A few years ago one of my uncles shared an observation that has stuck with me ever since. He said to me, “You know, when I was growing up being Asian wasn’t cool. Not like it is now.” I cocked my head to the side. Wait, it’s cool to be Asian?
He was right, though. America has one big giant Asian fetish these days, especially when it comes to food. In fact, 2012 has already been proclaimed the year of Asian Hipster Cuisine. Perhaps that Urban Outfitters catalog shoot set in a Chinatown restaurant was more prophetic than I gave it credit for.
Here’s what the foodie pundits have to say about the year ahead: Read more…
One weekend at dim sum in Brooklyn, I happened to notice a kitschy painting hanging on the restaurant wall. I was able to make out the four characters printed in the corner: 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng). I translated the phrase literally in my head: horse arrives success. Or, perhaps, more emphatically: horse arrives = success!
Since when have horses been a symbol of success? Sure, I know the gold-attracting cat, but Mr. Ed with money bags? I shared my observation with a friend sitting next to me, and she responded matter of factly: “Yeah, when the horses arrive it means success.” Read more…
Chinatown is changing. Of course, all cities are living, breathing organisms that are constantly changing, adapting, sometimes deteriorating, and often transforming themselves in a dynamic give-and-take with dips in the economy, successive waves of immigrants, and bursts of urban renewal. But even so, there have been many recent changes in the neighborhood too big to ignore. Here’s a quick rundown.
Open City Mag reported on the unlawful eviction of tenants at 11 Allen Street this past summer. The Lo-Down just published an exhaustive review of the LES hotel boom, including the newly minted Wyndham hotel on Hester and Bowery that opened on Nov. 1 (and looks tacky as hell). Read more…
The pieces Hurricane Sandy left behind—through the eyes of citizen journalists, tumblrs, and photographers. Hang in there, New York.
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What do people in Asia eat when they get the munchies? If you’ve ever step foot inside a Chinatown supermarket, you’ll know that the grocery aisles abound with sweet and salty snacks. Here are the top ten Asian treats I simply can’t live without.
photo courtesy of Modern Asian Style
#10 White Rabbit Candy – These milky little candies are the white analog to the Tootsie Roll. They melt in your mouth and are just as addictive.
#9 Chinese-style Beef Jerky – Sweet with a hint of spice, Chinese jerky is soft and easy on the molars. It gets the job done when those 4 o’clock hunger pangs come calling.
#8 Melon Flavored Chewing Gum – Korean restaurants often include sticks of melon gum with the check. Fruity and refreshing. Read more…
