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The Extra Trip
Written by Sophia Kim Grocery shopping with my mom has always been a memorable experience, often taking a lot out of the day because of the lack of accessibility for Asian produce and ingredients. Our weekly decision was between driving all the way to PA to the nearest H Mart and just going to Acme. This choice between comfort and convenience shouldn’t have to weigh on anyone’s mind and is a prevalent issue for people across many races. Personally, we would want to go to Hmart to be able to make and enjoy dishes that my parents grew up with, but most times we would just cave and get food…
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What I’m Bringing to the Picnic
Written by Sophia Li One thing I MUST bring to the picnic is a charcuterie board. Pronounced shahr-koo-tuh-ree, the board is a curated platter of assorted cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and spreads arranged on a board or tray. Not only do I believe this is the best finger food ever, but it’s also super customizable. I consider this one of my comfort foods because sometimes I would buy the meat and crackers themselves and eat them as a snack. It’s just something very easy to eat and can look very aesthetic since you can arrange it many different ways on the board. By the time everything is arranged,…
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Asian Festivals & Spring Traditions
Written by Will Chen and Steven Pham Seasons in Asian culture each have their own meanings and representations. With the Spring season underway, a time of renewal and hope begins. In East Asian culture, spring directly relates to the Confucian framework of family and ancestor veneration. Holidays such as Seollal and Qingming honor family lineage. In Southeast Asian culture, key themes revolving around Spring tend to be more expressive and focus on community. For example, water is a key symbol for joy, purification, and celebration, becoming prominent in festivals such as Songkran and Thingyan. One of the most significant spring festivals in Asia is Lunar New Year, widely celebrated in…
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Fresh Flavors, Fresh Starts
Written by Sophia Kim With the seasons becoming warmer and the cold leaving, spring brings many opportunities to explore new habits and reset before summer comes. I have found that approaching these new beginnings with cold dishes is refreshing and helps keep the productive momentum going. Here are a few dishes I keep as staples when the weather turns warm. Soba noodles are quite easy to prepare and taste amazing. It only takes a few ingredients to make. I typically have them with fresh shredded radish and strips of roasted seaweed. You first have to prepare the noodles according to package directions, rinse them, and then add them to a…
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Food Is Love, How We Show We Care
Written by Francesca Tero A year ago, I wrote an article on the AAPC blog showcasing my mother’s best homemade meals. I shared my favorite dishes from my mom’s catering business, as well as the more nostalgic meals she would make just for me. However, I may have left out some details underneath the glamour. Back when I was in high school, my mom’s business was just starting up. I still remember the chaos of the first day working for her. Since it was her first time, we didn’t realize how many orders and deliveries she had actually committed to until we were in too deep. As you can guess,…
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Lunar New Year, Lunar Nostalgia: How My Family Celebrates
Written by Will Chen Lunar New Year is one of my favorite holidays because its themes center on renewal, family, fortune, and prosperity. Each year, my family hosts a gathering and prepares a wide variety of Chinese dishes for everyone to enjoy. Cousins, aunts, and uncles come together to catch up and share updates about their lives. This sense of connection and togetherness is what makes me look forward to Lunar New Year each year. Traditional Lunar New Year Foods: One of my favorite dishes that my parents prepare each year is Cantonese-style ginger scallion lobster. This dish highlights the natural sweetness of lobster, enhanced by ginger and scallions that…
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Asian Holiday Delicacies
Written by Asmi Chinauriya Asia is full of a mix of religions, and on top of that, there is the mix of holidays that have been practiced in Asian culture for centuries. So, how exactly do they celebrate their holidays? They will often agree on a celebration that can be agreed upon by anyone: food. Something that often comes as a surprise to many is that in Japan, the people celebrate Christmas with boatloads of KFC. Though I could not tell you how exactly this tradition started, I think it should be practiced more outside of Japan as well. It is also worth noting that during Christmas time, most of…
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The Taste of Gratitude
Written by Hannah Sazon As the season of thanks rolls around, I’ve been thinking about how food plays such a big role in our cultures. It’s one of the first ways we learn love and care, even before realizing it. In my own life, gratitude has always shown up through the dishes that remind me of the people who raised me and the memories that come with them. It doesn’t always have to be an extravagant meal; what matters is the comfort and memories tied to it. Here are a few examples of what make up the taste of gratitude in my life. 1. Filipino Red Hot Dogs with Cheese…
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My Thanksgiving Dinner
Written by Sophia Li The holidays are just around the corner, and Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays, not because of the food but because of how thankful I am for everything. I would tell God how grateful I am, but Thanksgiving is a day to show it and to celebrate. Honestly, the food isn’t even the best part of Thanksgiving. For me, the holiday is more about showcasing my gratitude for all of my friends and family. Growing Up Chinese: Hotpot Over Turkey “Hot pot is an interactive and communal dining experience where diners cook their own ingredients in a simmering pot of broth at the center of…
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My Favorite Cheat Meals
Written by Will Chen With Thanksgiving around the corner, all I can think about is the incredible food I’ll get to enjoy. As a young adult, I try to maintain a healthy diet most of the time, but I give myself one cheat meal each week. I usually save these for after finishing a tough project or exam, since treating myself to food I love helps ease stress and reset mentally. Here are some of the cheat meals I look forward to most. AYCE Sushi Sushi is one of my all-time favorite foods, and there’s no better place to enjoy it than Sakura, an all-you-can-eat restaurant a few miles from…
