Meet Karly Giang | Web Developer by day, Baker by night
We had the good fortune of connecting with Karly Giang and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Karly, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m a proud first-born Vietnamese-American who grew up in Bayou La Batre, AL (aka the Seafood Capitol of Alabama). During my childhood, Bayou La Batre was a quiet town with a population under 1,000 people. Like most of the other residents in the town, our family worked in the seafood processing company.
To help our family make ends meet, my mom, Mama Tran catered on the side in addition to working at the seafood company. Mama Tran was a hard-working self-taught caterer who specializes in Vietnamese desserts and savory dishes. I remember spending countless hours in the kitchen with her frying Banh Cam (deep fried sesame balls) and Bánh Tiêu (hollow doughnuts). No matter rain or shine, Mama Tran always made sure she delivered the desserts on time for her customers.
Spending all those formative years in the kitchen with my mom truly made me into the person I am today. As a parent who wanted the best for me, my mom taught me so many valuable life lessons, but what really stands out is the work ethic she instilled in me (“work hard with integrity”). Thanks to Mama Tran continually demonstrating first-hand how to work hard to achieve one’s ambitions, I’ve developed into someone who’s often referred to as “the hardest-working woman”.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a Web Developer for an Insurance company in Duluth, GA. When I’m not coding, I’m baking macarons in which I’m the founder of the creative force behind Milla Macarons & Confections, LLC. I try my best to ensure that the flavor offerings reflect the diversity of Atlanta’s innovative culinary landscape that ranges from classic vanilla to newer ones like yuzu and ube. These products are only available through local pop-ups around the metro Atlanta area.
I’m also the founder for the Facebook group Atlanta Asian Eats, which I started during the initial COVID-19 lockdown (2020) to help fight the xenophobia and racism affecting Asian businesses. Today, the Facebook group has 19k+ members and continues to grow. The initial goal was to help consolidate a list of all the businesses that were open during the COVID-19 lockdown for take-out and/or delivery. Essentially, the purpose of the list was to help the businesses stay afloat by letting people easily know which places were open. This concept has considerably helped not only Asian-owned but non-Asian businesses as well.
Last but not least, I’m a food influencer on Instagram with 8,800+ followers showcasing all the good eats around Atlanta (and beyond). I consider myself an influencer who loves (and shares) all good foods ranging from home cooked to fine dining and all foods in between.
Below are some honorable mentions for Milla Macaron’s and @karlyeats around Atlanta:
The best places for macarons in Atlanta:
10 UNIQUE (BUT FREAKIN’ DELICIOUS) MEALS IN ATLANTA
@karlyeats
Dalgona Whipped Coffee on Good Morning America
https://www.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is a great city to visit for the culinary experience. Here’s my 7 day itinerary in Atlanta as a Food Influencer:
Day 1
Royal China has one of the best and massive dim sum halls in Georgia. They offer traditional cart service table-side with some of the most authentic dim sum favorites. They offer off the menu and menu dishes also for non dim-sum palates.
Day 2
E.M Bop, an all you can eat Korean BBQ spot in Duluth with an extensive list of meats and bottomless banchans. It’s the most reasonably priced AYCE and has the best ventilation by far.
Day 3
Eight Sushi serves up delicious Japanese flare in a poppin’ modern space in west midtown. From appetizers to dessert, Eight is an unforgettable experience because each platter is a work of art. They offer an extensive list of cocktails which are just too pretty to drink. I highly recommend the Soy Cute (Diamond) Sashimi Platter and Cassanova Roll.
Day 4
Besides their amazing collection of Mezcal, Casi Cielo serves amazing Oaxaca inspired dishes cooked to perfection! I highly recommend ordering the Tuetano, which is roasted beef bone marrow, lamb with chimichurri accompanied with hand made tortillas. Definitely ending with their in-house dessert made with whipped cream soursop.
Day 5
Win Gastrobar offers authentic Indonesian food and it’s phenomenal. The staff is nice, the ambiance is stunning yet relaxing all with Bali vibes. Fantastic place to feast upon Sate Tasting Platter (Chicken, Beef, Seafood), Crispy Chicken Kremes, Padang Soft Shell Crab Tempura and Beef Rendang. Most definitely can’t skimp out on the Pandan Crepes filled with caramelized coconuts and topped with sorbet.
Day 6
Nurs Kitchen is a modern Mediterranean restaurant with an exceptional menu. The bold yet balanced flavors of the dishes are phenomenal and their pita is baked on-site in a brick oven. They offer their highly concentrated Turkish coffee served in a dainty cup set with a cube of sugar after each meal.
Day 7
Last but not least, The Select. It is a modern European restaurant with one of the most beautiful bars and open kitchens located in Sandy Springs. They offer a nice selection of brunch on the weekend such as Crab Masion, Avocado Toast and Short Rib Hash.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my mom. Although I can no longer call her, I know she’s watching me from above. I hope she’s as proud of me as I am of her. My mom accomplished so much thanks to her iron will and drive. She’s the strongest person I’ve ever known, and her sheer grit and encouragement really inspired me to develop into the person I am today. I hope to continue her legacy of strength, passion and determination.
Instagram: @millasmacarons & @karlyeats
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
