Asian Avenue Magazine - March 2024

Far East Center recognized as historic property in Colorado

MoonRise Garden Bar opens in Wheat Ridge

April 28 - May 4, 2024

ASIAN AVENUE - PRESIDENT’S NOTE

Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine

Connect with us!

hello@asianavemag.com

@asianavemag

Nominate heroes in our local Asian American community for this year’s Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards. Awardees will be recognized on May 19, 2024. Nominate at tinyurl.com/aahero2024

This month, we take a moment to breathe and fully settle into the new year. February was packed with Lunar New Year events and celebrations across Colorado. Certainly our local lion dance troupes are deserving of a break! What an incredible month filled with cultural traditions and community joy.

Congratulations to the Far East Center for recently being added to the state’s historic registry. This designation, given by History Colorado, recognizes the legacy of the Luong family, refugees from Vietnam, who established the Far East Center in the 1980s. The center provides much more than shopping, and has truly become a community space for our Asian American communities.

For those of us who grew up in Denver, we have seen the importance of the Far East Center for our families. And now, the cultural events and celebrations are being passed down to our children and the next generation. Thank you to Mimi Luong, her parents Thanh and Phung, and her husband Michael for their tireless efforts to keep our cultural traditions alive -- despite how little sleep they have been getting from the nonstop educational workshops of the Year of the Dragon Initiative! Your commitment to supporting our community is beyond appreciated!

Lastly, in this issue, we highlight the experiences of three local chefs -- J.W. Lee (Seoul Hospitality Group), Blaine Baggao (Moonrise Garden Bar), and Peaches Ayers (Adrift). Each of them bring a diverse perspective and unique way of approaching food that have elevated Colorado’s local food scene!

ASIAN AVENUE TEAM

Publisher & Founder

CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO

President

ANNIE GUO VANDAN

Editorial Director

MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ

Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO

Web Designer JASON ZHANG Staff Writer

JESSALYN LANGEVIN Staff Writer

PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG

on the cover

Michael Ye, Mimi Luong, and their sons Landon and Noah celebrate the Lunar New Year at Far East Center, where their family owns and runs Truong An Gifts.

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 hello@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Send story ideas to hello@asianavemag.com.

Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

7 EVENT CALENDAR

8 UPCOMING EVENT: Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival announces exciting line-up for March 14-17

10 COVER STORY: Far East Center joins State Register of Historic Places while ‘ celebrating Lunar New Year

13 FEATURE: Lunar New Year On Havana Street brings festivities to Aurora

14 SPOTLIGHT: Blaine Baggao of Adobo introduces new concept: MoonRise Garden Bar and more coming soon!

ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE

P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888

E-mail: hello@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com

16 SPOTLIGHT: J.W. Lee attracts new eaters to his Japanese pub Leezakaya, his most recent addition to Seoul Hospitality Group

18 SPOTLIGHT: Chef Peaches Ayers creates fusion dishes at the Polynesian/Caribbean restaurant and bar Adrift

22 NATIONAL NEWS: Amache in Granada, Colo. becomes newest national park

23 ON SCENE: Colorado Nepalese Community shares culture, food, and dance with Asian Chamber of Commerce

Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival

March 14-17

Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E Colfax Ave, Denver

All Access Pass $75; Individual Tickets/Events $15 - $40 cdfilm.org

Colorado Dragon Boat Film and Denver Film partners again this year to present the only Asian and Asian American film festival in Colorado. This year’s event with a theme, “Connecting through Cultures: Art, Food, Cinema, & Beyond,” includes eight feature films, and two short film showcases that highlight local and student filmmakers. An Asian Marketplace will feature gifts, artwork, crafts and novelties from Asianowned businesses on Saturday, March 14.

Holi Festival of Colors

Sunday, March 24 | 12pm to 5pm

Paradise Tavern

9239 Park Meadows Drive Lone Tree

Tickets: $26 General | $15 Children 7-13 Free for under age 6 Search on EventBrite for tickets

The 12th annual Festival of Colors in Colorado is a time to celebrate the coming of spring, the joy of friendship, and equality for all. All nationalities and ethnicities are encouraged to participate! To signify unity, the events kicks off with a Unified Color Throw. Come dressed in white and play with colors! Enjoy a Bollywood dance lesson and party with DJ Prashant, and food/drink will be available for purchase.

Tai Chi at the Park

Sunday, April 7 | 11am to 1pm

City of Kunming Park

200 E Harvard Ave, Denver

Event is free but requires registration cacendenver.org

AANHPI youth (ages 4-15) and families are invited to participate in this two-hour tai chi and wellness event, organized by CACEN and Outdoor Asian Colorado. Learn the tai chi qigong 18 movement, followed by breaking up into smaller groups fo fun and active games. Families will then enjoy snacks and lunch at the park or food from a local AANHPI food truck will be on-site. The event will end with introductions and announcements from the participating organizations, followed by a tai chi breathing activity.

ANNOUNCING THE COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FILM FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Denver Film and Colorado Dragon Boat have announced the line-up for the 9th Annual Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival, opening March 14 and running through March 17 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave, in Denver.

Founded in 2016, this year’s Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival continues its fifth-year partnership with Denver Film. The four-day all Asian and Asian American Film Festival is programmed with the theme “Connecting Through Cultures,” which honors individuals, organizations and films that highlight the rich cultures and experiences of AANHPI communities.

The Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival returns to the Sie FilmCenter March 14 with an Opening Night presentation of Happy Sandwich, a colorful exploration of Okinawa cuisine and culture told through a blend of documentary and fiction. The Festival will conclude March 17 with a presentation of the science fiction comedy Moon Man, which follows an astronaut who finds himself stranded on the moon after an asteroid wipes out life on earth. A reception will follow the screening.

“We are honored to continue our partnership with Denver Film and the Sie FilmCenter to provide Colorado audiences with the only Asian and Asian American Film Festival,” said Colorado Dragon Boat Executive Director Sara Moore. “This year’s theme for the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival is ‘Connecting through Cultures: Art, Food, Cinema, & Beyond!’ Attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves with films from all over Asia and the USA, explore interesting topics at our free community conversations, shop til they drop at our Asian marketplace, and have their taste buds explode with flavor at our culinary event.”

In addition to a diverse film lineup, this year’s festival includes Q&As with filmmakers, two creative conversations featuring local community members, and the special presentation of the Golden Dragon Award on Friday, March 15 to actress Ji-young Yoo.

Born in Denver, Ji-young Yoo attended Colorado Academy, before moving on to the University of Southern California to major in Cinema and Media Studies. In addition to SMOKING TIGERS, which Yoo won the Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, she can currently be seen in the Amazon Prime series, EXPATS, opposite Nicole Kidman.

On Saturday, March 16 from 10 to 11 a.m., Colorado Dragon Boat will host “Connecting Through Cultures with Asian American Adoptees,” a community conversation exploring the ways in which Asian American adoptees add texture to the dissonance they may encounter and honoring the multifaceted layers of their cultural journeys. On Sunday, March 17 from 10 - 11 a.m, Colorado Dragon Boat will host “Connecting Through Cultures with Food & Food Ways,” showcasing how food becomes a powerful vehicle for connection to one’s home culture. Attendees are encouraged to participate and bring their own experiences to share. Both conversations will be held at the Sie FilmCenter.

The festival will also feature live Q&As with filmmakers immediately following the Saturday, March 16, 11:30 a.m. presentation of the Short Films Showcase and the Emerging Artist Showcase, Sunday, March 17 at noon.

Other highlights include: An Asian Marketplace featuring gifts, artwork, crafts and novelties from local AANHPI-owned businesses on Saturday, March 16 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Sie FilmCenter lobby, a Centerpiece presentation of the Taiwanese family drama Old Fox on Saturday, March 16 at 7:15 p.m, and a culinary experience and reception in the Sie FilmCenter lobby on Sunday, March 17 at 11 a.m.

Full festival passes are $65 for Denver Film Members/$75 Non-Member, and individual film tickets are $12 for Denver Film Members/$15 Non-Member. Individual tickets and full festival passes are on sale at denverfilm.org.

HAPPY SANDWICH

Director: Tsukasa Kishimoto

Opening Night - Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m.

In this uplifting documentary/fiction hybrid, Shogo Manna, the owner of a local BBQ joint, is told by Shinto priests to make a sandwich to offer to the gods. In order to fulfill this request Manna travels around to interview people involved in all aspects of food in Okinawa. In his conversations with the producers and chefs, he listens to their thoughts on their food and lifestyles, and moves toward his own idea of what could be a ”Sandwich for God.” Includes a pre-film reception featuring food and drinks at 6 p.m.

YOU & ME & ME

Directors: Wanweaw Hongvivatana, Weawwan Hongvivatana

Friday, March 15, 1:15 p.m.

In 1999, while the world is gripped by Y2K hysteria, identical twin sisters “You” and “Me” are also concerned for their future. The twins share a uniquely close bond together. That is until a charming teenage boy enters their lives in this pleasant coming-of-age romantic tale.

BECKY & BADETTE

Director: Jun R. Lana

Friday, March 15, 4 p.m.

In this heartwarming comedy about friendship and second chances, high school best friends Becky and Badette find themselves struggling in their mid40s. Despite this, they never lose hope that one day their big dream will come true: to become the famous celebrities they were always meant to be.

SMOKING TIGERS

Director: Shelly Yo

Golden Dragon Presentation - Friday, March 15, 7 p.m.

Hayoung, played by rising star Jiyoung Yoo, is a lonely 16-year-old Korean-American girl struggling with her identity at an elite summer boot camp. Full of teenage angst, hidden shame, and the desire to fit in, Hayoung hides her problematic family woes and lower-income background. She staggers between the demise of her parent’s marriage while attempting to make new friends, only to discover the bittersweet pains of coming-of-age. Includes postfilm Q&A with director Shelly Yo, actress Ji-young Yoo, and producer Guo Guo and a post-film reception.

ELEGIES

Director: Ann Hui

Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m.

Venice Career Golden Lion-winning auteur Ann Hui documents a topic she holds most dear – poetry. Through her personal encounters with some of Hong Kong’s most notable poets, Hui shows the topography of contemporary poetry on and of the city. Two poles of reality, the unrestrained Huang Can-ran and the cosmopolitan Liu Wai-tong, are juxtaposed to reveal two distinctively different personalities, ideals, and ways of life.

ONE WITH THE WHALE

Directors: Pete Chelkowski, Jim Wickens

Saturday, March 16, 4:30 p.m.

Hunting whales is a matter of life or death for the Indigenous people of St. Lawrence, a tiny island in the Bering

Sea. So, when Chris Agra Apassingok becomes the youngest person to ever harpoon a whale for his Alaskan village, his mother proudly shares the news on Facebook. To her surprise, thousands of keyboard activists brutally attack Chris without fully understanding the scope of his accomplishment. One with the Whale is a heartwarming yet thrilling documentary of one family’s struggle to rebuild their shattered identities and regain a new foothold in both the ancient and modern world.

OLD FOX

Director: Hsiao Ya-Chuan Centerpiece Presentation

Saturday, March 16, 7:15 p.m.

In this ‘80s set family drama, elevenyear-old Liao Jie and his father have been saving money to buy a home. However, things do not go as planned and Liao Jie comes to realize the harsh reality of being poor. He then forms a relationship with “Old Fox”, their landlord who mentors Liao Jie to survive in a rapidly changing society.

MOON MAN

Directors: Chiyu Zhang

Closing Night - Sunday, March 17, 3 p.m.

A Chinese box-office smash hit, this comedic sci-fi adventure finds an asteroid on track for a direct impact on Earth. A plan is hatched to deploy an Earth saving shield on the moon. But when things go awry, astronaut Dugu Yue becomes the “last human in the universe.”

See the full schedule, including films in the Short Films Showcase and artists in the Emerging Artists Showcase, at cdfilm.org.

Far East Center joins the State’s Register of Historic Properties by History Colorado

The Far East Center, a shopping center established by Vietnamese refugees in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, has been added to the State Register of Historic Properties by History Colorado’s Board of Directors.

This addition enshrines a cornerstone of Colorado’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the historic record and is an important step toward ensuring the State Register of Historic Properties better represents the diverse communities of the Centennial State.

“Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and their contributions to our shared history, are significantly underrepresented on both the State and National Registers,” said Patrick Eidman, chief preservation officer and deputy state historic preservation officer. “The addition of the Far East Center not only helps the State Register tell a more complete history of Colorado,

but also preserves the remarkable story of the Luong family coming to the United States, after being displaced and losing their worldly possessions as a result of the Vietnam War, and building this remarkable center of culture and commerce.”

Opened in 1988, the Far East Center features two large commercial buildings and is identified by a large Asian-themed Torii-style entry gate standing on its eastern edge. The site is characterized by the iconic red tile roofs on the entry gate and commercial buildings, a stylized Guardian Lion Statue, and the presence of signage presented in both Vietnamese and English.

Only the third property on the State Register dedicated to the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander Coloradans, the Far East Center was designed to evoke East Asian architectural styles and has a close connection to Denver’s Vietnamese immigrants and their descendants as

well as the broader AAPI community.

This connection to the settlement of Vietnamese immigrants and refugees in Colorado following the end of the Vietnam war, along with the site’s unique architectural characteristics – and its contributions to the economic growth of AAPI Denverites who continue to own and operate many of its businesses – were identified as contributing factors to the Far East Center’s historical importance.

“This is a huge honor for us that really highlights the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that went into the creation of this plaza,” said Mimi Luong, owner of Truong An Gifts.

“My family sold their small businesses and invested everything without knowing if it would pan out and it’s been a very emotional experience to receive this recognition.”

Luong’s father, Thanh, emigrated to Denver in 1975, fleeing from Vietnam. He joined the wave of Vietnamese refugees coming to the city and

Members of the Luong family celebrate the Far East Center’s designation as a historic place in Colorado with city officials and members of History Colorado and Historic Denver on February 25, 2024.

setting up businesses along Federal Boulevard.

Thanh Luong and his brothers Thong and Nghia purchased the land that is now the Far East Center in 1986 and the Center has since become a staple in the area and Asian community.

Beyond its importance to the Luong family, the Far East Center has become a cornerstone of Denver’s Little Saigon District and serves as the venue for annual celebrations that provide a sense of place for the Asian community. The businesses in the Far East Center also provide

access to goods and foods central to many East Asian cultures that are not commonly carried at larger grocery stores.

“The Asian communities miss their food. This is a key part of our cultures and we try to keep that alive with businesses here,” Luong said. “We consider ourselves the heart of the community ‘Little Saigon’, but since we started the plaza, the community has organically grown and expanded around us as people began to invest into not just Vietnamese but also Chinese-, Thai-, and Korean-owned small businesses.”

The addition of the Far East Center to the State Register of Historic Properties is part of History Colorado’s Colorado Heritage for All Initiative. An intentional effort to address the lack of representation of all Colorado’s diverse communities on the State and National Register of Historic Places, the initiative lists the 150 currently unrecognized historic resources that tell the stories of marginalized communities by the end of 2026.

Learn about the initiative and provide suggestions for historic sites at: historycolorado.org/coloradoheritage-all.

The Luong brothers founded Denver’s Far East Center in the late 1980s

Mimi and Phung Luong organized cultural workshops this year to educate the community about Lunar New Year.

Mimi Luong grew up helping her mother Phung at their family business in the Far East Center.

Thong Luong (third from left), his wife Mai, and his sons Hung (left) and Oai (right) are a part of the Luong family that established the Far East Center.

On Feb. 25, (from left) Hung, Mai, and Oai return to the Far East Center for the special distinction and take a photo in the same spot (as above) 35 years later.

Far East Center takes Lunar New Year Celebrations to the next level for the Year of the Dragon!

Snow or shine! Lunar New Year celebrations at the Far East Center continued on each weekend of February, as there was so much to celebrate!

In addition to the Far East Center being added to History Colorado’s State Register of Historic Properties, this year, the Far East Center also received a grant from the Neighborhood Activation Program offered through Denver Economic Development & Opportunity. The grant supported cultural experiences and educational workshops, called the Year of the Dragon Initiative, highlighting the significance

of the Lunar New Year holiday for Asian/ Asian American communities.

“The Year of the Dragon Initiative stands out as one of my proudest projects. The concept was to share culture and traditions surrounding Lunar New Year leading up to the holiday, said Mimi Luong, lead organizer for the initiative.

“We hosted 55 classes and collaborated with 80-plus small businesses, chefs, instructors, schools, organizations, artists, and more. Through this initiative, we reached more than 150,000 people, creating an amazing and uplifting expe-

rience for our community.”

Programs included chinese calligraphy, dumpling making, acupuncture, anime, and so much more! The events took place in addition to the Far East Center’s annual Lunar New Year celebration on February 10-11.

“It was in this moment that I recognized the need for a community center dedicated to continuing these immersive cultural experiences. Our aspiration is to sustain these workshops and contribute more to our community’s enrichment,” said Luong.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver City Council President Jamie Torres welcome the crowd to the Lunar New Year festivities.

Lunar New Year On Havana Street celebrates inaugural event at The Stampede in Aurora

On February 4, the Colorado community came out to The Stampede in Aurora to enjoy cultural performances, delicious food, and local business vendors.

Presented by On Havana Street, community partners included Bonfire Event Co., Asian Avenue Magazine, and Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

The daylong event began with a lion dance and martial arts performance by Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Association and the Lion Dance. Mayor Mike Coffman welcomed guests and also helped make

kimchi with Seoul Hospitality Group.

With firecrackers being lit in the parking lot, guests enjoyed food and drinks from 16 local vendors, in addition to 40 more Global Market vendors.

Denver Taiko joined the festivities by sharing a powerful Taiko performance and KonnectPop engaged the crowd with their KPOP Showcase.

Later in the afternoon, Guiding Mountain Dragon & Lion Dance Association perform another lively lion dance and dragon dance.

Chance Horiuchi, Executive Director of Havana Business Improvement District said: “We want to thank you - every single one of you who came to eat, drink, shop, and support this extraordinary community. We could not have asked for a better way to welcome the Year of the Dragon!”

With the success of this inaugural event, plans are already being made for 2025, the Year of the Snake! Stay connected with On Havana Street at instagram.com/onhavanastreet.

Photo Credit: Simply Hao

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman (middle) helps make kimchi at the Lunar New Year event.

Flavors of the Philippines and Beyond

A Culinary Journey in Wheat Ridge’s Food Park

Chef and owner of Denver-based Adobo, a Filipino and New Mexican restaurant, Blaine Baggao is expanding his culinary talents.

Creative Food Concepts

On February 23, Baggao celebrated the opening of his newest venture, MoonRise Garden Bar & Food Truck Park at 6875 W. 38th Avenue in Wheat Ridge.

Adobo will be the primary food truck, as other local food trucks and vendors will be in and out of the 20,000-squarefoot space.

MoonRise will hold up to four food trucks and includes seating and a bar. Baggao’s long-time bartender and friend Dylan Zarett is creating the drink menu and managing the bar.

Zarett, who won bartender of the year in 2023 from the Colorado Restaurant Association, has been with Adobo since 2017 and helped develop the concept of MoonRise.

“We will introduce new concepts, as well as showcase entrepreneurs here,” said Baggao.

In addition to Adobo food truck, Adobo restaurant at 3109 N. Federal Blvd., in Denver, offers a menu of Filipino and New Mexican options with a touch of his ingenuity.

Adobo has been recognized as Top 100 Restaurant In Denver 2023 and 2024, Denver’s Best New Bar 2023, and Top 15 Live Music Venues, also offers award-winning tacos. The space also books private events.

Baggao had bought an existing site that holds memories of a Mexican bar, Hispanic restaurant, and saloon. In fact, former patrons of these old establishments have visited the restaurant to share their memories and vintage nostalgia with Baggao and his staff, including one who was a lead singer for weekend entertainment.

Adobo also offers catering service to either bring his food truck to locations without a kitchen and/or provide food for private parties and banquets or corporate settings.

In fact, they also offer Kamayan feasts to households that want to experience a traditional Filipino fiesta

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

equipped with banana leaves, rice, seafood, pork, chicken, beef, Lumpia (Filipino eggrolls), and so on.

During the month of October, the month designated as Filipino American History Month, Baggao stays busy for private Filipino parties.

He secures about two Kamayan feasts each month, designed for 5 to 20 diners. These feasts can include vegetarian options or hard-core Filipino delicacies, including salmon heads, chicken feet, smoked mackerel, and balut (fertilized developing duck embryo).

One of Adobo’s best kept secrets is that their Filipino flavors are offered at Meow Wolf, an immersive museum in Denver. While most museum goers visit Meow Wolf for its imaginary story line, they often miss heading to the cafeteria or bar. But it’s an eatery that should be visited, especially for local Filipino Americans.

Headlining the menu includes the famous Chicken Adobo, stewed and slow cooked in in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and Filipino spices. It is served

with green onion Doboyaki sauce, cilantro, and garlic annatto. Diners have the option to order the entrée as a rice bowl or taco.

Baggao Joins the Food Scene

Baggao worked in food and beverage on the CU Boulder campus for the football, basketball, and volleyball games, and even weddings. He first learned about hospitality while working at St. Julien Hotel in Boulder.

Although not trained as a chef, Baggao’s business sense and passion for the community has come into play. He confessed his deep love for food comes from his mother and grandmother. In fact, some of the Filipino dishes are his personal odes of gratitude to his grandmother, who he attributes to learning methods of cooking and refining his culinary skills. The Filipino foods most influenced by his grandmother are lumpia, pancit and chicken adobo.

Adobo’s recipe for lumpia (egg rolls), originates from his grandmother, who is 92 years old. “Aside from the wrapper, the egg rolls are made from scratch,” he said.

Baggao shares that his top three kitchen tools include: steel wool, a deep pan, and a smoker that allows him to cook 800 pounds of meat.

Baggao’s love for BBQ comes from his mom, who would take him to Applebee’s for the bottomless rib basket. After numerous visits to the neighborhood chain restaurant, his mom bought a smoker.

His favorite celebrity chef is Anthony Bourdain, and his favorite local chef is Corey Baker, sushi chef of Denver restaurant, Kumoya.

Personal Journey of Renewal

Before Baggao was bit by the entrepreneurial bug, he was steeped in a career of finances and investments. He had finished a degree in finance and with a math brain, he was a genius with numbers. He could visualize numbers in his brain like a Rubix cube.

Twelve years ago, he was in a headon collision with a vehicle while riding his motorcycle. The driver confessed she was not wearing her prescription eyeglasses and didn’t see Baggao. Witnesses shared that Baggao catapulted 40 feet forward.

Previously hard wired with an analytical mind, his brain evolved into using more of its right side, known for creativity. During his recuperation, he struggled with emotional regulation difficulties and isolating his friends and family, who attempted to care for him during the months after the accident.

“I couldn’t ride in other people’s cars, I was so terrified I would break off door handles,” he confessed.

Having lost his mother at a young age, he believes that healing from immense grief gave him the tools he needed to recover from the accident.

“I didn’t believe I could survive. But these traumatic events gave me a road map,” he admitted. “If I didn’t go through that I don’t think I could have survived the brain injury and ended up where I am.”

He has shared his personal journey of recovery from the brain injury at Asian American and Pacific Islander community events organized by Craig Hospital. With great emotions, it’s difficult to hold back tears, while listening to his personal testimony of recovery and his joy

for food and community.

As his businesses have grown, most of his crew have stayed loyal to his restaurant, either operating the food truck or joining the catering team.

Future Plans

At 39, his restaurant concepts are earning a revenue of over $1 million, but he doesn’t plan to stop there. He is always looking for the next food trend and opportunities to expand.

Happy Belly Productions is a group of industry professionals including Akasha Arnold, Blaine’s girlfriend who handles social media and customer experience; Amanda Stoecker, long time friend and food truck coordinator; and Max Rozier, a colleague and large event producer.

Together, their next project will book events from corporate lunches to larger event productions. Coming soon will be a BBQ concept at McGregor Square in downtown Denver.

Check out the menus and hours of Adobo at adoboxo.com and Moon Rise Garden Bar & Food Trucks at moon risegardenbar.com. Follow on Instagram at @adobodenver, @adoboden verxo and @moonrisegardenbar.

BLAINE BAGGAO FOUNDER OF MOONRISE GARDEN BAR

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

J.W. Lee creates a modern Japanese concept in Aurora

Leezakaya joins the Seoul Hospitality Group as Lee’s most recent restaurant concept.

Leezakaya stands as the latest concept in the restaurant holdings for Jong Wook Lee, better known as J.W. Lee.

Located on 2710 S. Havana Street in Aurora, it sits close to the Korean supermarket, H Mart, in the Korea Town Aurora area. Leezakaya is nestled in the heart of the Havana Business Improvement District that is known for its diverse businesses. Just drive up and down Havana Street to find hot pot restaurants, Korean BBQ eateries and smaller store fronts of dumplings, coffee, and donuts.

Lee’s culinary career began in Korea where he spent time learning the ropes in many restaurants. After immigrating to the US, he utilized his skills and passion to open more than 20 restaurants. Lee, who is now 51, is the founder of Seoul Hospitality Group (seoulhospgroup.com), which is a collection of his food and beverage businesses.

Leezakaya is born

Serving Japanese cuisine, with a modern twist, Leezakaya offers formal,

semi-formal and casual vibes all in one place to attract different types of diners and foodies.

Diners could opt for traditional “streetstyle” dining as a couple or small group of four, or head straight into the restaurant for the traditional sushi bar. Other diners, opting for a casual pub and bar, can sit in this area with videos and streaming movies from Asia. Large parties and gatherings can find tables to sit on tatami mats where the floor drops a little deeper for semi-formal dining.

Lee is updating and revising the menu weekly after gauging the interest of diners. “I want to offer smaller portions with affordable price points,” he said. His assessment comes from working with a staff of seven kitchen employees and five sous chefs. Currently, his staff is up to 25 part-time and full-time employees.

While most of the restaurants in his portfolio feature Korean food, he said, “It was the perfect time to create a Japanese concept on Havana Street,” Lee said. “And I wanted to diversify my

restaurant holdings.”

He shares that Leezakaya is his 24th restaurant idea in 25 years.

Continued growth and summer dining

Lee and his staff are already preparing for summer dining from June to September. A big patio will be offered for eager sun worshippers, who are patiently waiting for the warm weather to arrive.

Leezakaya began by only offering dinner service, but recently added weekend lunch as well. He hopes to continue growing his team which would allow for eventual weekday lunch service. However, he emphasizes the importance of quality in their food.

“I don’t play with quality,” he said. “I know we need to make the best, first impression.”

This has led Lee to reaching out to Asian American artists in the local area to create the restaurant’s artwork. He did discover one of his restaurant managers had the skill of calligraphy. You can find

the calligraphy work displayed in several areas of the restaurant’s floor. Other innovative artwork are found throughout the restaurant. It gives the restaurant a trendy, hipster-style ambiance.

While the menu offers a mix of sushi, kushi yaki (skewers), and entrees (like prime rib steak), some of the more popular dishes include the Jalapeno Hamachi, Uni Pasta, and Jampong, just to name a few.

Ambition and the U.S.

Growing up in Korea, Lee knew he was going to immigrate to the U.S., so he learned English in junior and high school. “As kids, it was the American dream to make it in the U.S.,” he said. “The US were welcoming chef talents.”

He started his “American Dream” in California, where he lived for about ten years. Then, he moved to Chicago and St. Louis, building his restaurant empire. But he found Colorado as the best place, crediting beautiful weather and the best place to raise his three children. So far, he has lived in Colorado for 15 years as the first-generation immigrants from South Korea.

“Looking back as a first-generation Korean immigrant, I would not change my path,” he said. “Chasing the American dream comes with learning how to create one’s journey.”

Even with all his restaurant holdings, he is always at his restaurant creating new dishes and working day-to-day in operations. His top three kitchen tools include: scissors, tongs, and passion.

Scissors allow him to chop and cut

when creating his dishes. “It’s the best tool in the kitchen,” he said. While tongs allow him the freedom to mix and mix. His passion and love for the food is a basic requirement.

“I love what I do. It always makes me feel the love when I see diners smile, it feels fantastic.”

Once a chef, always a chef

While Lee mostly manages and oversees the Seoul Hospitality Group now, he does enjoy cooking and supporting the restaurants.

Lee’s ‘go-to’ ingredient is kimchi. In fact, he and his staff use 60 cases of cabbage equating to eight containers shipped from Los Angeles to make the Korean traditional side dish from scratch. Consisting of salted and fermented vegetables, its common ingredients include napa cabbage or Korean radish.

Other ingredients include a wide selection of seasonings such as Korean chili powder, spring onions, garlic, and ginger. Each case of cabbage holds 15 to 20 heads. Lee is well versed with the science of fermentation. He indicated it takes five days from start to finish.

“If you mess it up, you can’t fix it,” he said.

Lee follows and has unparalleled admiration for local Denver chef Troy Guard. Lee admits he can’t even duplicate the many skills Chef Guard offers through his downtown restaurant, Guard and Grace. Lee also enjoys the food Chef Guard brings from Hawaii, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.

“I have so much respect for his style

and skill,” Lee said. “I would love to collaborate with him.”

When Lee finds free time during his seven-day operation, he dives into personal development books on business management. He is also increasing the benchmark of excellence through restaurant visits and upping the learning curve among his staff with more training.

When he is not cooking, Lee enjoys his meals at Seoul Korean BBQ, where he gets the most traditional Korean-style chargrilled entrees.

Food bloggers and Denver foodies are discovering Leezakaya through social media postings and word-of-mouth.

Experience the Japanese pub culture by visiting Leezakaya at 2710 S. Havana St., Aurora, CO 80014 or its website at leezayaka.com.

Chef Peaches:

The Culinary Wonders of Adrift’s Young Chef

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

As a young chef in Denver, it is an exhilarating and dynamic experience that goes beyond the confines of the kitchen. Denver’s culinary scene, vibrant and diverse, offers a unique platform for emerging talents to make their mark.

Starting her work life at 16 years old, Chef Peaches Ayers has experience working in food, retail, customer service, sales, and healthcare. She gravitated to food, discovering her love for cooking at 17.

“My business and leadership aspirations brought me to where I am today as the chef of Adrift,” said Ayers. “The combination of my love of food is what drives me to continue.”

In this city, being a young chef means embracing innovation and creativity. Denver’s food culture thrives on experimentation and a fusion of diverse influences, providing a canvas for culinary artists to craft new and exciting flavors. Whether it’s reimagining traditional dishes or introducing novel concepts, young chefs, such as Ayers, in Denver have the freedom to express their culinary identities.

Harrison Warters Photography

Background

Born and raised in Texas, she moved to Colorado in 2007. Ayers attributes her love of cooking and traditions to both her grandmothers.

With an ethnic background of Black, Creole, and Japanese, one of her grandmothers was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. She met her grandfather, who was stationed in a military base in Japan.

“My biggest inspirations will always be my grandmothers,” she said. “My grandmother from Louisiana taught me the importance of seasoning, taste, and love when it comes to cooking while my grandmother from Osaka taught me technical skills, the use of unique ingredients, and how to make use of every piece of food since she grew up during the war.”

Favorite dishes at Adrift

As a chef, Ayers retains creative freedom in devising dishes. One of her favorite creations is the well-known Hawaiian fusion dish of Poke Nachos.

Poke Nachos | Poke Nachos stands as a delectable and innovative dish that combines the vibrant flavors of Hawaiian poke with the beloved crunch of nachos. This culinary creation starts with a base of crispy tortilla chips, providing a satisfying texture that contrasts with the tender and fresh elements that follow. The nachos are generally topped with bite-sized cubes of sushi-grade raw fish, typically tuna or salmon, marinated in a flavorful blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, and other savory ingredients.

This fusion dish not only offers a visually appealing presentation with its vibrant array of ingredients but also promises a harmonious combination of textures and flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Whether enjoyed as a shared appetizer or a standalone culinary expe-

rience, poke nachos offer a unique and delightful twist on traditional nachos, showcasing the fusion of Hawaiian and Tex-Mex influences.

Ayers wasn’t sure if this dish would delight the diners and bar hoppers of Adrift, but diners gave her the confidence behind this creation.

“Poke Nachos turned into one of our top sellers,” she said. “They were originally intended to be a seasonal menu item and ended up becoming a permanent installment because they remain in such high demand.”

Loco Moco Smash Burger | Her second favorite dish (second creation for the menu) is the Loco Moco Smash Burger.

The Loco Moco Smash Burger is a tantalizing fusion of traditional Hawaiian flavors and the classic American smash burger. This innovative dish takes inspiration from the iconic Loco Moco, a Hawaiian comfort food staple, by featuring a succulent beef patty perfectly smashed on the grill for a crispy exterior.

The burger is then adorned with a luscious layer of savory, brown gray, reminiscent of the traditional Loco Moco sauce, and crowned with a sunny-sideup fried egg.

As a seasonal dish, the Loco Moco Smash Burger is offered during the spring and summer seasons. Ayers includes ingredients such as two ground beef and chorizo blended patties, freshly sliced cheddar cheese, a fried egg, micro greens, tonkatsu sauce, furikake, and a spicy kewpie aioli served on a Hawaiian style hamburger bun.

“In this dish, I also fused our style of food with my heritage,” she said. “The tonkatsu and furikake are Japanese ingredients while the use of chorizo is a nod to the use of pork in Hawaiian food.”

This dish elevated recognition for her work when it appeared in 5280 Magazine’s

Top 10 Best Burgers in Denver in 2023.

Collaboration

Being a young chef in Denver is about collaboration and community. The city’s culinary community is tight knit, fostering an environment where chefs share ideas, collaborate on projects, and support each other’s growth. This sense of camaraderie extends beyond the kitchen, creating a network that empowers young chefs to thrive in a competitive industry.

It also means a commitment to sustainability and local sourcing. Denver’s food scene places a premium on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Young chefs understand the significance of supporting local farmers and producers, not only to create exceptional dishes but to contribute to the community’s well-being and reduce their environmental impact.

Adventurous Spirit

Moreover, it means embracing the city’s adventurous spirit. Denverites share an appreciation for bold and adventurous flavors, and young chefs could push boundaries and introduce exciting culinary experiences.

From food trucks to pop-ups, the city encourages chefs to think outside the traditional restaurant model and engage with diners in unconventional ways.

In essence, being a young chef in Denver is a journey of exploration, creativity, and community. It’s about contributing to a culinary landscape that values authenticity, sustainability, and a willingness to push the boundaries of taste. As Denver continues to evolve as a food destination, young chefs play a pivotal role in shaping its gastronomic identity.

Check out Adrift at 218 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209 or visit their website at adriftbar.com.

Amache becomes newest national park

National Historic Site in Southeastern Colorado is now the newest national park. Amache, also known as the Granada Relocation Center, was one of ten incarceration camps that detained Japanese Americans under Executive Order 9066 during World War II, forcibly removing them from their homes. More than 10,000 people were incarcerated at Amache during World War II, which housed 7,310 Japanese Americans at its peak. Amache closed on Oct. 15, 1945.

Currently, the site consists of a historic cemetery, a monument, concrete building foundations, a road network, and several reconstructed and re-

Present Day Amache

More than 10,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned at the Granada Relocation Center in Colorado, also known as Amache, during World War II from 1942-1945.

Today, Amache joins six other national parks already established that preserve and interpret this painful chapter of American history.

stored structures from the World War II era including a barrack, recreation hall, guard tower and water tank.

Amache joins six other national parks already established to preserve this part of American history.

The town of Granada, Colo., acquired and donated the land needed to establish the site as a national park. For years it was maintained by the Amache Preservation Society and volunteers from the local high school.

In 2022, President Joe Biden designated Amache as part of the National Park System.

Last month, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland formally established the

“As a nation, we must face the wrongs of our past in order to build a more just and equitable future. The Interior Department has the tremendous honor of stewarding America’s public lands and natural and cultural resources to tell a complete and honest story of our nation’s history,” Haaland said.

“Today’s establishment of the Amache National Historic Site will help preserve and honor this important and painful chapter in our nation’s story for future generations.”

There is no fee to visit Amache, which is located about a three-and-a-half hour drive from Denver.

Amache

Amache National Historic Site.

Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado U.S. National Archives and Records Administration National

Colorado Nepalese Community shares food, culture and dance with business community

The Colorado Nepalese Community dazzled the audience on March 1, as they shared their stories and culture with members of the Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC).

As part of the chamber’s “ACC Business After Hours” series, and in collaboration with Sakura Foundation, local community organizations have been invited to share about their culture to the business community during these events.

Fran Campbell, President and CEO of ACC said: “We were thrilled to make new friends and connections at the ACC Business After Hours-Cultural Experience with the Colorado Nepalese Community. Thank you Binisha Shrestha for sharing your family, your stories, your culture, and the food!”

With the leadership and coordination

of Binisha Shrestha, the event highlighted aspects of Nepalese culture including a Kumari dance.

Shrestha said: “The Kumari dance is an ancient classical rare form of dance from Nepal. To find a person who can imitate those intricate steps was a real challenge plus the ornamental costumes are heavy. We literally went for a hunt who can do this, but someone came to our rescue abruptly! My sincere thanks to Lasata Ranjitkar and her mom Niru Ranjitkar for dedicating so many days for practice and rehearsals learning the tunes, ragas and the meaning behind it.”

Truly a community effort, Hem Ratna Bajracharya sent a set of Kumari costumes set (from head-to-toe) all the way from Nepal.

Shrestha emphasizes the impor-

tance of having opportunities to share authentic stories.

“At the end of the day, listening to stories, watching the performances, deep down I felt this is why representation matters. This is one reason why we need people from diverse cultures in different positions — like leadership positions. This is why we need to share these stories and have diverse stories shared in all aspects. People deserve to be seen and understood and to feel like their situations matter because they do,” said Shrestha.

Up next, Shrestha will be organizing the International Women’s Day event on March 9. Connect with the Colorado Nepalese Community on Facebook at: fb.com/coloradonepalesecommunity to learn about future programs and how to get involved.