COVER STORY: Asian cuisine is as

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

A Taste of Japan 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

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.

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.

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

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 ev

Chinese Restaurants Ebb and Flow

eryone eating together. 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 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.

Chinese Restaurants Ebb and Flow

By Annie Guo VanDan

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

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.

Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)

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.

Discover Lao Cuisine

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

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. Mouk Gai

Signature Dishes

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.

Nam Khao

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 (Grilled/fried pork and white rice)

TREY BROMA CHOMHOY (Steamed Salted Fish with Pork and Eggs)

TREY CHEAN CHOUN

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.

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.

(Ginger Fish with Salted Soybean)

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

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 Thai Cuisine Takeover

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.

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 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.

Jaya Asian Grill, Denver

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.

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.

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. PARASITE and more Bong Joon Ho films

Available on Hulu

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.”

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

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.”

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 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.

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)

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!

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 Mary 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.

THE FUTURE OF BOOK PUBLISHING:

How authors are using virtual platforms during the pandemic

D E B O R A H J A N G

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.

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.

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

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).

A R T H U R D O N G

L Y D I A K A N G

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).

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.

Support your local bookstores, borrow books from your libraries and buy e-books, hardcopies or both.

LISA NGUYEN

P L E A S E S T A N D H E R E

POR FAVOR, MANTENER UNA DISTANCIA DE 6 PIES DE LOS DEMÁS MAINTAIN A 6’ DISTANCE FROM OTHERS back

Detenga la propagación de gérmenes Ayude a prevenir la transmisión de enfermedades respiratorias como el COVID-19.

6 pies

Mantenga al menos 6 pies (aproximadamente la longitud de 2 brazos) de distancia de otras personas. Cúbrase con un pañuelo desechable la nariz y la boca al toser o estornudar, luego bótelo en la basura y lávese las manos.

Cuando esté en un lugar público, use una cubierta de tela para la cara sobre su nariz y boca. Evite tocarse los ojos, la nariz y la boca. Limpie y desinfecte los objetos y superficies que se tocan con frecuencia.

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Aurora21@MinutemanPress.com www. Aurora21-CO.MinutemanPress.com

cdc.gov/coronavirus -es 316917AF May 27, 2020 3:16 PM Quédese en casa cuando esté enfermo, excepto para recibir atención médica. Lávese las manos frecuentemente con agua y jabón por al menos 20 segundos. Get Social Distancing

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