PAPAFOOD was founded on December 16, 2014, by Daniel Andrews, an American Nutritional Expert and Head Chef, affectionately known as PapaDan.
Chef PapaDan
PapaDan is the master chef behind all of PAPAFOOD's dishes. Daniel studied nutrition at the Georgian Children's Education Institute in the USA, specializing in Food Safety and early childhood development from 0 to 5 years of age. As a father of four and a long-term American resident in Vietnam, Daniel is dedicated to ensuring that all Vietnamese children have access to the cleanest, safest, and most nutritious superfoods, crafted with locally sourced ingredients in an American style infused with Vietnamese flavors.
The passion behind the meals
Arriving at the hospital, we were separated. My wife was rushed to the emergency room and examined first because the fetus was so small. After a while, my wife was wheeled out, handing me papers and invoices. She asked me to sign documents in Vietnamese that I did not understand. Through her translations, I learned that her condition required urgent surgery to save both mother and baby.
With my limited Vietnamese, I scrambled from place to place to pay various fees, a characteristic of hospitals in Vietnam.
My mind was consumed with darkness. Feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and urgency overwhelmed me, emotions that seemed beyond human control. My only recourse was to wait and try to calm myself. Unconsciously, I counted down the time.
After what felt like an eternity from entering the taxi to the hospital and the four hours waiting outside the delivery room, my wife's name was called. The hospital informed me that I could finally see our baby before they transferred her to the intensive care unit. Even though it was past 1 a.m., sleep was out of the question as anxiety and unanswered questions filled my mind. I hurried up the stairs to a dimly lit corridor and entered a small room. There, I saw our tiny angel, weighing only 2.5kg—our second daughter. After a quick check-up, I slipped my little finger into her tiny hand, and she grasped it tightly. It was this small gesture, this connection, that guided me into parenthood—a moment shared by all parents, almost like a rite of passage.
Holding your baby in your arms for the first time, and feeling their tiny hand curl around your finger—there's no greater feeling in the world. It was on that day that my life took a different turn. In the first few weeks after your baby is born, you realize the new responsibilities that come with caring for this little being who relies on you and your partner for everything from sleeping to crying and even pooping.
It was this profound sense of responsibility and the desire to give my child the best possible start in life that inspired me to found PAPAFOOD. Although my second child was born about 1.5 years after I launched PAPAFOOD, the added responsibility of each child only reinforced my mission for PAPAFOOD: creating nutritious and fresh meals to support modern parents in nurturing their little angels.
One evening on January 1, 2016, about 1.5 years after founding PAPAFOOD, our family was enjoying dinner when my wife unexpectedly went into premature labor at just 33 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I quickly gathered our things and hailed a taxi to rush her to Tu Du Hospital. The journey, though less than 2km on clear New Year's Day roads, felt like the longest taxi ride of my life.
1) Create a nurturing, caring, and supportive environment for your children at home.
2) Serving as a role model for a healthy lifestyle encompassing physical activity and nutrition.
3) Fostering an environment that encourages a thirst for knowledge
My expertise in all three areas is rooted in personal experience and background. However, I recognized the need for rapid expansion and deeper understanding, particularly in the second area. When asked about my journey to Vietnam, my mind often recalls the image of a dish that holds a special place in my heart: fish sauce fried baby squid, a delicacy skillfully prepared by Vietnamese hands. This dish epitomizes culinary excellence. Yet, when it came to baby weaning foods in Vietnam, I found only "Chao Dinh Duong," a nutritional porridge for babies primarily made from rice cooked with excess water. Despite its name, this porridge carries a high risk of failing to meet infants' nutritional needs and lacks the diverse textures essential for developing their palates and eating muscles.
This issue drove me to delve into extensive research, scouring books, articles, forums, blogs, and online resources for guidance. From the moment my daughter grasped my hand, I resolved to ensure she could enjoy and benefit from Vietnamese cuisine, prepared with the simplest, safest ingredients. While the concept sounds straightforward, its execution requires time and dedication—that's where PAPAFOOD comes in. We adhere to the highest international standards, drawing on my expertise from the George Institute of Child Care Education to craft the best and most nutritious food for babies. PAPAFOOD prepares fresh food daily, delivered to your door every morning in Ho Chi Minh City.
PAPAFOOD - We process food every day and have it delivered to your door every morning in Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon returning to the US to visit extended family and recharge after an extended period working in Vietnam, I received wonderful news—my eldest daughter would soon join our family. The excitement, joy, and love mirrored the feelings I had when becoming a dad for the second time. Yet, what stood out most during this time was the shift in my priorities. My career aspirations pivoted towards meeting the enthusiastic expectations of many parents seeking scientific insights behind every parenting decision to ensure the best for their children. This newfound passion propelled me to pursue further education, leading to my MBA studies at the University of Hawaii. In essence, my focus centered around three key goals for child development and upbringing:
Now, let's rewind to Christmas and New Year of 2013. At that time, I was a manager at Nielsen, the largest global market research company and a prominent presence in Vietnam—a role I found immensely rewarding.