August 2020
Volume 15 | Issue 8
Asian food edition
eating out or at home — add some asian flair (and flavor)
Asians* In Focus document the impacts of covid-19
why asians support the blm movement
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE To our Asian Avenue readers, These days, I find that counting my blessings is an important exercise to help get through these challenging and uncertain times. This fall, as children head back to school, we are thinking about all of the families and individuals—young and old—and wishing you good health and safety. Last month, we purchased several t-shirts in support of the @asiansforblacklivesco (Instagram) fundraiser with proceeds being donated to Black businesses and organizations. We ran a giveaway on our Instagram and asked the winners to share why the Black Lives Matter movement was important to them. Our seven winners provide unique perspectives on the movement based on their personal experiences. We also share the photo voice initiative led by Asians* in Focus, in which Asian Americans submitted photos documenting their stories of coronavirus along with short captions. These photos and captions are shared in an online gallery at asiansinfocus.com. The goal of the project is to use these experiences and stories to inspire change. Lastly, as we take on one month at a time here at Asian Avenue, we decided to continue with our Asian food edition to provide education on the unique cuisines of Asia and how they have popularized here in the U.S. With contributions from several writers, we share the most common dishes and ingredients used, as well as provide information for local restaurants serving Japanese, Filipino, Cambodian and Indian food. You may also be inspired to cook your own Asian dishes after reading through this issue! Annie Guo VanDan, President | Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com
The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (APABA) is a professional organization of Asian Pacific American attorneys in Colorado. If you or your business has been affected by COVID-19 and you have legal questions, we are here to listen and to provide resources.
Landlord / Tenant issues Business operation questions Labor / Employment issues Immigration issues Estate planning / probate questions Questions about the CARES Act: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). NOTE: We are NOT a 7A lender and do not process loan applications.
Disclaimer: The Free Legal Hotline, and all information provided with respect to the hotline, is for information purposes only. Such information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created through the Free Legal Hotline or with any of its responding attorneys or volunteers. Users of the Free Legal Hotline should contact their own attorney to seek personalized legal advice.
Those experiencing hate crimes or incidents are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the FBI Denver Field office. If a bias-motivated act is happening in real time, call 911. If you live in Denver, Denver Police Department has a Bias Motivated Crime Hotline: 720-913-6458.
www.apaba-colorado.org
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AUGUST 2020 5
EVENT: Youth Creates hosts Gala for the Cure with online workshops
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FEATURE: Asians* in Focus team shed light on coronavirus stories through photos
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FEATURE: Winners of the Asians for Black Lives t-shirt giveaway share what the movement means to them
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COVER STORY: Asian cuisine is as diverse as its people with unique flavors and cooking methods
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FEATURE: Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families goes virtual for summer 2020 ENTERTAINMENT: Asian films and shows to stream while at home ON SCENE: Asian Chamber of Commerce gets innovative with its annual gala ON SCENE: Aurora Sister Cities host food drive for Aurora families BOOKS: How authors are publishing during the pandemic
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August 2020 | Table of Contents
2 YEAR 24 Issues for $40 Payment Enclosed Bill Me
Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO President ANNIE GUO VANDAN Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager JOIE HA Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG Staff Writer JESSALYN HERRERIA LANGEVIN
on the cover Check out our hodge podge of coverage and insights on Asian cuisines contributed by local Asian American writers, who speak to the history and cultural influences of the food and share their recommended restaurants. Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine.
Looking to promote your business? Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses a costeffective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call 303.937.6888 or e-mail us at marketing@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Send story ideas to info@asianavemag.com. Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
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August 2-16
Free Presentations, Workshops, Classes, and Competitions via Zoom
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presented by Youth Creates All proceeds will be donated to support cancer research. Youth Creates is proud to host the second annual Gala for a Cure event and donate all proceeds to Cancer League of Colorado, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that has taken the lead in funding cancer research. Gala for a Cure 2020 will be a series of virtual fun and educational presentations, seminars, classes, and contests from reputable doctors, educators, and community leaders. Youth Creates hopes these activities will add value and variety to your summer, and appreciates and applauds your care and support for the fight against cancer. Donations are welcome. Zelle or PayPal to youthcreatesllc@gmail.com or contact Stephen.Zhang@youthcreates.com. Learn more and register at:
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How the Government Works Presented by: Congressman Jason Crow, CEO and President of National ACE Chiling Tong, Colorado Representative Colin Larson, and Englewood Presiding Judge Joe Jefferson August 6, 2:30pm – 4pm Creative Writing Workshop Presented by: Aria Zhou, Angie Wang, and Marilyn Kerns August 8, 2020, 1pm – 2pm COVID-19 Discussion Presented by Dr. Yanling Su August 8, 2020, 1pm – 2pm Cancer Prevention Presented by Dr. Ling Ma August 15, 2020, 1pm – 2pm Math Competition Presented by Derek Li, Stephen Zhang, and Jayden Wang August 16, 2020, 11am – 12pm
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W W W. C O M R A D E B R E W I N G . C O M Event | asian avenue magazine
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Asians* in Focus team launches project to document the impact of coronavirus through photos MY NEW NORMAL
By Janet Namkung
In May 2020, a group of Asian American women activists from across the U.S., developed Asians* Unmasked: A PhotoVoice project highlighting stories of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) during the time of COVID-19. Asians* Unmasked is the pilot project of the Asians* in Focus team, launched in recognition of May as both Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. The hope is to identify and encourage creative efforts that will make positive change at individual, group, and societal levels.
Submitted by Mike Doherty St. Joseph’s Hospital, Denver, CO.
Asians* Unmasked reflects the diverse experiences of AANHPIs who, like communities around the globe, were impacted by COVID-19. This included the impact of racist attacks against Asian Americans who were blamed for the pandemic. AANHPIs were invited to submit photographs that reflect their life during COVID-19, to tell their stories in their voices. Adapted from PhotoVoice SHOWeD, participants were asked how they would describe their image to someone who may be visually impaired, what the image means to them, and what changes
they would like to see in the world based on their experience with COVID-19. Asians* Unmasked is intended to be more than just a collection of interesting photos. During any crisis, it is essential that individuals have an opportunity to voice their perspectives and work towards making positive change. Participants’ reflections conveyed desires to: end racism, improve the health and mental health systems, improve/ change leadership, ensure economic justice, change work conditions, protect the environment, and be compassionate. Fifty-six ethnically diverse Asian Amer-
“Family is undeniably the biggest part of Asian culture. When the quarantine was put in place, that part of our culture also became the hardest to uphold, especially for my grandma. She has stubbornly lived alone in her house for over 30 years. We would check up on her frequently to make sure she is doing well. The fear of COVID made this practice very difficult—what is safe? Staying away and isolating her? Or visiting her to ensure her safety?” - Dao Than, Denver, CO
THROUGH THE SCREEN Submitted by Dao Than
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August 2020 | Feature
MASKED
Submitted by Calvin Sun
#WHITECOATSFORBLACKLIVES Submitted by Jennifer Nguyen
“Stepped outside in the middle of my ER shift on Monday, April 13 to take a moment to myself. I needed to breathe. I needed to know if I was still alive.” - Calvin Sun, Lenox Health Greenwich Village ER, NY
“The coronavirus has caused death, pain, anxiety, and stress and will impact us forever. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the pandemic has brought out the fire of this country. The Black community has cried out for help and we are not going to sit quietly and let it happen anymore. “ - Jennifer Nguyen, Downtown Seattle, WA
icans, ranging in age from 15 to 78, submitted photos from across the country. Eighty-two images were categorized into: life and community changes; connection or isolation; racism and oppression; health and mental health; service to others; resiliency and hope; and ways to change the world. The photographs and descriptions were shared in a virtual
gallery launch party that took place on July 31. The gallery is now available to view at www.AsiansinFocus.com. Asians* in Focus will call for another round of submissions in October 2020 for Asians* Unmasked. Join their email list at www.AsiansinFocus.com and follow @AsiansinFocus on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Asians in Focus | asian avenue magazine
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Asians for Black Lives
Winners of the Asian Avenue Giveaway
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Asian Avenue magazine hosted an Instagram giveaway in July for the Asians for Black Lives t-shirt designed by @asiansforblacklivesco (on Instagram). See what our Colorado winners say about why this movement is important to them.
Our fellow Asian Americans need to remember our Black brothers and sisters bore the burden for us so that most of us and our families could be here together during the Immigration Act of 1965. It’s time for us to set aside stereotypes, stigmas, racist/ false instilled fears from misinformation to bear the burden for them. It’s my hope that our younger generation puts up a hard fight together to re-educate older generations, who may not understand why supporting Black Lives Matter is essential to breathe humanity back into a system designed to take the breath out of black lives.
Amber I.
@coloradocaribou
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This year, all of humanity has been faced with taking a closer look at what is wrong with our systems. With the rise of COVID-19, assaults, harassments and hate crimes towards Asian Americans have taken place across the nation. George Floyd’s death showed us that while the struggles between Asian and Black Americans will never be identical, they stem from the same problems perpetuated by the inequities in our systems. #UnitedWeStand means that we are coming together to support and work towards something that is important to all of us, because in times like this, it is essential to.
Unity is so important in the Black Lives Matter movement because we are all human. As people [Asian Americans] with some privileges, we need to stick up for those without. We’re stronger together. I hope that our Black family, friends, colleagues, fellow human beings will finally be able to feel safe. I hope that they know that they have allies in us.
Rose L. @roseeeypoo 8
August 2020 | Feature
Angelina N. @mai_ohmai_
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It is important to help uplift and amplify black voices when there is obviously so much injustice and systemic racism. We should all be able to coexist and not be judged by the color of our skin. It’s not fair to see African Americans be oppressed when they are the inventors of so many things that we love because Black culture is American culture. They should not have to go through generational mistreatment throughout history. The time for change has been long overdue, so as an ally I must fight for equality and injustice.
Sheng L. @_softsheng
“ Sarah Q.
It is our duty as fellow people of color to stand in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters. Though racism looks different towards Asian communities compared to Black communities, it’s all part of the same, broken system. Even within the Asian culture, there is a history of anti-Black sentiment that continues to pit us against one another rather than work together to overturn the many years of systemic oppression and racism. In order to advance forward as a society, we need to fight for justice for Black lives and hold law enforcement accountable.
@squinnster
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To be honest, I struggled writing this because before this movement, it never occurred to me that black families needed to have conversations about how to cooperate with the police to not escalate a situation or how
Lucy N. @its_lalalucy
they can instantly become a suspect due to a stigma that was unavoidably inherited with the history of their skin color. I never had those conversations growing up, so naturally I was ignorant to the upbringing of others. I know I am not the only one, and that is what I want to change. I want to have and initiate these uncomfortable conversations, and to enlighten others about the true reality of racial inequality and systemic racism. Love does not discriminate, nor does it see race/color. Everyone is capable of love—sharing it and receiving. We need to move that into action and stand together as one HUMAN RACE.
Being one of a handful of Asian Americans in predominantly white schools was difficult for me growing up, as I faced a lot of racism, but this story isn’t about me. It’s about us, as people of color and as a unified race of humans, fighting to just be heard and understood. I stand for and stand with my black friends and family, including my cousins and their two beautiful black daughters, that we might all one day live in a world where racism no longer exists in school, work, and all other areas of life. I stand for the dreamers, the LGBTQ+ community, for all POC, the unheard and the unspoken for - that we might all experience the freedom and equality we’ve been fighting so long for.
Jordan B. @ohheyjaybu
Order a shirt at asians-for-black-lives-co.myshopify.com
80% of profits from each shirt is donated to Black communities/organizations. Asians for Black Lives | asian avenue magazine
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An Introduction to Asian Cuisine Food brings people of all cultural backgrounds together. Sharing a meal is the easiest way to teach others about our cultures. In Asian cuisine alone, there is immense diversity in the ingredients and cooking methods used. Join Asian Avenue Magazine on this exciting culinary exploration of Asian foods. Since March, the restaurant industry has been adapting to the challenges of COVID-19. Some continue to serve take-out or curbside pickup only, others have opened for dine in. Patrons are also having to ask themselves: Should we go out to eat? Is patio seating available? How can I eat out safely? No matter how we keep evolving to the curveballs of 2020, food still brings joy to families, home chefs and those who relish the thought of a home-cooked meal. Whether you are eating out again or cooking at home, learn more about the uniqueness and specialties of Asian cuisines.
By Mary Jeneverre Schultz
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August 2020 | Feature
A Taste of Japan
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Article and photos by Gil Asakawa
Japanese food in the U.S. is a relatively new phenomenon – especially in Denver. There have been restaurants but they were mostly eateries opened by Japanese immigrants for immigrants. After World War II, the returning GIs from the Pacific who were stationed in Japan during the Occupation and the Korean War brought with them a growing appreciation for Japanese cuisine. But mostly, their awareness was limited to some basic dishes: sukiyaki, tempura and teriyaki. By the 1970s, there were still only a handful of Japanese restaurants in Denver: Fuji-En, Mandarin Café, Akebono and Kobe An in Lakewood were the main restaurants. For most folks, Japanese food was still ‘exotic’ or for adventurous foodies. Sushi wasn’t commonplace – sashimi, or raw fish, was considered weird and gross by many Americans well into the 1980s, even though early sushi restaurants opened in Los Angeles in the mid-‘60s. It’s hard to imagine today, now that sushi (not necessarily great sushi, but at least it’s sushi) is available in supermarkets. But Japanese food began its slow road to becoming mainstream and family friendly in 1964, when an entrepreneur named Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki opened the first Benihana restaurant in New York City, in midtown Manhattan. The concept hasn’t changed much since: a chef (back then, most were Japanese and trained overseas; these days most Benihana chefs are non-Japanese) comes to your table and cooks your food in front of you on large grilling tops. They turned cooking into a show, performing with meats, vegetables, rice—flipping shrimp into your plates or stacking onions into a flaming “volcano.” Most famously was the steak and shrimp with veggies, buttery fried rice and a side of miso
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soup. These days they serve sushi, but back then they only served “teppan-yaki” (grilled) meat and shrimp. There are still two Benihana restaurants in the area: Broomfield near Flatirons Mall and Tamarac Square in Denver. The first sushi restaurants in the Denver area were Sushi Tora in Boulder and Sushi Den in Denver. Both have spun off chefs who’ve opened their own shops. Meanwhile, other restaurateurs have arrived in the area and established fine restaurants serving Japanese food, with some specializing in sushi and some, more recently specializing in ramen, which has been the hottest Japanese food trends on the coasts.
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Recommended Restaurants Domo – “Country style” Japanese dishes from Akita prefecture in a unique country-style setting | 1365 Osage St, Denver, 80204, 303-595-3666, domorestaurant.com Izakaya Amu – Traditional and modern Japanese small plates (no sushi) | 1221 Spruce St, Boulder, 80302, 303-440-0807, izakayaamu.com Katsu Ramen – Aurora restaurant serving ramen made by chef from Osaka | 1930 S. Havana St. #4, Aurora, 80014, 303-751-2222, ramendenver.com Misaki – Sushi and ramen at several area locations: Superior, Stanley Market, Denver, misakiatsuperior.com Osaka Ramen – Authentic ramen in the heart of RiNo | 2611 Walnut St. Denver, 80205, 303-955-7938, osakaramendenver.com Ramen Star – Ramen with house-made fresh daily noodles | 4044 Tejon St, Denver, 80211, 303-455-3787, ramenstar.com Sachi Sushi – Unique small sushi bar and small menu of dishes at a counter inside Niwot Market, serves popular ramen on Sundays only | 7980 Niwot Rd. Niwot, 80503, 303-652-0238, sachiniwot.co Sakana – Small family-owned sushi restaurant also serving ramen | 7520 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, 80003, 303-429-6646, sakanasushiramen.com Sushi Den – One of the first sushi restaurants in the area; also check out Ototo & Izakaya Den | 1487 S. Pearl St, Denver, 80210, 303-777-0826, sushiden.net Sushi Zanmai – Same owner as Izakaya Amu which is next door, but with a more typical Japanese menu pljus sushi | 1221 Spruce St, Boulder, 80302, 303-440-0733, sushizanmai.com Tokio – Sushi, ramen and authentic Binchotan grill in downtown Denver | 2907 Huron St, Unit #103, Denver, 80202, 720-639-2911, mytokio.com
1 - A bowl of ramen from Ramen Star, 2 - Tonkotsu ramen, curry wings and maguro nigiri at Tokio, 3 - Squid, duck and okonomiyaki at Amu
Asian Food | asian avenue magazine
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What is Filipino Cuisine? By Jessalyn Herreria Langevin
Adobo Pancit Lumpia
Filipino Restaurants Sunburst Grill 2295 S. Chambers Rd. Aurora, 80014, sunburstgrill19.wixsite.com/mysite Chowsun 830 S. Buckley Rd. Aurora, 80017, chowsunauroraco.com Adobo Restaurant and Food Truck 4401 Tejon St. Denver, 80211, adobodenver.com Orange Crunch Filipino Staples and Delights - Denver Area Food Truck, orangecrunchfsd.com You-Ka Cafe 3743 Bloomington St. Colorado Springs, 80922, you-kacafe.com Julie’s Kitchen 3750 Astrozon Blvd. Colorado Springs, 80910, Facebook: Julie’s Kitchen Colorado Springs Filipino Food Truck 4305 E Platte Ave. Colorado Springs, 80915, filipinofoodtruck.com Facebook has groups such as Tindahang Filipino sa Colorado (TFC) brings together Filipino-American entrepreneurs to advertise both their food and non-food wares, as well as network with each other.
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August 2020 | Cover Story
Growing up, eating Filipino food was somewhat of a special occasion, usually during summers with my Filipino relatives, as an occasional dish for dinner when we could find the right ingredients and the time to cook, and the general indicator that my grandma was in town for a short period of time. Typical Filipino cuisine combines sweet, salty, and sour flavors which gives a savory and down-to-earth taste. Rice is a common accompaniment to every meal and is typically found on every dinner table. Popular Filipino dishes include longanisa (Filipino sausage), lechon (whole roasted pork), adobo (chicken or pork marinated in a garlic, vinegar, soy sauce mix and then cooked until dry), dinuguan (pork blood stew), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (egg rolls stuffed with more meat than vegetables). The sweet and salty flavors are often paired together for a unique flavor profile. For example, dinuguan, a pork blood stew often called chocolate meat, is frequently paired with puto, sweet steamed, rice cakes. Another example includes the cheese that is found on top of several Filipino sweets such as ensaymada, a soft, sweet pastry that is covered in butter, sugar, and cheese.
Of all Filipino dishes, adobo tends to be the most commonly found dish served at Filipino restaurants and at home. Every family has their own recipe which includes some variation of pork or chicken, garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce. In the Philippines, adobo is considered the unofficial national dish. Filipino sweets tend to utilize a lot of rice, coconut, mango, and ube—a sweet, purple yam. Popular desserts include bibingka (hot rice cake topped with butter, cheese, and coconut), kutsinta (brown rice cake), puto (steamed, sweet rice cake), leche flan (caramel custard), and halo-halo (a unique combination of shaved ice, milk, sugar, and additional ingredients such as ube ice cream, jackfruit, red beans, tapioca, and so forth). Eating Filipino food is a communal affair in which food is typically served all at once, family style. The traditional style of eating Filipino food is known as kamayan which means “eating with your hands.” While eating kamayan style is not the typical norm nowadays, the spirit is still there as a Filipino dinner is often a feast shared amongst many with a variety of dishes on the table and everyone eating together.
Chinese Restaurants E It is worth noting that some Chinese restaurants in Colorado are not reopening for dine-in because their take-out orders are doing well. This may be surprising, as even before the shutdown, Chinese restaurants saw a significant drop in customers due to discrimination from patrons wrongfully wary of Chinese food spreading the coronavirus in the U.S. However, in May, Yelp revealed a map of each state’s most popular delivery order during the pandemic. Crab rangoons (or cheese wontons) were at the top of the list for Colorado—others included chicken, wings, pizza, tacos, and gyros. So it would appear that Chinese food is a popular go-to item to order to-go. Food ordering service GrubHub also released data on the most popular Chinese takeout dishes in the US which included sweet and sour chicken, hot and sour soup, egg roll, and dumplings. Chinese cuisine includes varieties originating from the diverse regions of China, as well as from Chinese people in other parts of the world. The history of the cuisine stretches back for thousands of years and has changed from period to period and in each region, according to climate, imperial fashions, and local preferences. Over time, techniques and ingredients from
other cultures were integrated into the cuisine of the Chinese people due both to imperial expansion and from the trade with nearby regions in pre-modern times, and from Europe and the New World in the modern period. Literally meaning “to touch your heart,” dim sum which is Cantonese cuisine consists of a variety of dumplings, steamed dishes and other small plates. In Denver, popular dim sum restaurants include Star Kitchen, Empress Seafood
Dim Sum at Empress Seafood, Denver
Vietnamese Food Beyond Pho
Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)
By Patricia Kaowthumrong
While pho might be the first thing that comes to mind when many think of Vietnamese cuisine, the ultra-comforting noodle soup is just one of the country’s delicious dishes. Characterized by fragrant herbs, super-fresh fruits and vegetables, and balanced uses of shrimp paste, fish sauce and soy, Vietnam’s cuisine is known to be zesty and healthy. Many Vietnamese dishes are influenced by the cuisines of China, Cambodia and Thailand, the country’s neighbors; and France, due to more than six decades of French colonization. Southern Vietnam’s tropical climate supports greater use of fresh fruits and vegetables and sweeter, bolder flavors, while northern Vietnam’s dishes include more seafood, including crab, prawns, freshwater fish, squid and mussels. Like many other Asian cuisines, typical meals are served community style — multiple dishes shared in the middle of the table with a large pot of rice. Dipping sauces are also common additions. One of the most common sauces at U.S. Vietnamese restaurants feature fish sauce prepared with garlic, chili paste or lime juice; it is an excellent complement to fried spring rolls, rice noodles with grilled pork or beef and fresh vegetables and herbs (often served as a side to meals). Favorite Vietnamese dishes include bánh mì, a crusty French baguette filled with cold cuts, such as sliced pork or pork belly and sausage, liver pâté and perfectly pickled carrots or cucumbers; bánh xèo, a savory crepe-like pancake stuffed with bean sprouts and a meaty filling like pork or shrimp; and Gỏi cuốn, rice-paper rolls wrapped around a variety of fillings, such as shrimp, herbs, pork, rice vermicelli noodles, and dipped in peanut sauce.
Ebb and Flow Restaurant, and Super Star Asian Cuisine. In China, soups are thought to hold healing properties and noodles are a system of longevity. A noodle soup is therefore taken very seriously! Some of the best spots to enjoy a Taiwanese beef noodle soup are Lao Wang Noodle House, Chen’s Kitchen and Zoe Ma Ma. Another unique style of Chinese food is hot pot. Chinese hotpot consists of a sim-
Aki Asian Hot Pot, Aurora
By Annie Guo VanDan
mering metal pot with broth at the center of a table. Raw ingredients including meats and vegetables are then cooked in the pot. Some hotpot restaurants are open again including Aki Asian Hot Pot, Seoul Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, and Yummy Hot Pot. Lastly, Szechuan-style food is growing in popularity for its bold flavors and liberal use of garlic and chili peppers. Restaurants doing it right include Szechuan Tasty House and Yum Yum Spice. Some of the most popular Chinese dishes include peking duck, chow mein, fried rice, ma po tofu and basil eggplant. These can be ordered at Hong Kong Cafe, Shanghai Kitchen, Golden Shanghai, and most Chinese restaurants in metro Denver. More Americanized dishes include sweet and sour chicken, beef and broccoli, and cheese wontons. The Chinese food scene has inundated Colorado with hundreds of Chinese restaurant options. Even mountain towns will have at least one Chinese restaurant. In fact, the oldest Chinese restaurant in the US, Pekin Noodle Parlor, was established in Butte, Montana in 1911. Chinese food has since then continued to flourish in the US.
Pho Kim, Aurora
Korean BBQ and more
Traditional Korean meals are best known for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Kimchi is almost always served at every meal. Korean BBQ involved gathering around a grill in the middle of the table and cooking your own meats such as bulgogi (marinated beef), galbi (beef short ribs), and samyeopsal (pork belly). The cooked meats are often paired with rice paper and dipped in sauces - chili and soybean paste, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Korean BBQ brings family and friends around the table to cook and eat together, which is fun because no one is stuck in the kitchen doing all the work! In Aurora, where you will find the largest population of Koreans in Colorado, Korean restaurants can be found in many shopping centers. Popular KBBQ restaurants include Seoul Korean BBQ, Mr. Kim’s Korean BBQ, Dae Gee, and Silla. In recent months, Seoul ManDoo, specializing in Korean dumplings has also entered the scene. Tofu House Another Korean specialty is the soup, or guk, with the most common ones including tofu, kimchi or seafood. These can all be found at Tofu House, also in Aurora, which was founded in 1962 in Seoul. Asian Food | asian avenue magazine
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Discover Lao Cuisine
Papaya Salad
By Amber Inthavong
In every cuisine explored, there’s a story being told. A story about the land, its culture, and the history of its people. Laos is a small Southeast Asian country that borders Thailand and Vietnam, but the various styles of dishes represent flavors influenced by its surroundings. Where to begin? Lao food uses the occasional coconut to add sweetness to curries and texture to fried rices, thai chili peppers for notes of heat, papaya that grows from their trees, and yes, banana leaves and lemongrass for fragrance—taking advantage of every plant and every part of its land. There are traditional plates that represent what the rich eat and what the poor eat, which is dependent on whether or not they have access to good pork or only fermented beans. Nothing goes unused, the people of Laos have made sure of it, taking full advantage of all that they have. To best describe how it tastes, Lao cuisine is bold with spice, only mildly sweet and salty. What’s most notable is citrus flavors from lime, lime leaves or lemongrass, complementing the fresh chopped herbs that are almost always used as a finishing topping. Follow Amber Inthavong @coloradocaribou or visit coloradocaribou.com.
Sticky Rice
Twice Cooked Rice with Cured Pork (Nam Khao): Fresh steamed rice pressed into small patties with curry paste to be fried, then broken back up and tossed with pieces of cured pork, herbs and lime. Minced Meat with Herbs and Spices (Laap): Your choice of protein from beef, chicken or fish, minced or sliced to be tossed with toasted rice powder, herbs and spices. Chicken or Fish in Banana Leave (Mouk Gai/Mouk Pa): A savory dish traditionally made with chicken or fish, seasoned and folded into banana leaves to be steamed and enjoyed with rice. Papaya Salad (Tum Soom/Tum Mahung): An unripened papaya, shredded long, smashed with thai chilies, tomatoes, lime and fermented shrimp paste.
Pestle and Mortar
What you’ll find in a Lao Kitchen Pestle and Mortar (Kuoc/Tum): Often used to blend ingredients, spices, or create pastes. Mandoline Slicer/Shredder: A convenient tool to create long shreds of many vegetables, from papaya, cucumber, carrot and taro. Sticky Rice Steamer (Kao Neow): Rice is steamed, wrapped in a cloth and placed into a basket to keep warm. Sticky rice can be balled up in your hand, used to accompany many protein dishes and is delicious to dip into sauces.
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August 2020 | Cover Story
Signature Dishes
Mouk Gai
Photo Credit: Stacey Shigaya
Nam Khao
Laap
Where to get Cambodian and Lao Food Woody’s Wings N Things 6817 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80221 Unless you know someone who is of Lao or Cambodian heritage, or you’re planning a trip to Southeast Asia, the best and only option to try Lao and Cambodian cuisine is at Woody’s Wings and Things in Denver. Don’t be fooled by the name, they are a local restaurant that has been serving signature Thai, Cambodian and Lao plates for many years. While you can order wings here, you can also discover Lao and Cambodian cuisine by starting off with an order of laap, papaya salad or sticky rice.
Common Cambodian Dishes By Somanita Kheang, Ed.D.
BAI SACH CHROUK
TREY BROMA CHOMHOY
TREY CHEAN CHOUN
(Grilled/fried pork and white rice)
(Steamed Salted Fish with Pork and Eggs)
(Ginger Fish with Salted Soybean)
The simple and tasty bai sach chrouk is pork marinated in garlic before being brought to a slow grill or fry. It’s usually served with white rice, fried egg, a small bowl of clear chicken broth, spicy sauce, and sometimes some fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Bai sach chrouk is one of the most wellknown street foods in Cambodia. It’s available almost everywhere, especially in busy neighborhoods and in the morning time starting from 6:30 a.m. until noon time. A plethora of middle and upper class restaurants in Cambodia also added this popular dish to their menu. Pairing bai sach chrouk with sugarcane juice can be very satisfying.
One of the most famous foods in Cambodia is trey broma chomhoy, which consists of salted fish, ground pork, eggs, chicken soup powder, cloves of garlic, shallot, and red/green chillies. Trey broma chomhoy is served with white rice and various vegetables, including cucumbers, eggplants, and green/red chillies. Trey broma chomhoy is a favorite dish for most Cambodian families, especially those who live in remote areas (countrysides). Before going to their rice fields, people who live in rural areas would pack trey broma chomhoy and rice for lunch. Usually, they pack this food using banana leaves to keep the food fresh for long hours.
Trey Chean Choun is a Cambodian traditional dish consisting of crispy fried tilapia with ginger and salted soy bean, served with fresh green lettuce, green onions, sweet and sour dressing, and sometimes cucumbers. A simple and yummy trey chean choun is served with rice or porridge. Trey Chean Choun is not really a street food, so it’s mostly available in middle and upper class restaurants in Cambodia.
Urban Burma, Aurora
Our One and Only Burmese Restaurant
The first and only Burmese restaurant, Urban Burma, is located in Mango House, a community center that serves the refugee and immigrant community in Aurora. Urban Burma serves noodle bowls with the favorite being the nan gyi dok bowl, thick rice noodles topped with chicken curry, a hard-boiled egg, crunchy rice puffs, fried garlic and toasted chickpea flour. They also feature curries (beef, chicken and vegetable), as well as samosas, tofu, fried rice, coffee, tea and fruit shakes. Asian Food | asian avenue magazine
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Indian Spices and Regional Flavors
Star of India, Aurora
An Indian meal combines salty, sweet, creamy, spicy, hot and pungent flavors. The basic menu usually comprises of starch, a meat or fish main dish, vegetables, and chutney. Traditionally, Indian flatbread known as naan or basmati rice complements the other dishes to highlight a balanced spectrum of flavors. Although it is common for Indian restaurants to present dishes as part of a uniform, nationalized cuisine, in actuality, the food of India is known for its regional specialties. These cuisines are heavily influenced by India’s history, conquerors, and trade partners. Religious beliefs affect other dietary restrictions that shape India’s cuisine: Hindus abstain from beef because cattle are sacred in this faith, while Muslims believe pork to be unclean and never eat it. Northern Indian cuisine is most represented in Colorado restaurants, like Star of India and Little India’s, which includes dishes such as samosas (fried pastries stuffed with potatoes and occasionally meat), tandoori chicken, paneer makhani, and saag paneer. Southern Indian cuisine is characterized by its dry curries and griddle-cooked snacks, such as dosas (a large crepe-like pancake that is usually filled with vegetables, chutneys, or masala curries). Masalaa, known for its dosas and vegetarian options, serves South Indian cuisine.
J’s Noodles, Denver
Singaporean Singapore’s melting-pot population has many ethnic influences, including Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, Middle Eastern and English, making Singapore’s cuisine incredibly diverse. In the country, hawker centers or food-courtstyle complexes with many stalls featuring different varieties of food are popular. Hainanese chicken rice, stewed or poached chicken (typically cooked whole) served with garlic-infused rice, chicken broth, cucumbers and a hot chili sauce, is considered one of Singapore’s national dishes. This is a popular dish found at Jaya Asian Grill, which serves Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine. Other signature dishes include bak chor mee, minced pork noodles; roti prata, fried bread pancake served with curry, sugar, egg, and cheese; and hard-shelled crabs cooked in chili or black pepper sauce.
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August 2020 | Cover Story
Thai Cuisine Takeover Thailand is known for its spicy dishes, colorful desserts, and water marketplaces. Thai cuisine emphasizes harmony, resulting in a careful and delicate consideration of the ingredients that put together the meal. Thai food gets its distinctive sweet-sour-salty-spicy flavor from a number of ingredients, including lemongrass, coconut milk, fish sauce, and fresh chilies. Luckily, most of these items can be found in supermarkets these days. Rice, noodles and starches are a big component of Thai cuisine. In fact, rice is such an integral part of Thai diet that there is a common Thai greeting “kin
Jaya Asian Grill, Denver
khao reu yang?” which literally translates as “Have you eaten rice yet?” Well-known dishes include pad thai, drunken noodles and Thai fried rice. Fruit is also an important part of the Thai diet and is typically eaten for dessert. One of the most popular Thai desserts is fresh mango and sticky rice. In recent years, Thai restaurants have grown in popularity and familiarity in Colorado including more those with a modern twist like Aloy Modern Thai and Daughter Thai Kitchen, as well as the traditional restaurants like US Thai Cafe and J’s Noodles Star Thai.
Malaysian
Like Singapore, Malaysia’s food echoes the diversity of the country’s population, and the cuisine has Chinese, Indonesian and Indian influences. Because of Malaysia’s proximity to Singapore, the countries share common dishes, including laksa, a spicy rice noodle soup dish, and Hainanese chicken rice, which is prepared differently in each country. Malaysian cuisine is known for its complex flavors, and the country’s year-round tropical climate supports the inclusion of many fresh vegetables and tropical fruits. Favorite Malaysian dishes include curry puffs, small pies stuffed with curried chicken and/or potatoes; satay, grilled marinated chicken or beef on a skewer served with peanut sauce; and nasi lemak, steamed coconut rice served with roasted peanuts, fried anchovies, hard-boiled egg, sambal (chili paste) and cucumber slices.
Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families goes virtual for 2020 By Marissa Tafura At Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families (HCAF), a Denver-based nonprofit focused on supporting the healthy development of families formed by adoption, parents and their children have become accustomed to strengthening their camp friendships virtually, long before the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 29 years, adoptive families have been attending camp for four days each summer at Regis University, Snow Mountain Ranch in Fraser, and YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park—and many of them maintain those connections throughout the year, via Facetime, texting, and social media. But it’s the immersive and interactive camp experience combined with their shared connection through adoption that has allowed strong relationships to flourish even when newfound camp friends live hundreds of miles apart. Despite families being accustomed to maintaining their connections online, the cancellation of Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families’ nine camps has been emotionally challenging for many families. “I’ve heard from many parents who are really struggling right now,” says Pam Sweetser, Executive Director. “Aside from the isolation caused by COVID-19, many of our campers really need to be among others who ‘get it.’ Families continually express that they feel such a relief at camp because they’re in a place where they fit in, and where other families understand their unique experiences. It’s pretty hard to know that families won’t be receiving
that in-person support this year.” HCAF connects parents to experts in adoption, adult adoptees who provide guidance, and community members from their child’s birth culture and/or racial identity. Kids participate in fun, age-appropriate, interactive activities led by camp counselors and presenters who are cultural/racial “mirrors” for them. When it became clear that the organization would not be able to host in-person camps this summer, they knew they wanted to try to replicate the most important elements of camp, but in an online setting. They’ve just finished their seventh weekend of Virtual Camp, with “opening ceremonies,” online activities for various age groups, and parent meetups. Activities included cultural cooking classes, yoga, folktales and stories, games, dance, music, and cultural-themed scavenger hunts. The camps have been enriched by the involvement of local and national Asian community groups, including Mudra Dance Studio, Christina Yeh Dance Studio, Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu, KM Legacy, Asian Chamber of Commerce, and many individuals, bringing cultural authenticity and engaging activities to camp families. During Virtual Camps, HCAF has been conscious to make space for thoughtful
conversations, focused on supporting kids with online schooling, maintaining friendships through social distancing, and how to talk with kids about racism. In addition to virtual camps, HCAF has also offered webinars for parents, on Asian Identity, Navigating Adoption in the Time of COVID, and a fun and supportive Comedy and Connection During the Time of COVID. HCAF has additional webinars in August, with information at Heritage Camps.org/webinars. While it has been a different and bittersweet summer, it has also reminded Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families that they truly have a strong community, which is exactly what is needed to navigate such difficult times. Families, community members, and adult adoptees are already talking about what 2021 camp will bring, when they can celebrate adoption in person.
Heritage Camps | asian avenue magazine
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From Parasite to Never Have I Ever, here are 5 Asian-centered titles to stream Many of us have been glued to our screens lately, due to the quarantine, and there has been a heavy increase in the amount of Asian-American and Asian-centered content recently. Whether it’s new or just new to streamers, there’s a title for every audience member: Check out Kim’s Convenience or Mindy Kaling’s new series Never Have I Ever for the laughs, Parasite and other Bong Joon Ho movies for the social commentary, or the film The Half of It if you’re in the mood for a fresh rom-com.
PARASITE and more Bong Joon Ho films Available on Hulu
KIM’S CONVENIENCE Season 4 on Netflix
We’ve gotten to know the hilarious Kim family throughout three seasons: airhead jock Jung (Simu Liu), his photographer sister Janet (Andrea Bang), and their strict but loving parents, Umma (Jean Yoon) and Appa (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee). They may all be totally different, but the Kims all have one thing in common: they’re terrible communicators. This means although Jung has made strides, like locking down a girlfriend and working on his strained relationship with Appa, season 4 will still have all the hilarious misadventures we’re used to from the Korean-Canadian clan. The stakes might be low — there’s a whole plotline about boy band moves vs. Scottish highland dancing — but the laughs, like always, are high.
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August 2020 | Entertainment
If you didn’t catch the Oscar-winning film in theaters, you can now watch Bong’s Parasite on Hulu. And make it the main event of any movie marathons you’re planning, because the masterpiece demands your full attention. To borrow a phrase from Saturday Night Live’s Stefon, this movie has everything: smart humor, an insane plot, plus scathing criticism of capitalism. And after your mind’s been blown and you can’t get enough of the South Korean filmmaker, watch his other brilliant features on the streamer.Whether you want to screen the dark comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite, the drama Mother, or the horror film The Host, there’s a Bong movie out there for every cinephile.
TIGERTAIL
Available on Netflix
Parks & Recreation scribe Alan Yang stepped away from comedy to write and direct this moving, sprawling immigrant drama based on his father’s life. We see a charming, vivacious Taiwanese young man achieve his dream of going to America, but it comes at the cost of leaving the love of his life behind. Tigertail is beautifully shot, boasting a quietly powerful performance from lead Tzi-Ma, and as Yang told Entertainment Weekly (EW), it’s a oneof-a-kind story featuring two countries and three different languages.
“It’s about the journey from Asia to America, so you can talk about all these Taiwanese directors,” Yang said. “But they never directed a movie where the main character goes to America halfway through, and then a lot of the movie’s in English after that. That movie doesn’t exist and it didn’t really exist until now.”
NEVER HAVE I EVER Available on Netflix
From creators Kaling and Lang Fisher comes a fresh coming-of-age story centered around Indian-American teen Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). In the 10-episode series, Devi has to navigate what “normal” means for a girl who’s juggling two cultures, coping with the death of her father, and — because she’s a teenager — “ready to bone” her crush, Paxton (Darren Barnet). Social media has fallen in love with the series for its honest portrayal of adolescence and Ramakrishnan’s comedy chops. “Never Have I Ever anchors its hormonal hijinks in authentic, poignant female friendships. Devi’s friends are more than sidekicks: Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) is a robotics whiz coming to terms with her sexuality, and drama-club president Eleanor (Ramona Young) has her own family issues to deal with,” she wrote.“Though Devi’s obsession with Paxton sometimes makes her a bad friend, Kaling and Lang always lead their heroine back to the BFFs who love her... And even when Devi is a bit of a jerk, she’s still a goddamn delight.”
THE HALF OF IT
Available on Netflix
Netflix has been killing the rom-com game with offerings like the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before film series, Always Be My Maybe, and Someone Great — and The Half of It looks to be another winner. Leah Lewis stars as Ellie Chu, an introverted overachiever in a small, conservative town who earns extra cash writing papers for her classmates. When
jock Paul (Daniel Diemer) turns to her for help writing love letters to popular girl Aster (Alexxis Lemire), Ellie and Paul strike up an unlikely friendship — but only Ellie knows that they’ve both fallen for the same girl. It’s not often we see LGBTQ rom-coms, and one starring Asian Americans feels even rarer. And better yet, The Half of It also looks to share a deeper message. “Part of the joy is that you can go on that journey looking for your other half, but the point isn’t the finding, the point is that journey will help you learn more about yourself,” writer and director Alice Wu told EW.
BONUS! Avatar: The Last Airbender Available on Netflix
While its creators and most of its voice cast weren’t Asian, Avatar: The Last Airbender was heavily influenced by Chinese martial arts and Asian mythology, along with Inuit cultures. Plus, I’ll use any excuse to rewatch the iconic animated series.
Written by Rachel Yang and originally printed on ew.com. Asian Movies/Shows to Stream | asian avenue magazine
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ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS INNOVATIVE ANNUAL GALA EVENT One of the signature events of the Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is the annual ACC Gala. A popular and consistently sold out event, the 2020 ACC Gala was happily anticipated by members, sponsors and guests. However, like all events everywhere, the plans evaporated in the face of COVID-19. But, rather than completely abandon the event, Peggy Moore, ACC Special Projects Coordinator re-invented the concept into the first ever “Gala-To-Go”, which supported area Asian-owned restaurants/businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The event was held on July 17 at Twin Dragon Restaurant in Englewood, Colo. Similar to previous ACC galas, the “Gala-To-Go” featured a fine dinner, a silent auction, an ACC update and messages from Board Chair, Travis Tom and President/CEO Fran Campbell. The difference was that the dinner was a curbside pickup; the silent auction was online; and the ACC update was through a fun Zoom meeting.
The event also featured virtual salutations from Governor Jared Polis, Japan Consul General Midori Takeuchi, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Jerry Chang. Guests also heard from the University of Colorado Denver/Asian Chamber of Commerce scholarship recipient, Kathleen Le. The exceptional hallmark of the event was the simultaneous, same-day delivery of meals to the frontline healthcare workers at Denver Health Medical Center, which was made possible by generous donations from ACC corporate sponsors.
Congratulations to the Asian Chamber of Commerce Board, staff, volunteers, donors and corporate sponsors for the resounding success of a unique event! Please support Asian American Pacific Islander owned small businesses!
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August 2020 | On Scene
Left: The ACC to-go gala dinner included food and drinks from: • Celestial Bakery • Comrade Brewing Company • Mama’s Noodle Café • Misaki on Broadway • Philnor Liquors • Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot • Twin Dragon (hostess “Mama” Shiou Wang)
The ACC also delivered meals to the frontline healthcare workers at Denver Health Medical Center.
AURORA SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO MORE THAN 600 FAMILIES By Mar y Jeneverre Schultz
JULY 15TH FOOD GIVEAWAY More than 7,000 pounds and 1,000 bags of fresh produce, quality food, PPE supplies and prepared meals were given to over 600 families in need Gave away an additional $2,000 in gift cards to those same families courtesy of AMCap, Gardens on Havana and Market Square on Havana In partnership with On Havana Street, 19 local small businesses participated 71 volunteers donated 318.5 hours over a 4-day period By partnering with Rocky Mountain Welcome Center, Village Exchange Center and Saranya Cooks Thai (immigrant/refugee-serving organizations) the giveaway delivered culturally appropriate groceries to families with special dietary needs Aurora City Council members Juan Marcano and Dave Gruber, as well as City of Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, stopped by to support the event
Aurora Sister Cities International, On Havana Street and Food Collective Kitchen banded together to provide 1,000 bags of groceries to Aurora families and those in need. Partnering with On Havana Street and Aurora Sister Cities, Korea Committee, the group created the Food Kitchen Collective to raise donations to purchase food and freshly prepared meals from restaurants and businesses along Havana Street. M-Mart and H-Mart generously donated 5,000 Korean soup noodles, 2,000 Choco-Pies, 500 bottles of hand sanitizer, 2,000 pairs of gloves, 500 face masks, 1,000 packs of seaweed snacks and a variety of other food items. With the donations from M-Mart and H-Mart as well as monetary donations from Comcast, the Law Office of Lee, Myers & O’Connell and other private donors, the group filled tote bags with high quality food, prepared meals and PPE materials to give to the community, while supporting the local restaurants.. “Supporting small businesses and families in the Aurora area was an amazing way to meet new people and partner together to make this event happen,” said Jana Clark,
program coordinator of Aurora Sister Cities International. Other businesses involved were: Solomon’s European Deli and Bakery, Dae Gee Korean BBQ, Ifka Cafe, O Bok Korean Rice Cake, Seoul Korean BBQ, Seoul ManDoo, Saranya Cooks Thai, and Thank Sol Pocha. “This was a huge endeavor which resulted in new partnerships, friendships and meaningful help to individuals and families in Aurora. We could not have done this work without our volunteers, supporters, the generosity of M-Mart and H-Mart, On Havana Street - Havana Business Improvement District, and the amazing businesses along Havana Street.” “The Stampede staff let us use their facility to package and hand out all the food bags which made accessing the food easier for the community. We are grateful for everyone involved and hope that all the families that came for food can stay healthy and well,” Clark said. Learn more about the Aurora Sister Cities International at aurorasistercities.org or follow them on at: fb.com/ASCI.org. Follow On Havana Street at fb.com/ OnHavanaStreet or instagram. com/onhavanastreet. On Scene | asian avenue magazine
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THE FUTURE OF BOOK PUBLISHING: How authors are using virtual platforms during the pandemic D EB O RA H
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By Mar y Jeneverre Schultz
The publishing process Publishing takes a long time, from putting an idea onto paper to finding an agent. Then after a draft is written, there’s the copyediting process and marketing the book. Copyediting itself could take anywhere from three to eight months, and that’s on a fast track. The marketing aspect includes touring local bookstores and libraries in the author’s hometown. Depending on popularity, book tours could also be national or international. But like most retailers, bookstores are closed. Book tours and author appearances are cancelled. Book fairs and festivals are postponed. Publishing and printing houses are not in full operation. Thus, approval of manuscripts are delayed because publishing houses are operating on a “wait-and-see” attitude. Magazines and journals, on the other hand, are seeing a huge uptick of article submissions since most writers are quarantined at home. Time to pivot to the virtual world Staying at home should allow for more time to read but if books can’t get into the hands of the reader, then it’s a wash. Authors are considering how to reach their readers by utilizing virtual tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Facebook and Instagram videos. If you’re following authors like Amy Tan or Kevin Kwan on social media, you would be privy to their schedules. For example, as a wildlife advocate, Tan facilitated an educational webinar in collaboration with WildAid (wildaid.org), an organization involved in a campaign to protect pangolins in China.
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August 2020 | Books
Weeks later, she participated in another virtual event, hosted by the Gold House to discuss her book turned movie, Joy Luck Club with the daughter-actresses of the film. For the first time, Tan along with actresses Lauren Tom, Ming-Na Wen, Rosalind Chao and Tamlyn Tomita engaged in conversations with executive producer Janet Yang and investor Aileen Lee on the iconic novel, the movie and the progress of Asian women over the last 30 years. (Recording available at fb.com/watch/GoldHouseCo).
Oscar-nominated and triple Sundance award-winning filmmaker, author and curator Arthur Dong conducted his first virtual presentation last July 1 with Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning producer Janet Yang. As a chance to promote his book, Hollywood Chinese, Dong shared about his research and insights on mainstream Hollywood from the perspective of a Chinese American. He also offered attendees a discounted price for a copy of his book that would include his autograph and a personal inscription (deepfocusproductions.com).
AR TH U
Like everything, COVID-19 has affected authors, bookstores, libraries and the publishing world. Denver artist and poet Deborah Jang (deborahjang.com) published her poems earlier this year in the book Float True, which was delayed due to the pandemic. “I was trying to find meaning in all this chaos,” said Jang, adding her book was scheduled to be released when COVID-19 forced everyone to quarantine back in March. Jang’s desire to publish comes from a lifetime of work and wanting to share it. “It was my push to be more public,” she said.
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An industry that is hurting On the other side of the coin, employees of bookstores are encountering hard times. Book sellers are having to furlough or let go of their employees as they struggle to keep doors open. Many bookstores are doing their best to shift to telephone or online orders with curbside pickup (many still don’t offer online ordering). Barnes & Noble, still the nation’s biggest bookstore chain, has managed to keep its stores open wherever it can. Publishers and individuals are contributing to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (bincfoundation.org), a charitable foundation that supports booksellers and their staff, who may be furloughed or struggling with medical expenses, evictions, funeral expenses, disaster assistance, domestic violence, etc. It’s hard to determine what the new “normal” might be in any industry. In publishing, perhaps this quarantine time allowed readers to amp up their reading time. Maybe, this time became a chance to catch up on those piles of books set aside. It has allowed both readers and writers to check out new technologies and connect via virtual platforms. And it has also motivated authors to consider upcoming trends and futuristic stories. It will be exciting to see what pandemic stories come out of 2020.
To promote new authors, international best-selling author Kevin Kwan hosted an Instagram event on July 7 with new author Lauren Ho, who released her debut novel, Last Tang Standing in June. Readers are showing up to these virtual meetings in huge numbers. In fact, the Joy Luck Club event was attended by at least 1,000 fans and readers. Young adult fiction and medical mystery writer Lydia Kang doesn’t miss the in-person events. “I’m happy to do everything from home,” admitted Kang, who confessed that book tours are exhausting and that she is an introvert. Her sales are coming from e-books. Kang released her newest book, Opium and Absinthe on July 1; she hosted a virtual launch party on July 12 (lydiakang.com).
Support your local bookstores, borrow books from your libraries and buy e-books, hardcopies or both.
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14190 E Jewell Ave. Unit 1, Aurora, CO 80012 | 303-751-5007 Publishing During the Pandemic | asian avenue magazine
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