Hudson Grande Senior Living Culinary Department to Honor Asian American Pacific Islander Month

May is Asian American Pacific Islander month, or AAPI for short, a time to celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States and their contributions to the history of this country. By recognizing the culture, history, and achievements of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, we can broaden the understanding of their countries and cultures, as well as enhance the appreciation for all that they have given to make this country great.

As is the case with many commemorative months, AAPI originated with Congress. In 1978, Congress passed, and President Jimmy Carter signed into law, a joint resolution declaring a week in May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.” This was later expanded to a month, and in 1992, May was designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

At Hudson Grande Senior Living Hudson, OH, we will be celebrating by honoring the territory of Guam and the countries of Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam.

The following are the dishes I made in celebration:

For Guam we enjoyed BBQ short ribs, chicken kelaguen, and banana donuts called bunelos aga.

For Indonesia we enjoyed a beautiful tumpeng display with jasmine rice, beef rendang, chicken satay, and homemade naan bread.

For Japan we enjoyed yakisoba (stir fried noodles), tempura fried vegetables and shrimp, and a variety of sushi.

For Vietnam we enjoyed bun bo nam bo (a broth less noodle dish with tender beef and vegetables), goi cuon (fresh spring rolls), and banh mi (Vietnamese style sandwich).

We chose to showcase Guam BBQ short ribs for the deep complexity of flavor you can get out of barbecue meats. We selected Indonesian tumpeng because this display is the center of most all celebrations in Indonesia, packed with meaning for each occasion. Japanese Yakisoba stir fry was chosen as it’s a personal favorite of mine, and sushi because who doesn’t love sushi right? We chose to showcase Vietnamese Goi cuon because it was something I learned how to make from a close friend and mentor of mine Chef Tuan Phan.

As a culinary director, I feel we should celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month because it’s extremely important as a culinarian to be diversified with cuisines. AAPI month is very special as so many of their cuisines have helped mold food as we know it in America. Being able to embrace, learn, and enjoy so many of these flavors has had a huge impact on my cooking style. So being able to observe all of the influence and contributions to modern cuisine and celebrate that means so much.

We are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate these countries, their contributions, and their foods this month! And we would be even more honored if you would join us. Give us a call to learn more about how you can get a seat at the table this month!