BLOOM (TAMPA) – The restaurant industry has never been for the faint of heart, but in recent years, challenges like the housing crisis, pandemic shutdowns, and shifting global tariffs have tested even the most seasoned professionals. On a recent episode of Bloom, Gayle Guyardo sat down with award-winning restaurateur and founder of Sunda New Asian, Billy Dec, to talk about how he’s managed to weather the storms—and come out stronger. With multiple locations across the U.S. and a reputation for reinventing modern Southeast Asian cuisine, Dec has had to stay agile and innovative in the face of unpredictable disruptions.
Beyond the kitchen, Billy Dec is deeply committed to giving back. Through community outreach events and charitable partnerships, he regularly steps out from behind the pass and into underserved neighborhoods—serving free meals of his elevated cuisine to those in need. Whether it’s providing hot food to frontline workers or organizing pop-up dining experiences for local families, Dec believes that food is not just nourishment, but a powerful way to connect, uplift, and serve with dignity.
