restaurant the Slanted Door is opening in Napa". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  13. ^ Warerkar, Tanay (June 4, 2021). "Top San Francisco Chef Charles Phan Is Opening Another Slanted Door — in France". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Ascarrunz, Maria C. (March 23, 2022). "Chuck's Takeaway: Charles Phan is back!". Mission Local. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  15. ^ Wells, Madeline (February 4, 2022). "Famed SF chef's new sandwiches are 30 years in the making". SFGate. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  16. ^ Madrigal-Yankowski, Nico (April 18, 2022). "Charles Phan expands Bay Area food empire with Marin venture". SFGate. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Bauer, Michael (January 3, 2010). "Phan's OTD adds flair to upscale spot". SFGate. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Saria, Lauren (May 2, 2024). "Lauded Vietnamese Restaurant the Slanted Door Will Not Reopen at the Ferry Building". Eater SF. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  19. ^ Morgan, Miriam (October 1, 2008). "What's New: Academy Cafe and Moss Room at the Academy of Sciences open". SFGate. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  20. ^ Pape, Allie (October 14, 2014). "The Moss Room Shutters For Good; Phan Out, Foodservice Giant In". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Pape, Allie (February 26, 2014). "Charles Phan Turning Heaven's Dog Into British Spot". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  22. ^ Pape, Allie (January 30, 2015). "After Just Ten Months, Charles Phan Is Shuttering The Coachman". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "Charles Phan's former whiskey bar Hard Water sued over very large back-rent bill". hoodline.com. March 14, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  24. ^ Lorell, Clair (May 26, 2021). "Out the Door Pac Heights Closes Permanently After 11 Years of Spring Rolls and Chicken Porridge". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  25. ^ Saria, Lauren (August 11, 2022). "Star Chef Charles Phan Is Turning This Berkeley Restaurant Into an Ode to Rice". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  26. ^ Fort, Ellen (October 20, 2017). "Charles Phan's Fast-Casual Vietnamese Spot Is Now Open on Cal's Campus". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  27. ^ Garrett, Rose (June 25, 2014). "Charles Phan Turning South at SFJAZZ Into Mexican Spot". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "No Bandwiches Here: Charles Phan opens South Restaurant at SFJAZZ". KQED. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "South At SFJazz Shutters, New Concept In The Works". hoodline.com. March 6, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  30. ^ Pape, Allie (March 27, 2013). "Charles Phan Closing Wo Hing General Store". Eater SF. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  31. ^ Deseran, Sara (January 22, 2025). "By following his gut and his heart, chef Charles Phan changed everything". SF Standard. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  32. ^ a b "Charles Phan | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  33. ^ "2013 Awards Winners" (PDF). International Association of Culinary Professionals. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 13, 2022.
  34. ^ Sciacca, Annie (May 5, 2014). "Bay Area Chefs Charles Phan and Daniel Patterson scoop up James Beard Awards". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
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