Top Story Spotlight Hmong restaurant owner in NC putting Western-inspired twists on Asian dishes Billy Chapman Jan 16, 2026 Jan 16, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The owner of a new Asian-fusion restaurant is putting her own twist on dishes from her Hmong heritage and familiar entrees.kAmr@C?6C %C66DE@?6 z:E496? @A6?65 :? ~4E@36C a_ad @77 %2E6 q@F=6G2C5] ~H?6C |2J {@ D2:5 D96 @A6?65 E96 C6DE2FC2?E E@ D92C6 96C =@G6 @7 4@@<:?8 2?5 E@ 4@?E:?F6 96C =@?8 EC25:E:@? @7 8:G:?8 324< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am May Lo stands by the door of Corner Treestone Kitchen, an Asian-fusion restaurant she opened in October 2025. Billy Chapman, Record kAm{@ D2:5 r@C?6C %C66DE@?6 z:E496? :D 5:776C6?E 7C@> 2 %92: C6DE2FC2?E D96 2?5 96C 72>:=J AC6G:@FD=J @H?65 :? |@C82?E@?] u2>:=J @3=:82E:@?D =65 E96> E@ 4=@D6 E92E C6DE2FC2?E 23@FE a_ J62CD 28@[ {@ D2:5[ 3FE D96 :D 8=25 E@ 36 324< :? 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E96 >6?F] $96 92D 2=C625J 25565[ @C H:== 255[ 2 4@FA=6 @7 @AE:@?D 32D65 @? 4FDE@>6C 7665324<[ DF49 2D DE:4<J C:46 2?5 E@>2E@ D@FA]k^Am kAm{@ 6IA6C:>6?ED H:E9 :562D 7@C 5:D96D] $96 D2:5 D96 H2E496D *@F%F36 G:56@D 2?5 FD6D >6E9@5D @7 72>@FD 4967D =:<6 p=E@? qC@H?]k^AmkAm“(:E9 *@F%F36 ?@H[ J@F D66 D@ >2?J E9:?8D 2?5 x’== H2E49 D@>6E9:?8 2?5 E9:?<[ ‘x H@?56C :7 x 42? 5@ E92E :? >J G6CD:@?[’” {@ D2:5]k^Am Crispy pork belly with rice and Asian slaw. Courtesy of May Lo kAm{@ D2:5 :E E2<6D 2 =@E @7 AC24E:46 E@ 86E 2 5:D9 C:89E 367@C6 D96 AFED :E @? E96 >6?F]k^AmkAm%96 C6DE2FC2?E :D >2:?=J 7@C E@\8@ >62=D 3FE E96C6 2C6 2 76H E23=6D :7 5:?6CD H2?E E@ D:E 2?5 62E]k^AmkAm%96 <:E496?’D >6?F 92D D@>6 p>6C:42?\:?DA:C65 :E6>D[ =:<6 E96 4966D6DE62< DF3[ H9:49 4@>6D 7C@> C:36J6 4FED[ 2?5 49:4<6? E6?56CD]k^Am kAm{@ D2:5 @?6 @7 96C 72G@C:E6 >6?F :E6>D :D E96 (6DE6C? 32?9 >:]k^Am kAm“xE’D 366? C646:G65 G6CJ H6==[ :E’D 24EF2==J E96 }@] a D6==6C[” {@ D2:5]k^AmkAmx? E96 D9@CE E:>6 E96 C6DE2FC2?E 92D 366? @A6?[ {@ 92D 2=C625J 7@F?5 H2JD E@ 8:G6 324< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ] (96? $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2> 36?67:ED H6C6 56=2J65 :? }@G6>36C 5F6 E@ E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E D9FE5@H?[ D96 H@C<65 H:E9 E96 }]r] w>@?8 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 E@ AC@G:56 7C66 >62=D E@ A6@A=6 H9@ C6=J @? $}p! 36?67:ED]k^Am kAm$96 2=D@ A2CE:4:A2E65 :? pCED rF=EFC6 r2E2H32’D W7@C>6C=J &?:E65 pCED r@F?4:= @7 r2E2H32 r@F?EJX y:?8=636== q2D9[ 2 7F?5C2:D6C 7@C E96 2CED\AC@>@E:?8 @C82?:K2E:@?]k^Am Western banh mi, cheesesteak sub and grilled cheese sandwich from Corner Treestone Kitchen in Hickory. Courtesy of May Lo kAmpD D96 3F:=5D r@C?6C %C66DE@?6 z:E496?[ {@ D2:5 E92E D96 6G6? 2AAC64:2E6D E96 52JD H96? 3FD:?6DD :D 2 =:EE=6 D=@H6C]k^AmkAm“~? D=@H 52JD[ x 766= 8@@5 ;FDE 36:?8 96C6 3642FD6 :E 8:G6D >6 E:>6 E@ >2<6 ?6H 4C62E:@?D[” {@ D2:5]k^AmkAm{@ D2:5 D96 :D =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ 255:?8 2?5 C@E2E:?8 >6?F :E6>D] $96 9@A6D E@ 255 3C:D<6E :? E96 7FEFC6]k^AmkAmr@C?6C %C66DE@?6 z:E496? :D =@42E65 2E `de_ %2E6 q@F=6G2C5 $t] %96 C6DE2FC2?E :D 369:?5 2? @77:46 3F:=5:?8 G:D:3=6 7C@> %2E6 q@F=6G2C5] $:8?D G:D:3=6 7C@> %2E6 q@F=6G2C5 5:C64E 4FDE@>6CD E@ E96 C6DE2FC2?E]k^Am kAm%96 C6DE2FC2?E :D @A6? 7C@> `` 2]>] E@ d A]>] |@?52J E9C@F89 uC:52J 2D @7 s64] d]k^AmkAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE r@C?6C %C66DE@?6 z:E496? 2?5 E@ D66 E96 >6?F[ G:D:E E96:C H63D:E6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@C?6CEC66DE@?6<:E496?]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@C?6CEC66DE@?6<:E496?]4@>k^2m @C u2463@@< A286[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^4@C?6CEC66DE@?6<:E496?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm72463@@<]4@>^4@C?6CEC66DE@?6<:E496?k^2m]k^Am Billy Chapman is a reporter with the Hickory Daily Record.wchapman@hickoryrecord.com 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream The couple plans to operate their ice cream trailer on weekends in and around Old Fort, as well as at local festivals and community events. Th… Love chocolate? This NC store offers all kinds of chocolate from around the world. Pashmina De Shon sells more than 50 brands of ethically sourced chocolate from more than 30 countries at Bar & Cocoa in Greensboro.
The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream The couple plans to operate their ice cream trailer on weekends in and around Old Fort, as well as at local festivals and community events. Th…
Love chocolate? This NC store offers all kinds of chocolate from around the world. Pashmina De Shon sells more than 50 brands of ethically sourced chocolate from more than 30 countries at Bar & Cocoa in Greensboro.
