Asian Flame Catering: A Story of Resilience and Community Care

May Kou Vang, founder of Asian Flame Catering in St. Paul, Minnesota, has built a business that reflects her heritage, resilience, and commitment to serving the community. A second-generation Hmong refugee from Laos, she grew up in California after her parents resettled in the United States in the late 1970s. Those early experiences of helping her family navigate cultural and language barriers shaped her determination to serve others, a value that continues to guide her work today.

In 2017, Vang turned her lifelong connection to food into a business. She launched Asian Flame Catering to provide lunch services to adult day health centers in the Twin Cities. During deliveries, she noticed a deeper need: many participants lacked access to nutritious meals, often asking for extra food to take home. This realization inspired her to expand into home-delivered meals, making sure older adults who could not cook for themselves had healthy, comforting options. Today, Asian Flame Catering prepares and delivers hundreds of meals each week across all seven metropolitan counties, focusing on fresh ingredients and culturally inspired dishes that connect people to both nourishment and community.

Like many small businesses, Asian Flame Catering faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just one month after purchasing a commercial building in February 2020, the statewide shutdown closed adult day centers, her primary clientele. “I was left to pay for my expenses without any generating income,” Vang recalls. Yet, she persevered. Her determination and adaptability carried her through one of the most uncertain times for small businesses.

Hope came when she applied for the PROMISE Act Grant, which she first learned about through social media and the news. “I was excited to apply since I met all the criteria of the application and the grant would help me expand my service.” Although she did not receive the grant early in the first round, she remained persistent. “I was so excited and thrilled,” she says, reflecting on her reaction when she finally received the grant. It allowed her to purchase a delivery vehicle, which has been transformative for her operations. “This has been very helpful as I provide meals throughout all seven Metropolitan cities and that’s a wide geographical area.” For Vang, the grant was not just about funding, it was about momentum. “Everything counts and this pushed me through a hump in my entrepreneurial journey.”

Her journey has given her wisdom she now shares with others. To aspiring entrepreneurs, she offers this advice: “Keep the fire burning and stay true to your aspirations. Times will be challenging, but if you stay consistent and determined, you’ll be able to power through.” Her words reflect the same resilience that has carried her from childhood responsibilities to her role today as a leader in the local food community. With the support of the PROMISE Act Grant, she has expanded her reach and strengthened her mission, proving that food can be both nourishment and a powerful tool for connection and change.

Asian Flame Catering continues to grow largely through word of mouth, though Vang is working on building a website to reach more people. For now, she encourages those who want to learn more or support her work to reach out directly at asianflamecatering@gmail.com or 651-235-6233.