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\"I think staying true to who I am really set me apart as a female chef,\" Cohen said. \"I'm a tomboy at heart, but love to get dressed up. I'm a Jewish Filipino girl cooking Asian food, focusing on pork. I started my restaurant at a time when this type of cuisine wasn't super popular.\"

The Lower East Side staple of Southeast Asian cuisine has been a hotspot ever since it opened in 2012. She has since opened a sister concept restaurant called Piggyback Bar in New Jersey.

I am so happy to finally announce that @pigandkhao is opening a sister restaurant @piggybackbarjc in #jerseycity We will be opening late September... Check out the @nytimes article link in bio #cheflife #chefleah #gramsohard

A post shared by Leah Cohen (@leahscohen) on Aug 28, 2017 at 12:52pm PDT

\"It is a great time to be a chef,\" Cohen said. \"I have been a strong woman my whole adult life, but only recently started feeling like a strong woman in the culinary industry.\"

A post shared by Leah Cohen (@leahscohen) on Mar 9, 2014 at 3:55pm PDT

Cohen believes \"having a good work ethic\" helped her get where she is today.

\"Everyone needs to pay their dues,\" she insisted. \"Do not think that you are the exception to the rule. Be humble, don't think you know everything -- there is always something to learn, whether it's positive or negative.\"

But as for young aspiring female chefs, Cohen said: \"Don't let anyone treat you differently because you are a woman. Make them treat you differently because you are great at what you do.\"

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