• About

I’m a culture writer whose work has appeared in leading publications including The New York Times, Vice, Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, and Texas Monthly. I started my career in food and have held editorial + digital roles at Paper (2022-23), Vietcetera (2021), Saveur (2016-2018), and Time Out (2015-16).

In 2020, I founded District One Studios, a storytelling agency providing branding, content, and PR for food & drink brands. Clients past and present include Song Cai, Madame Vo, Nguyen Coffee Supply, Lunar, Null Wines, Suntory, Yuzuco, and more.

↓ Find press here and work samples below.

• Editorial


2017 - Present

Architectural Digest • Condé Nast Traveler • Curbed • Delish • Eater • Epicurious • Esquire • Food & Wine • Forbes • Gotham • GQ • Guest of a Guest • Houstonia • i-D • Imbibe • Liquor.com • Men’s Health • Office • Playboy • Punch • Saigoneer • Saveur • Serious Eats • Southern Living • Tatler Asia • Texas Monthly • Time Out • The New York Times • Thrillist • Vice • Vietcetera • Vinepair •

Architectural Digest • Condé Nast Traveler • Curbed • Delish • Eater • Epicurious • Esquire • Food & Wine • Forbes • Gotham • GQ • Guest of a Guest • Houstonia • i-D • Imbibe • Liquor.com • Men’s Health • Office • Playboy • Punch • Saigoneer • Saveur • Serious Eats • Southern Living • Tatler Asia • Texas Monthly • Time Out • The New York Times • Thrillist • Vice • Vietcetera • Vinepair •

  • I have experience in a wide range of culture writing including media criticism, celebrity profiles, and deep-dives of social and digital phenomena.

  • My food & drink writing encompasses narrative features as well as service-oriented guides, lists, and recipes for leading publications like Saveur, Food & Wine, Punch, Vinepair, Eater, and more.

  • My music writing includes interviews and profiles with artists like Nas, Trippie Redd, Joji, Thuy, and 88Rising.

  • From Marfa to Mustique, my travel writing portfolio features essays, itineraries, and guides for Condé Nast Traveler, Vice, Playboy, GQ, and more.

• Studios


2020 - Present

Amor y Amargo • Baba's • Bolero • Brooklyn Gin • Cadence • Caña Cachaça • Delish • D.M. Brut • Explorer Cold Brew • Five Seasons TCM • Food & Wine • In Pursuit of Tea • Josh Reisner • Kola Goodies • Kim’C Market • Kitsby • Ladybird • Leon & Son • Madame Vo • Monsieur Vo • Omni Bev • Overthrow Hospitality • Moshi • Nam Coffee • Nguyen Coffee Supply • Null Wines • Saveur • Saxelby Cheesemongers • Serif • Slane Irish Whiskey • Sông Cái Distillery • Shared Roasting • Suntory • T-Swirl Crepe • Us Two Tea • Yishi Foods • Yuzuco • Zoey Xinyi Gong •

Amor y Amargo • Baba's • Bolero • Brooklyn Gin • Cadence • Caña Cachaça • Delish • D.M. Brut • Explorer Cold Brew • Five Seasons TCM • Food & Wine • In Pursuit of Tea • Josh Reisner • Kola Goodies • Kim’C Market • Kitsby • Ladybird • Leon & Son • Madame Vo • Monsieur Vo • Omni Bev • Overthrow Hospitality • Moshi • Nam Coffee • Nguyen Coffee Supply • Null Wines • Saveur • Saxelby Cheesemongers • Serif • Slane Irish Whiskey • Sông Cái Distillery • Shared Roasting • Suntory • T-Swirl Crepe • Us Two Tea • Yishi Foods • Yuzuco • Zoey Xinyi Gong •

  • I bring my editorial and content production background to District One’s Creative team, managing designers, photographers, videographers to develop brand identities and produce visual assets.

  • I lead District One’s Public Relations team to secure media coverage for our food & drink clients, as well as produce impactful events and awareness campaigns.

• Contact

For editorial inquiries:

dan@danqdao.com

For District One inquiries:

dan@districtonestudios.com