Immigrant Entrepreneurs | Dumpling Galaxy's Helen You

♪ (soft piano music) ♪

When I lived in Flushing,

I realized there was not enough
dumpling places,

so I said to myself, "Maybe some day
I can open a dumpling house here."

♪ (music) ♪

(train announcer)
This is Flushing Main Street.

My name is Helen You,

I'm the chef and owner
of Dumpling Galaxy

and Tian Jin Dumpling House.

(street noise)

My parents, they are the first generation
of college graduates.

In 1957, there was
a Chinese political movement

called Anti-Rightists Movement.

All the intellectuals were encouraged
to criticize the government

or make suggestions to the government

and both my parents spoke up.

My father was in a labor camp
since then, for 22 years.

My family was labeled as a bad family,

I couldn't go out to play
with other friends,

I stayed at home with my mom
and grandma watching them cooking.

That's how I get started
to get interested in cooking.

I used to get so fascinated watching them.

It was not so easy
to learn to make dumplings.

It was a little hard,
I gave up many times.

My mom encouraged me to
don't give up, to try it again and again.

"You will be there."

Then, that was true, I got there.

I learned how.

♪ (gentle music throughout) ♪

♪ (end of music) ♪

My favorite dumpling is pork with chives
since I was a little child

and will never change, probably.

(sound of plane)

In 1979, my father got back home
and I decided to come to America.

I decided to attend college first.

After I graduated from college,

I worked for large American corporations
as a tax accountant.

I like to make dumplings for my family.

And making dumplings together
is such a sweet memory from my childhood.

♪ (nostalgic music) ♪

Then I came up with the idea
to open a small stall

-- Tianjin Dumpling House --

to sell a few types of dumplings.

That's my dream,
that's really where my passion is,

what I'm good at and what I like to do.

Immediately I got a positive feedback
from all the customers.

In a way my customers in Flushing
lead me to make more and more dumplings.

Then when I got more demand,
I set up Dumpling Galaxy.

When Pete Wells wrote a review
about the Dumpling Galaxy,

people lined up in my restaurant
waiting for two hours to get in.

I was very surprised and shocked.

This is Chinese spinach.

I always purchase all my fresh produce
and fresh meat from local supermarkets.

I feel it's my responsibility
to support the Flushing community.

I'm very proud to work in Flushing,

to come to Flushing every day,

to be part of Flushing.

(sound of train running)

English subtitles by
Jenny Lam-Chowdhury