Asian Avenue magazine - May 2020

May 2020

Volume 15 Issue 4

2020

Asian american heroes of colorado the resounding impact of covid-19

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W W W. C O M R A D E B R E W I N G . C O M

MAY

Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO

2020

President ANNIE GUO VANDAN

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in this issue FEATURE

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

COVER STORY

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2020 Asian American Heroes of Colorado are recognized for the 12th year by Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network

COVID-19 UPDATE

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Generosity in the time of COVID-19 The Class of 2020 - The Year of Virtual Graduations

BOOK REVIEW

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Patterns of India: A Journey Through

Colors, Textiles and the Vibrancy of Rajastahan by Christine Chitnis

RESTAURANT

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20th Street Café, gone but never forgotten

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May 2020 | Table of Contents

Web Designer JASON ZHANG

Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG Staff Writer JESSALYN HERRERIA LANGEVIN

on the cover Let’s celebrate our 2020 Asian American Heroes of Colorado: David Chen, Kenzo Kawanabe, Ratha Sok, Chance Horiuchi, and Erin Yoshimura.

Credit for Photo of Chance: Roman Tafoya

contributing writers Dan Langevin, Erin Yoshimura

FOOD

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Recipes for Asian Breads: Indian Chapati Bread, Steamed Chinese Buns, Ube Pan de Sal, Korean Taiyaki

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Quarantine Baking and Asian Bakeries

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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. Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss.

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The Rules are Changing for the Travel Industry

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

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Quarantine Edition!

We hope this time you have spent at home has allowed you to enjoy quality time with family, feast on home-cooked meals, and appreciate quiet moments in nature. As the state moves to the “Safer at Home” phase and ramps up testing this month, we wish you all good health and safety.

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This month, we are pleased to announce the 2020 Asian American Heroes of Colorado. The work and achievements of this year’s award recipients range from painting murals across the city of Denver to training young APIs leadership skills. During these uncertain times, we hope the stories of these individuals inspire you to spread positivity and generosity wherever you go.

Many stories of generosity have emerged in our communities—restaurants feeding our frontline healthcare workers, high school students fundraising for donations of PPE, and volunteers of all ages helping those most affected by the pandemic. It rings true that we are all in this together.

Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine www.asianavemag.com

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President’s Note | asian avenue magazine

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By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

May stands as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians Pacific Islanders in the United States.

Much of the history of Asian Americans remains untold. A majority of high school history books only tell the stories of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Japanese incarceration in three paragraphs or less.

Last year was the 150th Anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Roughly 15,000 Chinese workers helped build the railroad. In the years that followed, the Chinese workers would face rising anti-immigrant sentiment and violence, and would be barred from citizenship by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Last May 2019, the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC) shared with Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock this history. Hancock recognized the plight of the Chinese workers in a proclamation and officially declared May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month in Colorado.

How Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Began Like most commemorative months, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month started with Congress—and it was a long process to formally recognize May. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869.

Migration into Colorado Newspapers neglected to tell the stories of immigrant communities moving into the American West. “There were, for exam-

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May 2020 | Feature

Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission celebrates Mayor Hancock’s proclamation for Asian Pacific Heritage Month in Colorado. ple, many Chinatowns throughout the West until they suffered ethnic cleansing and were driven out of their communities,” said William Wei, professor of history at the University of Colorado.

“In spite of suffering discrimination and violence, those that remained made a life for themselves in Colorado and elsewhere, contributing to the diversity that has been one of the singular strengths of the United States. They exhibited true grit, a characteristic much valued in the American West.”

Chinese immigrants followed the Gold Rush and then found work on building the railroads and mining in places like Trinidad. Japanese immigrants followed after by working as migrant laborer or farming, building the agriculture industry in Colorado.

“In Colorado, one of the pull factors that brought them here was the state’s chronic need for workers. Asians were among the many immigrants, who contributed the physical labor necessary to build the infrastructure that made Colorado a place worth liv-

ing in,” said Wei. In recent years, Wei attributes Asian Americans in Colorado for vast contributions to the state’s information technology industry.

Where Denver’s LoDo stands today was once Chinatown—also known as Hop Alley—formed along Wazee Street. On October 31, 1880, a violent mob formed in Denver’s Chinatown destroying property and attacking every Chinese person and business in sight. Unfortunately, in 2020, Asian Pacific Islanders are again experiencing anti-Asian sentiment due to COVID-19.

If you experience or witness a hate crime, report it to one of these national websites: standagainsthatred.org or a3pcon. org/stopaapihate. Access the Asian Pacific Development Center’s Victims Assistance Program’s services including victim compensation funds; crisis counseling; case management and social services; and legal and personal advocacy. Learn more at: apdc. org/victimassistance.

Let this month be a time to celebrate the contributions of Asian Pacific Islanders to the rich history of the United States. May this be a time we come together, united in our differences.

TIMELINE FOR ASIANS IN COLORADO

By William Wei 1848 – Gold discovered in California; Chinese begin to arrive 1865 – Central Pacific Railroad Company recruits Chinese workers for the Transcontinental Railroad 1869 – Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad; First Chinese arrives in Denver 1880 – Anti-Chinese race riot destroys Denver’s Chinatown 1882 – Chinese Exclusion Act bars the admission of Chinese workers and affirms that Chinese immigrants are ineligible for naturalized citizenship 1907 – Japan and the United States reach so-called Gentlemen’s Agreement requiring Japan to stop the emigration of workers 1942 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs infamous Executive Order 9066 authorizing the military to exclude Japanese and Japanese Americans from the West Coast and their internment in concentration camps; Construction of the Amache concentration camp in southeast Colorado 1943 – Repeal of all Chinese exclusion laws, grants right of naturalization and allows 105 Chinese to immigrate to the US 1965 – Hart-Celler Act abolishes the discriminatory “national origins quota” system, allowing Asians to immigrate to the United States in numbers equal to others 1975 – The Indochinese Migration and Refugee Assistance Act allows for the resettlement of refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia

Children in Chinatown Credit: History Colorado (Jackson, William Henry, 1843-1942)

1987 – US House of Representatives makes an official apology to Japanese American and to pay each surviving prisoner of the concentration camps $20,000 in reparations

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Cover Story Since 2009, Asian Avenue magazine has featured Asian American Heroes of Colorado in our May issue in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

This year we recognize the work of a local artist, diversity and leadership coach, leader in Aurora’s business community, street safety advocate, and an attorney who has represented some of the poorest school districts in Colorado.

Including this year’s honorees, 69 individuals have been recognized for this award— showcasing the outstanding leadership, service and heroism that flows through our Asian Pacific Islander communities.

Story by Patricia Kaowthumrong

In its 12th year, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network proudly announces the

2020 ASIAN AMERICAN HEROES OF COLORADO DAVID CHEN (Chinese American) Leader for Bike Lane and Street Safety in Denver Advocate for Justice for Victims of Traffic Violence

Awardees were selected by representatives from Asian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Pacific Development Center, Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership, Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, Dragon 5280, Mile High Asian Media, Rock the Boat, and The Cosmos.

Organized by: Colorado Asian Culture & Education Network

Young Hero Awards CHANCE HORIUCHI (Japanese American) Executive Director, Havana Business Improvement District Chair-Elect. Aurora/Asian Pacific Community Partnership

KENZO KAWANABE (Japanese American) Board Member and Chair of Grants Committee, Sakura Foundation Partner, David Graham & Stubbs LLP

ERIN YOSHIMURA (Japanese American) Founder, Empowerful Changes Former Executive Director, Dragon 5280 (formerly Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

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May 2020 | Cover Story

RATHA SOK (Cambodian American) Local Artist & Muralist Leader in Cambodian Community and Buddhist Temple While we are unable to host an awards ceremony this May, we recognize and honor the 2020 awardees with hopes of a celebration later this year. Congratulations to this year’s heroes!

DAVID CHEN When Dave Martinez was struck by a car while biking in December and died from his injuries a few weeks later, lifelong cyclist David Chen became determined to honor the memory of his neighbor. He helped organize a memorial ride to celebrate Martinez’s life and was ironically struck by a truck driver while biking to pick up his kids from school a couple days later—an experience that led him on the path to becoming one of Denver’s most influential street safety advocates.

While Chen only suffered minor physical injuries in the crash, he was forced to reconsider biking altogether, but decided that the intangible benefits, specifically the sense of freedom and joy the activity brings him and his family, were worth fighting for. “To deny that lived experience to my children was more intolerable to me than giving up and joining the minivan crowd,” he says. “I doubled-down on not only riding, but also in making sure the city was safe to ride for everyone, no matter the demographic.”

Since then, Chen has been active in helping to pass state legislation, lobbying city council, participating in public outreach, and helping to organize a burgeoning grassroots advocacy community. The latter comes in the form of the Denver Bicycle Lobby, a newly formed ad hoc group of grassroots activists focused on advocacy and action. “David is an ac-

tive transportation advocate who has had an impact at the state and local level to influence elected leaders and planners, support bike lane and street safety projects, and cultivate change in the media and public opinion to create safer street environments for families and kids,” says Piep van Heuven, Policy Director at Bicycle Colorado, who nominated him for the award.

Chen testified about the need for better laws to protect bikers on the road at the State Legislature to help pass the Bike Lane Safety Bill, signed into law by Governor Polis in March. As for his greatest achievement, Chen is proud of his local advocacy work.

“While the policy work may be an achievement to be proud of, the work advocating for victims and their families is the most important and solemn, that I’ve done.” he says. “Road violence does not discriminate. There is so much more work that needs to be done for these victims and their families. When we have remade the city’s streets so that no more traffic deaths occur, that will be the real greatest achievement I could hope for, and the right way to honor their legacies.”

Chen, who moved to the Centennial State from Washington, D.C., in 2009, hopes to inspire Coloradans to integrate biking into their daily lives, including school pick-ups, grocery store runs, and

Leader and Advocate for

BIKE LANE & STREET SAFETY even camping—all things he and his family do on two wheels. “The changes I seek in transportation policies and in the built environment enable me and my children to be safer in our daily lives. That these changes also benefit everyone else who rides, rolls, walks, or takes transit, is a bonus,” he says. “It feels like a generational shift is also bringing about a societal shift in thinking, about de-prioritizing the privately owned and operated automobile as the default, and sometimes only, way of navigating one’s community.”

Chen encourages younger generations to be open to new experiences, people, and successes that a detour in life might offer. “In the grand scheme of things, finding those moments of joy and creating memories you will cherish, mean much more than meeting a performance metric at work,” he says. “We have made many such memories, my children and I, while cruising on two wheels.”

Chen and his son join other bike advocates to testify to the CO House Judiciary Committee.

David Chen regularly picks up his children at school, goes on grocery runs and even takes camping trips by bicycle.

Credit: Jenn Piccolo Photography

Denver Bicycle Lobby inaugurates the West 35th Ave Neighborhood Bikeway.

Asian American Heroes of Colorado | asian avenue magazine

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Credit: Helen Richardson The Denver Post

CHANCE HORIUCHI Executive Director of

THE HAVANA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT Chance Jackie Mika Horiuchi was taught by her okaasan—Japanese for mother—to live each day with a grateful heart, always do and be her best self and to do things for others “just because.”

These are the mantras that guide Horiuchi’s life and community work.

As the executive director of the Havana Business Improvement District (also known as On Havana Street), she is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the business district along 4.3 miles on Havana Street in Aurora. The Havana Business Improvement District was created in 2007 by business and neighborhood leaders and the City of Aurora to build a stronger, better community in the area. “On Havana Street is the largest and most diverse business corridor in the country,” Horiuchi says “I truly love all the diverse eateries and small business owners in this corridor, which is making a difference by focusing on unique, culturally diverse events and fun new things to do to make the lives of our residents and visitors more interesting,” In addition to her work with On Havana Street, Horiuchi serves as co-chair elect of the Aurora/Asian Pacific Community Partnership and was formerly the business development director with the Aurora Chamber, which led to her position as executive director of the Havana Business Improvement District. She also volunteers for many organizations and groups, in-

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May 2020 | Cover Story

cluding Aurora Sister Cities International, Aurora Chamber Young Professionals, the Mile High JACL, Mile High Behavioral Health Center, Comitis Crisis Center, Colfax Community Network and the Colorado Freedom Memorial.

“Chance builds strong and lasting business and community relationships,” says Frankie Anderson, a friend and colleague who nominated her for the award. “Ohana’ is what defines Chance’s spirit. Not only is family important, but she welcomes all her neighbors and friends of all ethnicities into her world of excitement.”

Horiuchi’s greatest achievement is moving from Wahiawā, Hawai’i, the pineapple town where she was born and raised, to attend school at the University of Northern Colorado 14 years ago—something she couldn’t have done without the support of her okaasan. “I overcame so many obstacles and my family and I made so many sacrifices for me to go away for school. I worked three jobs in high school and still danced hula, participated in two sports and many other extracurricular activities.”

Volunteering and giving back to causes that mean the world to her make Horiuchi feel “whole and complete.” “It’s also important to me because over the years I have been so blessed and feel that I need to give back so that others have opportunities or access,” she says. “I volunteer so much because I feel that I must do what I can to lift someone up or help someone in need.”

Horiuchi advises younger generations to be open to other opportunities,

stretch and invest in themselves, and to keep learning and improving. Her advice comes from experience since she started her career in the medical field and never thought she’d go into business. “If I didn’t explore other industries and opportunities offered to me then I would have never found myself in Colorado in community relations, and business and economic development today,” she says.

Chance Horiuchi (middle) at Global Fest 2017 with Aurora Mayor Hogan and friends

At Utah Park National Night Out with Aurora Police Department representatives

Horiuchi (second from right) volunteers to spread awareness about Census 2020

KENZO KAWANABE Board Member and Chair of Grants Committee for

SAKURA FOUNDATION A fourth-generation Coloradan from the San Luis Valley, Kenzo Kawanabe is dedicated to honoring his roots.

Kawanabe’s great-grandparents on his father’s side came to Colorado in 1925 to farm the land; and while they did not suffer the injustice of the internment camps, Kawanabe’s grandparents on his mother’s side were not so fortunate. Despite being U.S. citizens, his grandparents were forced from their home in California to live in an internment camp in Arizona. Kawanabe grew up attending the La Jara Buddhist Temple, which was co-founded by his great-grandfather in 1937, and graduated from Alamosa High School like his father.

“For our society, the Rule of Law is one of our most important values. The Rule of Law ensures justice, and the internment camps are a horrific example of what happens when the Rule of Law is not upheld,” says Kawanabe.

A Boettcher Scholarship recipient, Kawa-

Kenzo Kawanabe, a Boettcher Scholar, speaks at the Boettcher Foundation Make Your Mark event.

nabe attended the University of Colorado Boulder and Georgetown University Law School and studied at Temple Law in Tokyo before returning to Colorado in 1997. As a commercial trial attorney at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP for over 20 years, he represents clients in a variety of high-stakes matters relating to commercial disputes, mass torts and intellectual property. Kawanabe has also led the firm’s pro bono efforts, and he has represented refugees, as well as some of the poorest school districts in the state with their constitutional school finance claims.

“I am so fortunate in life and recognize that many people contributed to my successes,” he says. “My community raised me, and I have an obligation to do the same for others in our community.

But this is not just about helping others, it’s about helping ourselves. Making the communities where we live and work stronger—that should be part of each of our legacies.”

Kawanabe served as the first-ever General counsel for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, as well as on the board of advisors for the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. He currently serves as a board member for the Boettcher Foundation (board chair), Sakura Foundation, Colorado Lawyers Committee, Colorado Legal Services, Barton Institute for Community Action, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) in Washington, D.C. AAJC’s latest work concerns obtaining an accu-

The Kawanabe Family (Kenzo, Irene, Mika, and Aya)

rate count for the Census, including those in our APA communities, and battling hate crimes associated with the current pandemic. He also supports other community organizations, including the Asian Pacific Development Center and the Women’s Foundation of Colorado: Dads for Daughters.

“A man of great humility, intelligence, compassion and quiet humor, Kenzo; his wife, Irene; and their two teenage daughters, Mika and Aya, are committed as a family to paying forward the opportunities from which they have benefitted,” says Lauren Y. Casteel, a friend and colleague of Kawanabe who nominated him for the award.

Kawanabe’s greatest achievement is his family and traveling the world with them is his greatest joy. “For me personally, my ancestors taught me the value of hard work, honesty and community,” he says. “My wife and I try to instill these values in our daughters, and we teach them that happiness should always be a focus in life.”

Kawanabe encourages younger generations to remember their roots—but to chart their own courses. “Despite a pandemic, economic meltdown and school shootings, you not only survived, but thrived. You are strong and resilient, and you will make the world a better place.

Remember that you are part of one of our largest generations ever, and together, you will make positive change. Be genuine, humble, and kind. Remember... it’s not about you, it’s about us.”

Kawanabe and DGS host an asylum training with CLC and RMIAN.

Asian American Heroes of Colorado | asian avenue magazine

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Sok’s “Khmer” mural; Khmer is the term for Cambodian people.

RATHA SOK

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DENVER ARTIST & MURALIST

www.RathaSok.com | Instagram: @ Ratha__Sok

Ratha Sok hopes his service to the community helps build a stronger foundation for new generations. As a first-generation Cambodian American who was born and raised in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, the graffiti artist is proud to have broken the negative stereotypes that can be associated with the growing up in the lower-income community.

“My greatest achievement is being a product of the inner city and breaking the stereotype of that population to make something of myself, along with not falling into the Asian cultural expectations of ‘professional’ roles in society,” he says. “I instead molded myself into a position of passion and hard work in the arts, which is often frowned upon in Asian cultures.”

Sok’s career as a graffiti artist started 10 years ago and evolved into the production of public and commercialized murals across the Denver metro area and beyond. You can see his work at Chuey Fu’s restaurant; in Lakewood’s Belmar neighborhood; Sweansea Elementary School; Natural Grocers stores in Denver and Boulder, and more.

In addition to working full time at Coors sign shop and as a freelance artist, Sok is the founder of the Cambodian streetwear brand, Khmer Ninjas. His other community-oriented endeavors include hosting lectures and leading workshops at local summer camps, Lakewood Cultural Center and other organizations. He has also participated in projects for Khmer Buddhist Temple, Cambodian Heritage Camps, and Colo-

Ratha Sok leads a student mural workshop at Monterey Community School.

Sok painted this mural entitled “Kool Cats” with Bimmer Torres in East Denver.

Sok, who is of Cambodian heritage, visited The “Humming Bird” installation was in the country in 2015. coordination with the Alameda Corridor BID in Lakewood.

May 2020 | Cover Story

rado Dragon Boat Festival and is a longtime advisor for the West High School Mural Club, which he founded.

“Ratha has been a leader in the Denver community, especially to Cambodian youth,” says his nominator. “He has led by the example and has exemplified what it means to break the Cambodian stereotype. He has broken barriers beyond what most can even begin to understand especially coming from a marginalized group that does not exactly fit the most of your ‘typical Asian.’”

Sok’s lives by the mantra “Make your ideas into reality,” and advises younger generations to maximize their time and talents. “Don’t waste precious time and energy,” he says. “Also, remember to surround yourself with a support system that uplifts you.”

Sok’s “Cultural Headz” electric box dragon mural was painted in 2018 with Leafbug and Thien Tao.

ERIN YOSHIMURA Erin Yoshimura was devastated to be abruptly laid off from her 15-year career in high tech in 2001—but the situation turned out to be a defining moment in her life.

Yoshimura found herself enrolled in her first professional coaching workshop, which led to a career as a trainer and coach, who is certified in many disciplines and modalities. The same year, she and her husband, Gil Asakawa, were asked to join the operations committee for the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, and Yoshimura eventually served as executive director of the organization from 2010 to 2016.

Running the nonprofit without any previous experience and managing to expand it while posting a profit annually is one of her greatest achievements.

“It really came down to finding amazing staff and volunteers to work tirelessly for the sake of strengthening the Asian American Pacific Islander communities while edutaining Coloradans about the breadth and depth of our culture and contributions in the U.S,” she says.

During her tenure, Yoshimura also launched the Colorado Dragon Film Festival (the first Asian American film fest in Denver) and Colorado Dragon Boat

Festival’s Emerging Leaders Program, and continues to manage the training program for young AAPIs. She is also the founder and chief empowerment officer of Empowerful Changes, LLC, which empowers clients through leadership and diversity training and executive coaching. “She has never sought the spotlight from the AAPI community, preferring to do her work without the applause,” says Asakawa, who nominated her for the Asian American Heroes award. “Her accomplishments are many, but she also has been fearless in representing the area’s AAPI communities in the media, both in media relations for organizations and being quoted in media coverage of the community and our issues.”

Yoshimura served on the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission for six years including as chair. She currently serves on the board of the Nikkeijin Kai of Colorado, the oldest Japanese American organization and is a co-creator for the Diversity in the Arts internship program for traditionally underrepresented college students in Colorado.

A fourth-generation Japanese American, Yoshimura has lived in Colorado for

Chief Empowerment Officer of

EMPOWERFUL CHANGES all but six months of her life. Her parents’ families are from Sacramento, California, and settled in Denver after being released from a Japanese American incarceration camp. While Yoshimura’s parents grew up in Denver, they moved to Los Angeles, then back to the Mile High City when she was six months old. In addition to her 34-year-old son, Yoshimura feels fortunate to have both her parents, a brother, and a large extended family.

“We’re all born with an inner wasabi, that fiery passion inherent within... here’s yours?” is the mantra Yoshimura lives by and she encourages younger generations to find their vision, purpose, and passion early. “Let those guide the careers you choose, the volunteer work you do and the way you spend your time. One thing my lay off taught me is to live life by choice, not by circumstance.”

The Yoshimura Family Credit: Gil Asakawa

Erin Yoshimura (second from left, back row) and the 2020 cohort of Dragon 5280 Emerging Leaders Program. Credit: Andrew Ho

Yoshimura (right) with Dragon 5280 founders and current staff

Asian American Heroes of Colorado | asian avenue magazine

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GENEROSITY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 While isolated, thousands of citizens have raised $47 million to date for the CDC Foundation’s All of Us campaign.

The funds are being used to help health care workers on the front lines, serve vulnerable communities and expedite research. This shows that even in a time of crisis, Americans choose generosity.

COVID-19 Updates By Mary Jeneverre Schultz From free coffee for frontline health workers to food delivery for seniors, acts of generosity have emerged during this global pandemic as communities provide support for each other to get through these difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic is much more than just a public health emergency, it is an economic crisis. And a social and human crisis. As COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise, communities understand that “we are all in this together.”

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN COLORADO Hospitals and clinics around the world have a shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment), namely face masks and respirators. In April, Taiwan donated 10 million medical masks to countries hardest hit by COVID-19, including a donation of 100,000 medical masks to Colorado.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Denver coordinated the efforts to receive the masks that were handed to the Colorado government for statewide distribution.

Director General Jerry S. Chang says: “These critical supplies will go directly to medical professionals on the front lines who are working very hard, around the clock, to save lives in Colorado. By sharing our experiences and supplies, Taiwan is doing its part. I am very confident that together, we will get through this, and become even stronger.”

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver receives 100,000 masks from Taiwan to distribute in Colorado.

Locally, high school students with Youth Creates have raised more than $40,000 to donate thousands of N95 masks, surgical masks, protective gowns, and face shields to an number of hospitals and clinics.

Working closely with the caring Mom Group, and with the support of Denver Chinese School and the Colorado Chinese community as a whole, Youth Creates has donated to Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, UC Health, and more than ten other medical organizations in Colorado.

“Cancer patients are highly vulnerable in this pandemic. We

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May 2020 | COVID-19 Update

have physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals who work closely and directly with these patients. These masks will help protect not only our patients but also our providers. Thank you again for thinking of us,” said Ling Ma, MD, Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, who received donations from Youth Creates. For more information or to help, visit youthcreates.com.

LOCAL HEROES The Bhandaram brothers created a website that links up those impacted by the crisis with volunteers who can help..

Three brothers, from Cottonwood Creek Elementary School in Englewood, created a website to connect volunteers with those who need help—buying groceries, picking up medications, or help running other errands. The Bhandaram brothers, Kapil and Sunand (4th grade), and Rohan (1st grade) wanted to help the elderly and those that are most vulnerable during the pandemic.

Their website says: “Unfortunately, we cannot help them ourselves, so we decided to create a website for any adults who want to help.” Additionally, the website hosts artwork and letters from kids sharing their support and positivity to get through these challenging times.

Learn how to send in artwork or volunteer to help in Colorado at: kids4ourcommunity.wixsite.com/kids4ourcommunity.

RESTAURANT DONATIONS Volcano Asian Cuisine | Centennial Rotary Club teamed up with active member Jay Zheng to supply meals to its members.

Zheng and his wife, Xin, are the owners of Volcano Asian Cuisine in the DTC area. For several years and counting, Volcano has been a strong supporter of small businesses and provided food donations to community organiizations. Under the current statewide orders, Volcano remains open for take-out and delivery. They can be reached at 303-662-8111 or www.volcanoasiancuisine.com.

Yuan Wonton | Penelope Wong, owner of Yuan Wonton, said on April 20: “We’ve closed for public services & have focused solely on feeding our front line healthcare heroes.” Featuring dumplings, chili wontons and noodles, the food truck was regularly selling out of food due to such popular demand. Follow Yuan Wonton on Facebook or Instagram @YuanWonton.

Pho 95 Noodle House

Meta Asian Kitchen

Zoe Ma Ma

THANK YOU Happy Living Adult Daycare Seniors

Volcano Asian Cuisine

Pho 95 Noodle House | On April 22, Pho 95 delivered 55 meals to Bridge House, a ready-to-work program for formerly homeless individuals in a work first shelter. The Pho 95 team says: “Our goal is to help as much people in our community through this uncertain time. Some of the smallest actions in life can mean so much value to other individuals.“ Pho 95 has two locations in Denver.

Order take-out from them at: pho95noodlehouse.com.

Meta Asian Kitchen | Husband-wife duo, Ken and Doris Wan, teamed up with Feeding Colorado Heroes to serve lunch to hospital workers at Porter Adventist Hospital.

“We’re grateful to our local heroes for risking their lives each day during this difficult time. We hope our meal can bring a little joy to their day,” said the Wans, owners of Meta Asian Kitchen.

Last month, they also were involved with Operation Family Meal, in which they helped with food preparation, packing, and distribution of meals to hospitality workers, who had lost their jobs. Support Meta by ordering take-out or delivery, or purchasing a gift card at: metaasiankitchen.com.

Panda Express | Through its philanthropic arm, Panda Cares, Panda Express created the COVID-19 Community Care Fund to provide PPE to select hospitals (pandacares.org). They donated a total of $2 million worth of surgical and respirator masks and gloves to protect patients and healthcare workers. The restaurant chain is operating 15+ locations in Colorado. Four locations inside malls and retail centers are temporarily closed. Visit their website at: pandaexpress.com.

Food for Local Elders | Sanpin Food Media, a restaurant collaboration that includes Hong Kong Cafe, Go Fish, Jett Sushi, East Moon Asian Bistro and Bronze Empire Hot Pot, donated numer-

Yuan Wonton

ous meals to feed Chinese seniors across the metro area. Zoe Mama also prepared and donated take-outs boxes to Chinese seniors living in downtown Denver. These seniors with limited English proficiency are participants of Happy Living Adult Daycare, who do not have access to transportation.

Denver-Kunming Sister City Committee | DKSC donated $1,000 in gift certificates to Empress Seafood Restaurant to Denver Health frontline workers.

CELEBRITY GENEROSITY Jeremy Lin | In late April, basketball star Lin, 31, donated up to $1 million to coronavirus relief organizations. Lin, the first Taiwanese American to play in the NBA, plans to donate $500,000 to the Direct Relief and Feeding America. Visit covid.jeremylin foundation.org for an update.

Bruno Mars | With the shutdown of Las Vegas, Filipino musician Mars donated $1 million to the MGM Resorts Foundation to help employees, who were laid off from the corporation.

Daniel Dae Kim | Kim auctioned off his scripts from one of his past series of Hawaii Five-0, as a way to donate the proceeds from the sale to help frontline healthcare workers. He announced his diagnosis of COVID-19 in March. After recovering, he donated his plasma to assist in identifying antibodies to fight coronavirus.

Jack Ma | In a race to find the cure, China’s tech billionaire Ma directed more than $2 million to Columbia University to support research teams developing COVID-19 vaccines or antibodies.

We would love to hear from you about acts of generosity worth sharing! Send your stories to asianavemag@gmail.com.

Generosity During COVID-19 | asian avenue magazine

15

THE CLASS OF 2020 The year of virtual graduation ceremonies

Joe Pham

Chelsea Situmeang

Graduation ceremonies for grade school, high school and colleges are being rescheduled, broadcasted virtually, or just plain canceled in 2020.

For some, it’s not a big deal. For others, after years of all-night studying, cramming research papers and juggling internships or work-study assignments, the graduation ceremony was meaningful.

“I really wanted my family and friends to celebrate this big accomplishment in my life,” said Filipino-American Mason Mesina Rowe, who graduated with a business administration degree from the University of Redlands.

Centennial resident Mikee Martin shared her disappointment in not celebrating her graduation with her parents and family members from England, New Jersey, Texas and the Philippines. She planned on attending three separate events in northern California as part of her graduation activities, one with her class of 2020, the second with the data science department and the third for Filipino grads from UC Berkeley.

Mason Mesina Rowe

“I wanted to celebrate my accomplishment and put some closure to my years in college,” Martin said. “I received so much support from my parents and really wanted to celebrate this milestone in my life.”

Aurora resident Chelsea Situmeang feels like commemorating this occasion was momentous for her parents and sisters. “The graduation ceremony is important to them,” said Situmeang who’s family is from Indonesia, adding that she is a first-generation graduate. “They helped me financially, emotionally and mentally through the years attending school.”

Tommy Nguyen felt graduation from CU Denver was bittersweet. His commencement would be the first time someone from his family, who left Vietnam, to build a better quality of life graduated from a university. With a degree in biology, he understands the precautions the university had to take in keeping students and faculty safe. Already, his summer internship at the French-Vietnamese Hospital in Vietnam has been postponed. Nguyen plans to take a gap year before applying

Tommy Nguyen

to medical schools.

Mesina Rowe is already worried about the outlook in the job market. Recent figures indicate a current unemployment rate of 23 percent nationwide.

Martin shares the same woes as she finds that job postings are placed on hold or hiring freezes are announced through job boards and recruiters.

“You are not alone in being lost. This is one of the craziest moments of our lives, but keep that chin up! It can only go up from here,” said Joseph Pham, who graduates this year from CU-Denver.

Colleges and universities are offering graduates the opportunity to either participate in a virtual broadcast, opt to attend a graduation at the end of 2020, or attend both options.

Depending on the creativity, families and friends are conducting drive-by honking parades, decorating garages and dropping off leis, posters and cards for the graduates. Congrats to the class of 2020— the first class to experience graduations from a distance!

TOMMY LEE All graduates should feel proud for finishing strong and overcoming the struggles that came with switching to online classes. If I had known graduation would be canceled, I would have cherished my time on campus and have said goodbye to CU Denver. Nevertheless, the class of 2020 will be the class that everyone will always remember!

BACHELOR IN BIOLOGY, CU DENVER 16

May 2020 | COVID-19 Update

THE RULES ARE CHANGING for the Travel Industry

What does the future hold for cruise lines?

The global pandemic of COVID-19 is changing the travel industry. And, it’s not the first time the travel industry has taken a hit.

When the World Wide Web, or the Internet, started to take off in the early 1990s, the jobs of travel agents and travel companies took a huge hit in their workforce.

Back in the 1970s, a travel agent was part of a family’s rolodex to plan for a vacation.

In 2001, after 9/11, the way we board a plane was forever changed. Instead of just walking to the boarding gate, passengers are screened intensely by the TSA. Travel Landscape of COVID-19 2020 marks the year no one is visiting popular destinations around the world.

It’s an eerie sight to see the Vatican without faith tourists clamoring on the steps to the first Catholic Church in the world.

There are no visitors climbing the pyramids of Egypt. The empty beaches in Mexico and the Buddhist temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia sit in silence.

The changes in the travel industry will be vast, especially international travel.

Safety and health will be a primary concern. “Airports, airlines, operators and suppliers in-destination will all tweak how they deliver their services to give this piece of mind to travelers,” said John McMillen, business development manager of Inside Asia Tours. “How exactly that looks is uncertain at this point.”

The big question is when?

Tour companies in Denver, like Inside Asia Tours (InsideJapanTours.com), are reassuring their customer base that safety measures will go beyond standard practices. They anticipate that as the pandemic subsides, parts of Asia will still be popular cities for international travel.

“I’d bet that with Japan’s strong economic connections with the US and high cleanliness standards, leisure travel will

return earlier than other potential destinations around the world,” said McMillen.

And prices will go up. Why? Because airlines and airports will ramp up with new safety precautions. This includes social distancing by leaving empty seats between passengers, measuring temperatures, mandating masks for everyone who enters the airport, and setting up sanitizing gel stations.

Rail companies such as AmTrak are following the same procedures as airlines, enhancing cleaning protocols and reinforcing good hygiene practices. Cancellation is relaxed for travelers wanting a return of points, refunds or postponement.

Cruise Ships In 2020, cruise ships have been turned away or quarantined at different ports around the world, especially in Asia, as a significant percentage of passengers were diagnosed with coronavirus.

“At this time, a majority of cruise lines have suspended service for at least a month. Cruise lines are making the decision in an effort to support global health efforts and help to preserve the experience cruise lines are able to deliver guests,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. (CruiseCritic.com).

Carnival Cruise Line has offered its empty vessels as “floating hospitals.” The cruise line only asks for interested parties to cover the essential costs of the ship’s operations while in port.

If needed, cruise ships are capable of being quickly provisioned to serve as hospitals with up to 1,000 hospital rooms that can treat patients suffering from less critical, non-COVID-19 conditions. These temporary cruise ship hospital rooms can be quickly converted to install and connect remote patient monitoring devices over the ship’s high-speed network—providing cardiac, respiratory, oxygen satu-

ration and video monitoring capabilities.

The rooms also have bathroom facilities, private balconies with access to sun and fresh air, as well as isolation capabilities, as needed.

Cancellation Incentives Cruise and airline companies are relaxing their cancellation policies. “A number of cruise lines have temporarily adjusted their cancellation policies, providing guests with more flexibility to cancel cruises more closely to their sail date. This helps travelers who have cruises already booked, as well as those considering cruises in the future – it’s an added layer of protection for their investment,” McDaniel said.

Other incentives include credits, refunds or additional funds for onboard credit plus future bookings. It varies from company to company.

McDaniel cautioned to read the fine print closely.”Compensation packages will vary by line, so be sure to familiarize yourself with what your cruise line of choice is offering, as you make your travel plans and decisions,” she said.

A Global Shared Experience During a webinar by Colorado Travel Massive, McMillen indicated the quarantine is felt by all worldwide. “The details of that experience will differ drastically from place to place and person to person, but it has the potential to be a powerful connector between us going far into the future.”

Travel Industry | asian avenue magazine

17

Patterns of India: A Journey Through Colors, Textiles and the Vibrancy of Rajastahan Author: Christine Chitnis

ISBN 9780525577096 | Pages: 288 Publisher: Clarkson Potter Connect with Christine: Website: christinechitnis.com Instagram: @christine.chitnis | Twitter: @ch_chitnis Reviewed by Daniel Langevin Patterns of India stands as a visual experience that offers intimate insights into the diverse and richly hued Western Indian culture.

Color is the thread that binds the vast country together, defining every aspect of life from religion and politics to food and dress.

Photographer and writer Christine Chitnis spent more than a decade traveling through, getting to know, and falling in love with the intricate patterns of everyday Rajasthani life.

It is an excellent book for casual reading that may inspire you to travel. With colorful pictures and easy to manage snippets of history and travel tips, this book would be a great coffee table read. Flip open to any page and you will be greeted with exquisite photographs that range from architectural to textile to portrait. The Indian state of Rajastan is an excellent subject for this type of book because it is stepped in colorful culture.

Many of the cities of the region each have distinct colors like Jaipur: the Pink City and Jodhupur: the Blue City.

The book leaves you wanting more. Without going too deep into the Hindu religion, the writing provides a backdrop to understand the patterns and colors and their symbolism. The writing is typical of the travel genre. If you are planning a trip to India, grab a highlighter and sticky notes because there are many noteworthy suggestions.

As an experienced traveler, Chitnis provides a keen eye and a passion to share what she is looking at through all the patterns.

The writer spent ten years traveling to India. She lives with her husband and three children in Providence, Rhode Island.

Follow Daniel Langevin on Instagram @Langevin.dc.

18

May 2020 | Book Review

Q&A with the Author

What inspired you to write this book? My travels through India have been deeply influenced by my husband Vijay’s familial connection to the country. Our family enjoys sightseeing during our travels—visiting palaces, forts, and museums, but we spend the majority of our time experiencing everyday life in markets, temples, and friends’ homes. This intimate perspective is what I hope to reflect in this collection. To be a traveler is to pay heightened attention to the ordinary, and that is what I celebrate in my photography: the ordinary moments that feel extraordinary. India is indeed an extraordinary place with grandeur, opulence and beauty galore. But it is also a place where people go about their daily lives. As tourists, it is our job to visit India with respect and knowledge of their culture. I hope this book makes learning about the history and visuals of Rajasthan an enjoyable and beautiful experience.

What do you want readers to take away from the book? My friends have told me that the book immediately took them back to their time in India, and I’ve heard this from friends that have visited India and those that call it home. That’s the highest praise I could ask for because I want the book to represent both a traveler’s experience but also something deeper and more intimate.

What are your hobbies/interests? My hobbies and my career overlap. I love writing, photography and textiles. I am a lifelong sewer and knitter, and have started experimenting with natural dyeing. I love being outdoors and spending time with my three kids, Vijay (9), Vikram (7) and Meera (2). I have a vegetable garden, and used to raise chickens. Before this book, I mostly wrote about our local food systems, so I love sourcing fresh, local ingredients for cooking, and getting to know those that grow and produce our food. I’m a passionate reader, and it is not unusual for me to work my way through two or three books a week.

What advice would you give to new authors? If you plan to write a book, you better absolutely love the subject and be endlessly passionate about it, because you will live and breathe it for years! I have been working on this book tirelessly for two years now, and that doesn’t count any of the travel or photography—just the writing, design, marketing, and publicity. Luckily, I am passionate about the topic!

20TH STREET CAFÉ,

gone but never forgotten

By Erin Yoshimura

One thing that happens during times of stress is we crave comfort foods. And, some of the dishes that I’ve been craving come from 20th Street Café, a restaurant that I’ve known all my life.

My mom’s parents owned a small family grocery store called N&N Food Market at 26th and Larimer, which is now the Matchbox Bar. My family worked at the store every Saturday and I’d rejoice when my grandmother told me to take everyone’s lunch order for 20th Street Café!

My mom and I still reminisce about how the Catalina salad dressing in the takeout box would end up covering everything making the teriyaki beef extra delicious. Other favorite dishes were chow mein, pork udon noodles, egg foo young and chicken fried steak. Even their hamburgers were tasty! As time went on, some dishes were retired as they added new dishes like loco moco, breakfast burritos and Thursday roast turkey, which is my mom’s favorite.

I remember Mr. and Mrs. Okuno’s smiling faces and how servers Josie and Eleanor (who made the hottest green chile) worked there for many decades until they retired. Together, they created a family atmosphere that made 20th Street Café more than a diner. It was a tiny space for family, friends and community

members to gather and feel a great sense of belonging.

This legacy was carried on by their son Rod and his wife Karen, making this a third generation Japanese American-owned business that spanned 75 years. It’s hard to believe they’ve shut down the grill as this is one of the last businesses in Denver with this distinction. 20th Street Café is more than good eats…it’s a Japanese American success story that started right after WWII, and the pain, trauma and hardship of Japanese American incarceration.

When I was a kid, I recall dining there with my dad, and it was like the JA version of Cheers where everyone knew his name.

It was common for him to run into his old friends and acquaintances. He started dining there the year it opened, in 1946, and told me he’s going to miss their chicken fried steak the most, and he has fond memories of Mr. Okuno’s shrimp tempura, and often had the Thursday spaghetti special.

20th Street Café’s chicken fried steak was my go-to. The cut of steak was thin and the breading was seasoned and fried to crunchy perfection. Maybe it’s because

it was my first, but 20th Street Café’s chicken fried steak was my yardstick to measure all other chicken fried steaks by, and there wasn’t anyone else who could beat it.

Other dishes that I’m going to miss are the Japanese fried rice and their amazing fluffy pancakes. In our humble opinion, their pancakes beat Sam’s No. 3, Great Scotts Eatery and Village Inn. We did a taste test and gave up after Rod told us the pancake batter was his grandmother’s special recipe. The restaurant’s perfectly seasoned grill didn’t hurt, either.

It just dawned on me that 20th Street even influenced my cooking. I strive to make my egg foo young, fried rice and chicken fried steak like theirs. While my dishes are close, I couldn’t crack the recipe code on the brown gravies that smother their chicken fried steak and egg foo young.

Many thanks to Rod and Karen Okuno and their hardworking staff for continuing to provide delicious homecooked meals and a place for us to gather and belong.

You and your family leave an indelible mark in our hearts and taste buds, always.

Restaurant | asian avenue magazine

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RECIPES FOR ASIAN BREADS In times of crisis, people covet crea- own hands. ture comforts including the simplicity If you’ve seen an influx of sourdough and smells of freshly baked bread. Bread starters on Instagram, you’re not alone. making is one of the earliest chemistry Over the past three weeks, Google searchexperiments in human history. The first es for “bread” have hit all-time highs, loaf was an accidental discovery after a #breadmaking has garnered nearly half a Neolithic ancestor ground wild seeds million posts on social media, and grocery and grains, added water, and left the stores are facing flour shortages. lumpy “dough” on hot stones in the emWith quarantine mandates, home bers of a fire. chefs are trying to keep busy by baking, To this day, the ingredients of flour, wa- trying new recipes, and learning adter, yeast and salt are cheap and psycho- vanced culinary techniques. logically reassuring to our quarantined Baking yeast and starter kits are missselves that we can take survival into our ing from store shelves, telling us it isn’t

INDIAN CHAPATI BREAD Indian Chapati Bread, also known as Roti, is a simple and delicious flatbread served with curry and main dishes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour, • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp of olive oil • ¾ cup hot water as needed

Instructions

1. Mix whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour and salt in a large bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir olive oil and enough water to make soft dough that is elastic, not sticky. Place the dough on top of a surfaced already dusted with flour. Knead the dough until smooth. Divide into 10 parts. Roll each piece into a ball.

Let it rest for a few minutes.

2. Grease a skillet. Heat a skillet over medium heat. On a surfaced dusted with flour, use a rolling pin to roll out the balls into a thin tortilla. Place the tortilla on the pan and cook until you see brown spots. It should take 30 seconds. Flip to the other side and fry for 30 seconds.

just toilet paper that is being sought after.

Filipino American Jenyvie Yu sells her baked goods, including Ube Pan de Sal, through a Facebook page called Tindahang Filipino sa Colorado, meaning “Filipino store,” which has more than 450 members.

Agi Oseth used YouTube to bake Japanese Milk Bread and confessed it was her second attempt, before she was satisfied with the results.

If you are up for the challenge, here are recipes for four different types of bread from Asia to make in your kitchen.

STEAMED CHINESE BUNS Steamed Chinese Buns are also known as “mantou” or bao buns. These steamed buns can be served with a variety of filling such as BBQ pork , chicken or vegetables, or eaten alone.

Ingredients

• 3 ½ grams of yeast • 5 Tbsp of water • 2 tbsp of wheat flour • 1 ½ tbsp of sugar

• 2/3 cup of wheat flour • ¼ tsp salt • ¼ tbsp of baking powder • 1 tbsp of oil

Instructions

1. Mix yeast, warm water, wheat flour and sugar well. Let yeast mixture sit in a warm area for 30 minutes.

2. Then, mix wheat flour, water, sugar, salt and oil to yeast mixture by hand. Knead dough for 10 minutes or until dough is smooth. Place kneaded dough in a bowl, already oiled and cover with a damp kitchen towel. Place in a warm area for 1.5 hours.

3. Take the dough and place it on a smooth surface area dusted with flour. Flatten dough and sprinkle baking powder on the dough. Keep kneading the baking powder into the dough for 5 minutes.

4. Shape the dough in a miniature log. There should be enough for 12 pieces. Place the pieces on baking paper separately. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes. Then, steam dough for 8 minutes.

20

May 2020 | Food

UBE PAN DE SAL

Ube Pan de Sal is a common bread roll in the Philippines that is usually served at breakfast. Pan de sal means “salt bread” in Spanish.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups of bread flour • ¼ cup light brown sugar • 1 tsp purple food powder color • 4 tsp powdered ube flavoring • 1 tsp ube extract • ½ cup warm milk

• 1 tsp of yeast • 7 tsp of soft butter • 1 tsp of salt • 12 slices of any kind of cheese • crushed graham for topping

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix warm milk and dry active yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes.

2. In another bowl, mix bread flour, brown sugar, salt, powdered ube flavoring and food color. When the yeast mixture is ready, mix it with the dry ingredients. Add ube extract and knead for 3 minutes.

Jenyvie Yu sells her Ube Pan de Sal on Facebook.

Photo credit: Jenyvie Yu

KOREAN TAIYAKI

A fish-shaped pastry, Korean Taiyaki or carp bread, is stuffed with sweetened red bean paste. It is a popular winter street food and cooked similarly to a waffle but with fish-shaped molds. If you don’t have fish-shaped molds, use a waffle maker.

3. Add oil, then knead until dough becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover with a towel. Let it rest for 1 hour.

4. When the dough is double in size, lightly punch it to release air. Cut the dough into small sizes, about ¼ cup each.

5. Form a piece of dough into a ball. Flatten the dough and top it with cheese. Seal the edges by gathering the ends.

6. Roll the shaped dough in crushed graham. Place each one onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325° F. 7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before serving.

Ingredients

• Batter: 2 cups milk, 3 cups pancake mix, 2 eggs • Filling: Red bean paste, nutella, custard cream, peanut butter and jelly, fruit, chocolate or beans (optional)

Instructions

1. Beat two eggs in a large mixing bowl. Whisk milk into the mix. Add pancake mix into the bowl. The consistency should be thinner than pancake batter. Pour the batter into a pitcher to pour easily onto the frying pan.

2. Bring a Taiyaki pan over medium heat, coat it with cooking spray. Pour batter into the molds.

3. Choose your favorite filling and add about 1 tbsp into the center of the mold.

4. Cover and cook until both sides are golden brown 5. Cool for a minute, and then serve.

Recipes compiled by Mary Jeneverre Schultz. Follow her on Instagram @Jeneverre as she attempts baking and cooking for her family of four with the hashtags #coronavirusdiaries, #cookingincrisis, #Quarrantinecuisine.

Asian Breads | asian avenue magazine

21

Q U A R A N T I N E

B A K I N G JOSEPHINE CHANG I grew up eating these breads in Taiwan for breakfast or lunch, and sometimes on a daily basis. A year ago, I started baking and I enjoyed it as it was new to me. In Taiwan, I would say 99% of households didn’t have an oven at home when I grew up, so baking at home was new to me after moving to the States. It is fun and feels therapeutic to me.

These traditional Taiwanese breads (above) are easy to learn to make with a simple stuffing inside. I look for recipes online and also watch YouTube videos. I have definitely been baking more frequently during quarantine with the extra time at home to re-

search recipes and figure out what foods we can cook at home ourselves.

In comparison to American bread, Asian bread is softer and less sweet.

The texture is also not as dense. There are many flavors and varieties are different too, both sweet and savory.

MAXIE THAO

Recipe at: iceorrice.com/japanesehokkaido-whole-wheat-milk-bread

22

May 2020 | Food

About a year or two ago, I was browsing the internet to find a recipe for the brioche bread from 85°C Bakery and stumbled upon a recipe for Hokkaido Milk Bread.

Intrigued by the recipe, I attempted baking bread for the first time ever. Luckily, I succeeded with my first attempt and my family and husband loved the bread. Since we were under quarantine, I finally had time to bake it again.

As much as I love this bread, it is time consuming to make—it takes me all day! The dough needs to rise a few times before baking, and your room temperature dictates how long to let it ferment.

After a long day of preparing, my favorite part is finally throwing it in the oven. The aroma is so satisfying! Eating it fresh is the best because the bread is so incredibly soft and fluffy. This specific recipe also calls for whole wheat flour, which is what our household prefers. We love eating the bread with butter or—if we have a sweet tooth going on—with cinnamon butter.

Enjoy breads from Asia—Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, and more—by visiting these bakeries.

Note: Asian markets and grocers will carry bread and baked goods too.

METRO AREA BAKERIES Name 5280 Banh Mi and Grill Baker’s Palace (Vietnamese) Daikon - Banh Mi Shop Donut House Honey Bakery Inside M Mart Juicy Pop Mr. Bakery New Saigon Bakery & Deli

Address 15473 E. Hampden, Aurora 550 S. Federal Blvd, Denver 1805 29th St, Boulder 9 locations 2000 S. Havana St, Aurora 2751 S. Parker Rd, Aurora 2761 S. Parker Rd, Aurora 640 S. Federal Blvd, Denver

Phone 720.331.4158 303.936.2279 720.640.4063 303.337.2771 303.755.0407 303.750.5018 303.755.2070 303.935.7859

Website 5280banhmi.com yelp.com/biz/bakers-palace-denver daikonbanhmi.com donuthouse.com yelp.com/biz/honey-bakery-aurora yelp.com/biz/juicy-pop-aurora-2 yelp.com/biz/mr-bakery-aurora-2

New York Bakery (Korean) The Enchanted Oven Third Culture Bakery Tokyo Premium Bakery Uncle Zoe Vinh Xuong Bakery Yum Yum Cake & Pastries

10720 E. Iliff Ave, Aurora 520 Zang St, Broomfield 9935 E. Colfax Ave. Aurora 1540 S. Pearl St, Denver 12203 E Iliff Ave, Aurora

303.743.0001 303.537.4864 720.507.4830 720.531.3784 303.755.8518 303.922.0999 303.353.8266

yelp.com/biz/new-york-bakery-aurora

2370 W. Alameda Ave, Denver

2680 S Havana St, Aurora

yelp.com/biz/new-saigon-bakery-anddeli-denver

theenchantedoven.cafe thirdculturebakery.com tokyopremiumbakery.com unclezoe.com fb.com/vinhxuongbakery fb.com/YumYumCakeandPastries

LISA NGUYEN

Bilingual in Vietnamese

LISANGUYENREMAX.COM

143 Union Blvd. Suite #120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Direct: 303-985-4555 Cell: 303-669-5255

lisanguyen@remax.net

ADVERTISE WITH US IN ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE WITH VARIOUS AD SIZES AND FLEXIBLE FREQUENCY, WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR BUDGET.

MARKETING@ASIANAVEMAG.COM | TEL: 303.937.6888 WWW.ASIANAVEMAG.COM ASK ABOUT OUR DISCOUNTS FOR NONPROFITS AND FIRST TIME ADVERTISERS! On Scene | asian avenue magazine

23

The 2020 Census will impact your family’s future.

The information collected in the census will inform the distribution of more than $1.5 trillion in federal funds each year. These funds impact critical services, including education, health care, senior centers, and public transportation.

It is important for college students to be counted where they would have been on April 1 under normal circumstances.

Don’t forget to count babies and young children!

Responding is easy.

•

On-campus students will be counted by the university through group quarters

•

Off-campus students should fill out the Census with their roommates at the residential address

ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN VOTE

ONLINE

PHONE

my2020census.gov

1 (844) 330-2020

MAIL

www.apiavote.org/census2020

English & Spanish

Need help or have questions? Call the Asian Census Hotline at (844) 202-0274

www.2020census.gov/