As much as we love and respect a locally made artisanal chilli oil or two, there’s something about Lao Gan Ma – the OG Asian market staple – that inspires a special kind of cultish obsession.
Both writers of this piece share a deep affection for the spicy condiment – as does Joanna Hu, painter and sometime Rosheen Kaul collaborator (the two share a James Beard Media Award nod for their cookbook Chinese-ish), who’s teamed up with charitable culinary poster shop Food For Everyone for a salute to LGM just in time for Christmas wish lists.
“She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment,” says Hu of her chilli oil muse.
Lao Gan Ma – The Old Godmother is one of a pair of prints Hu worked on with the poster outfit, which donates money from each sale to fund meals for people in need. The other, Oh Pear! Tarte Tatin, was inspired by Hu’s time working at Bistro Vue – and an old 30 Rock one-liner.
The LGM artwork was actually a suggestion from Food For Everyone founder Gemma Leslie, Hu tells Broadsheet.
“She recommended the blue background and we realised after it looks just like the Chinese-ish cover, which was an extra cool touch.
“I’ve painted LGM a few times before though, it’s my fave condiment. It’s great with Asian food, but I would use it on any sort of eggs, mixed with Kewpie mayo for fries and (blasphemously) I use it as chilli oil on pasta too.”
Both prints are made in limited editions of 200 and are available now. Ten meals are donated to those in need for every print sold.
