Where is Anh Luu now? Former executive chef quit job after 'Queer Eye' transformation to kickstart freelance chef company Busy Be
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: It turns out that having the 'Queer Eye's Fab Five intervene in her life for a week was just what 2014's 'Chopped' star Anh Luu needed. The experienced chef has subsequently left her position at the Bywater Brew Pub after feeling "motivated to really do something different" with her life. Anh is now venturing out on her own as the proprietor of Busy Be, a freelance chef firm that also operates pop-ups, serves private meals, teaches culinary classes, and works as a restaurant consultant. "I have a lot more time for myself, and I am a bit more financially free," she told Tudum.
"I love the fact that I can pick and choose the projects I want to work on, be sick when I’m sick, and not have to worry about anyone else," she expressed. Presently, she's working on re-inventing a traditional New Orleans delicacy, crawfish bread, with a Vietnamese touch. The aim is to sell this innovative creation at the city's renowned annual jazz festival.
Reflecting on her entire 'Queer Eye' experience, Anh mentions that she no longer feels "quite as responsible for everything" in her life, especially since leaving the restaurant. “I do still struggle with depression but I have a therapist now, and I’ve put a lot of work into prioritizing grieving my mom and healing,” she said. “I’m not ‘fixed’ by any means, but I’m a world away from where I was when the Fab 5 came!”
What happened between 'Queer Eye's Anh Luu and her father?
Anh's connections have never been stronger, and she is now in touch with her estranged father. "When we do talk, there’s more connection now than before the convo with Karamo," she shared. During her episode, Anh revealed how she had ceased communicating with her father since her mother's death in a car accident, for which her father was driving. The situation deteriorated after her father remarried within six months of her mother's tragic death.
In a pivotal moment orchestrated by Karamo Brown, a quick video chat took place, allowing Anh to finally address the reservations she had regarding her father. Surprisingly, her father also took the opportunity to apologize for his part in the strained relationship.
Are 'Queer Eye's Anh Luu and Sam Jones still together?
Anh, a young chef and entrepreneur, is the proud owner of Xanh, a Vietnamese street food pop-up in New Orleans. Beyond her professional pursuits, she dedicates a significant portion of her time to traveling with her partner, Sam Jones, accompanied by their dog, Mac. Remaining steadfast in their relationship, Anh and Sam have secured a new home to reside in after the filming concluded. "I took everything with me, including appliances and light fixtures," she shared.
Explaining the reason for the move, she added, "That house needed a lot more than a fresh coat of paint, and it became too hard to live in it without central air and heat — and having to do laundry in a rat-infested shed outside was getting very rough."
'Queer Eye' Season 8 hero Anh Luu pays homage to late mother through her food
Chef Anh's gumbo boasts flavors that pay homage to her family's roots, including fish sauce, lemon grass, and ginger. Her unique twist on etouffee deviates from the classic recipes, infusing shrimp paste, lime, and lemongrass to illuminate the traditional Cajun and Creole dishes. Anh's culinary creations, known as Viet-Cajun cuisine, reflect her journey as the first member of her family born in New Orleans, in 1986 at Charity Hospital. Despite her family's escape from Hanoi, Vietnam, and their subsequent relocation from Michigan to New Orleans East, Anh produced several recipes during her ownership of a restaurant in Portland, Oregon.
Her eclectic tastes are a tribute to her late mother, Tam Tran, who, despite not speaking much English, displayed culinary prowess in the kitchen. Anh, as the youngest child, was enlisted early on to assist, cutting herbs and stirring stews. The blending of her mother's culinary style, influenced by Hanoi and seamlessly integrated with the spicy, seafood-centric cuisine of south Louisiana, resulted in a unique and personal flavor profile.
Despite a circuitous route to her cooking career, marked by the family's displacement due to Hurricane Katrina, Anh pursued her passion. Her family relocated to Portland, Oregon, where she attended college and worked in restaurants. In 2009, she studied at the Western Culinary Institute and worked at Tapalaya, a tapas restaurant serving Cajun and New Orleans fare. Advancing to executive chef, she introduced more Vietnamese-influenced dishes to the menu, gaining local acclaim. An appearance on the television cookery show 'Chopped' in 2014 further solidified her culinary reputation.
Despite her successes, tragedy struck in 2017 when her mother died in a car accident. Overwhelmed, Anh needed time to mourn and reassess. After a visit to New Orleans for Jazz Fest in 2019, she decided to return, reconnecting with old acquaintances and eventually opening the Bywater Brew Pub.
'Queer Eye' Season 8 is currently streaming on Netflix in its entirety.