Meet the duo behind Nom Life on Instagram and YouTube, a love letter to Asian food, family

Ewa and Jeromy Ko met while working at a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland, in the US state of Ohio. Ewa, who was 18 and waitressing, and Jeromy, a 20-year-old busboy, grew up in the food industry. “My father worked in restaurants, and Jeromy’s family owned a restaurant, so we’ve been in the food space since we could hold a tray without falling over,” says Ewa. The couple, who recently celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary, are still in the business of food today, but in a slightly different capacity – one they could never have envisaged. They are the creators of Nom Life, a food and travel social media platform with more than half a million Instagram followers and 115,000 subscribers on YouTube. “We feel so fortunate and never imagined that we would be here doing this as a career,” says Ewa via Zoom from New York, where the couple is now based. Ewa was working in merchandising when she started Nom Life as a blog in 2019, which became a full-time endeavour a year later when it gained traction during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jeromy juggles a job in IT as well as his role with Nom Life. “During the pandemic, people had a lot of time on their hands and were craving nostalgic home cooking, so we started sharing recipes,” Ewa recalls. In 2022, Nom Life was nominated in the social media account category in the James Beard Media Awards, organised by the James Beard Foundation, a non-profit organisation with a mission to celebrate and preserve America’s diverse culinary heritage. “It’s called the ‘Oscars for food’, so that was very exciting,” says Ewa, adding the nomination was extra meaningful as Nom Life was recognised for its work against anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic. “There were a lot of attacks on Asian-Americans, particularly the elderly, so we spoke out on that, and shared a lot of resources to help Chinatown restaurants and organisations stay afloat during the pandemic,” she says. The couple also supported Heart of Dinner, a non-profit organisation addressing food insecurity, social isolation and loneliness among older Asian adults in under-resourced communities. “Heart of Dinner is an amazing charity that delivers food to Asian elders in need who couldn’t access fresh produce or home-cooked meals, so we worked a lot with them to help amplify their message,” says Ewa. “A lot of Chinatown restaurants specifically were seeing a decrease in business, so we wanted to amplify and bring awareness to how much they had to offer, and how they love their community.” Supporting the community is important for the couple, who both come from first-generation immigrant families: Ewa’s parents are from Taiwan, while Jeromy’s are from Hong Kong. Jeromy’s parents met in the US. “Back then, Cleveland had one of the oldest Chinatown communities with a school, grocery stores, community centres. So that’s how they met,” he says. In many ways, Nom Life is a love letter to food and family, with many posts showing the couple preparing sentimental dishes and sharing recipes. In some, Ewa shares her love for the pork chop rice that her father-in-law makes when she visits Hong Kong, or her craving for her dad’s stir-fried rice cakes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ewa & Jeromy Ko (@nom_life) So strong are their family ties that Ewa’s brother Andrew Huang has joined the Nom Life team full-time, while other family members make cameos. “I know people say don’t work with family, but we trust family,” says Ewa. While techniques and technology have evolved, and audiences change, Ewa says staying true to their original voice is what has contributed to Nom Life’s success. “One thing we’ve been able to keep consistent over time is our point of view and our voice.” Travel has become a key part of Nom Life, with posts about the best cities to visit and hotel recommendations, but food always remains centre stage. While travelling, Ewa says they can visit up to five food spots in one day, so how do they stay in shape? On non-filming days, they eat light at home and hit the gym when they can. On shoot days, they get their steps in by walking to each restaurant. “In Hong Kong, it is easy to walk from one restaurant to another,” she says. “Wearing comfortable shoes is a must.” Nom Life’s top spots to eat in Hong Kong Po Kee BBQ Restaurant “A low-key Michelin Guide spot, serving the neighbourhood for 40-plus years with the best roast meats, especially the goose leg, over silky noodle soup.” 425 Queen’s Road West, Shek Tong Tsui Ying Kee Noodle “Our favourite beef brisket noodle soup is at this cafe at the top of a very large hill, but it’s worth the trek.” 32 High Street, Sai Ying Pun Lau Haa Hot Pot Restaurant “A lively, retro-inspired spot for their flavourful hotpot and also great for groups.” B/F and G/F, Block A, Lockhart House, 441 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay Sun King Yuen Curry Restaurant “Make sure to queue early for the biggest pork chop curry rice and their beef hor fun.” 20 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai Gold Garden “The egg tarts are rolled out fresh, and you can get these hot off the tray for a perfect bouncy and creamy one.” 314 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan The Queen “Our favourite dim sum in the city with modern takes on classic yum cha dishes.” FWD House 1881 Main Building, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Fook Yuen Dessert “For classic Hong Kong desserts, head to this tiny 12-seat cafe for a variety, like mango sago, black glutinous rice with mango, and black sesame tang yuan.” Shop I-1, Lei Do Building, 7 Fuk Yuen Street, North Point Ho Lee Fook “An elevated Cantonese fusion spot where the food is as fun as the vibe.” 3-5 Elgin Street, Central Kinsman “A retro-styled Hong Kong bar with innovative cocktails celebrating local heritage and traditions that’s always a great time.” 65 Peel Street, Central

Meet the duo behind Nom Life on Instagram and YouTube, a love letter to Asian food, family

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Nom Life’s Ewa and Jeromy Ko explain how they share their passion for food, travel and exploring cultures through cuisine on their platform

Nom Life’s Ewa and Jeromy Ko explain how they share their passion for food, travel and exploring cultures through cuisine on their platform