joann jen

The Quiet Work of Lotus Root — Joann Jen A quietly powerful dish at Miss Kim reminded me: the best food doesn’t shout. It lingers—asking us to notice, reflect, and trust what’s already working.

Lotus root grows in mud, but when sliced, reveals a lacework of quiet beauty.

At Miss Kim in Ann Arbor, it was served simply—with doenjang, plum syrup, and toasted cashews.

It didn’t shout.
It stayed with me.

🥢 www.joannjen.com/musings/the-...

What Duck Shit Tea Taught Me About Curiosity — Joann Jen It started with a bar of chocolate labeled Duck Shit Tea —unexpected, a little playful, and full of history. A reminder that curiosity often leads to the richest stories.

Saw a bar of chocolate labeled Duck Shit Dancong. Couldn’t not pick it up.

A prized oolong. A name rooted in folklore.

Not built to sell—built to make you pause.

New post on naming, curiosity, and what stuck with me:
🫖 www.joannjen.com/musings/what...

hi, i’m joann. 👋

i’ve built food brands in boardrooms + grocery aisles. now i’m here for what’s real: less trend-chasing, more trust.

co-founder/ceo @ topi ventures. snacks with soul. insights with bite.

let’s talk food, behavior, and what actually works.