In the first installment of these documentaries, ANATOMY OF A SPRINGROLL, the death of his father brings Paul Kwan back to Saigon. The city has changed, yet a flood of memories including the back streets of Saigon and the sweet and delicious foods of his childhood greet him. He seeks an old family recipe, believing the secret ingredient holds the key to blending the traditions of his birth culture with his adopted American life. What he discovers instead is that the real secret lies in his 73-year-old mother and her belief that to understand a culture, one must first learn the language of its food.

During the second episode, PINS AND NOODLES, Paul is plagued by an allergic rash and travels to Hong Kong and Taiwan in an attempt to unlock the secrets of food as medicine. The shellfish and rich spicy foods that have given him so much pleasure in the past could be the cause of itchy swelling rashes. However, mid-way through the second video, the unthinkable happens when Paul suffers a debilitating stroke.