The doors of diversity and representation in the Creative and Performing Arts High School (also known as CAPA) has begun to grow more knowledge and less ignorance in the community it has built. In the weeks before May 26th, Asian American Student Union (AASU) had begun planning a festival where foods, celebrations, customs, and culture of many countries within the Asian continent could be expressed as well as recognized.
Throughout the entire process behind the scenes, it was an immediate goal to have variety in nearly everything: arts and crafts, informative stations, and food.
The arts and crafts center brought many creative aspects of Asian culture for people to learn about. Some of the artwork offered were lanterns, red envelopes, and flags.
Lanterns are commonly found as decorations or gifts during festivals like the Loi Krathong in Thailand. It’s celebrated in November to honor many gods and important monks: Lord Buddha, Phra Mae Khongkha, Upagupta, God Vishnu, as well as ancestors. One of the many celebrations include launching lanterns into the sky as an offering to Lord Buddha.
Red envelopes are an important staple within many countries like China, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan. It’s usually a tradition where elders give these envelopes to those younger than them (children are an example). Although in China, it stops when you are married. The festival had decided to make color envelopes: red, yellow, and blue representing the colors of AASU as well as to incorporate a cultural factor to the students of CAPA.
The flags were once to inform and help students to discover new flags in the Asian continent. This station provided many examples like South Korea, Nepal, Singapore, Georgia, and more, to act as a guide for anyone who wanted to create one. They were given the opportunity to staple it on an area where a few flags had already been hung up by being taped onto the draping, yellow ribbons.
Several stations included informative messages that talked about countries other than the big, well-known countries that nearly everyone knows, China, South Korea, and Japan.
One of the most popular areas where everyone had rushed over to was the food stands. Many consisted of filling meals, delicious snacks and desserts, and refreshing drinks to tie the entire course together. Some of the dishes that were present at the festival are listed below accompanied by recipes.
Throughout the entire process behind the scenes, it was an immediate goal to have variety in nearly everything: arts and crafts, informative stations, and food.
The arts and crafts center brought many creative aspects of Asian culture for people to learn about. Some of the artwork offered were lanterns, red envelopes, and flags.
Lanterns are commonly found as decorations or gifts during festivals like the Loi Krathong in Thailand. It’s celebrated in November to honor many gods and important monks: Lord Buddha, Phra Mae Khongkha, Upagupta, God Vishnu, as well as ancestors. One of the many celebrations include launching lanterns into the sky as an offering to Lord Buddha.
Red envelopes are an important staple within many countries like China, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan. It’s usually a tradition where elders give these envelopes to those younger than them (children are an example). Although in China, it stops when you are married. The festival had decided to make color envelopes: red, yellow, and blue representing the colors of AASU as well as to incorporate a cultural factor to the students of CAPA.
The flags were once to inform and help students to discover new flags in the Asian continent. This station provided many examples like South Korea, Nepal, Singapore, Georgia, and more, to act as a guide for anyone who wanted to create one. They were given the opportunity to staple it on an area where a few flags had already been hung up by being taped onto the draping, yellow ribbons.
Several stations included informative messages that talked about countries other than the big, well-known countries that nearly everyone knows, China, South Korea, and Japan.
One of the most popular areas where everyone had rushed over to was the food stands. Many consisted of filling meals, delicious snacks and desserts, and refreshing drinks to tie the entire course together. Some of the dishes that were present at the festival are listed below accompanied by recipes.
Vietnamese Egg Rolls/Chả Giò: These are made up of a pork, carrot, radish, and wood-ear mushroom filling. They are wrapped up with rice paper and are fried over the stove until they are crispy and golden. The sauce options were spicy soy sauce and normal soy sauce.
Fruit Kebabs: Originating from Turkey (specifically meat kebabs), these usually look like fruits on a stick and that’s what they are! A famous combo are slices of mangoes, pineapples, watermelon, blueberries, and kiwis. In the name, there are many kinds of fruits that can be added other than the ones said before, as long as you find enjoyment and fulfillment in it, that’s all that matters!
Chinese Wontons/Boiled Dumplings: These differ in what one feels like they want to eat. For instance, someone might make pork or beef because that’s what they prefer. The recipes provided are up to you to manipulate. Wontons contain a molded, flour dough to wrap the meat and vegetables which are later boiled over water. Instructed by Tracy Omae from Oh My Food Recipes, states minced garlic, chopped up cabbage, and ground pork. Later, you fold them into the dough made (store pre-made or not), tucking them securely, so they will not burst open during cooking. For sauce, you can use chili oil or the classic soy sauce.
A YouTube tutorial that does a rundown on how to perfect making wontons: link or link 2.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls: These as well as the one before can vary in ingredients. A spring roll usually contains meat (or shrimp), cucumbers, carrots, rice noodles, and rice paper. The main ingredients here are the rice noodles and rice paper. The noodles can of course be substituted, but rice noodles are preferred for the dish. The dish is quite simple, you cook the noodles, the vegetables, and the poultry before transferring to a mixing bowl where you can mix them together. Adding a dash of sesame oil and soy sauce to not make the noodles stick and for flavor is highly recommended. Some sauces that are great friends with this dish are spicy soy sauce or the regular.
A video that exemplifies a clearer tutorial on the making of this dish: link or link 2.
Fried Rice: A dish that comes from many regions of Asia. It’s also a meal that if you have left-over rice (much preferred) you can use it and it also gives you a bit of creative freedom in what you want to add in this dish. The main ingredients across this are rice, peas, eggs, green onions, and cubed carrots. You can simply toss all of these ingredients into a pan and cook them until they’re ready.
Links to absolutely delicious tutorials on how to make fried rice to your liking: link or link 2.
Fruit Kebabs: Originating from Turkey (specifically meat kebabs), these usually look like fruits on a stick and that’s what they are! A famous combo are slices of mangoes, pineapples, watermelon, blueberries, and kiwis. In the name, there are many kinds of fruits that can be added other than the ones said before, as long as you find enjoyment and fulfillment in it, that’s all that matters!
Chinese Wontons/Boiled Dumplings: These differ in what one feels like they want to eat. For instance, someone might make pork or beef because that’s what they prefer. The recipes provided are up to you to manipulate. Wontons contain a molded, flour dough to wrap the meat and vegetables which are later boiled over water. Instructed by Tracy Omae from Oh My Food Recipes, states minced garlic, chopped up cabbage, and ground pork. Later, you fold them into the dough made (store pre-made or not), tucking them securely, so they will not burst open during cooking. For sauce, you can use chili oil or the classic soy sauce.
A YouTube tutorial that does a rundown on how to perfect making wontons: link or link 2.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls: These as well as the one before can vary in ingredients. A spring roll usually contains meat (or shrimp), cucumbers, carrots, rice noodles, and rice paper. The main ingredients here are the rice noodles and rice paper. The noodles can of course be substituted, but rice noodles are preferred for the dish. The dish is quite simple, you cook the noodles, the vegetables, and the poultry before transferring to a mixing bowl where you can mix them together. Adding a dash of sesame oil and soy sauce to not make the noodles stick and for flavor is highly recommended. Some sauces that are great friends with this dish are spicy soy sauce or the regular.
A video that exemplifies a clearer tutorial on the making of this dish: link or link 2.
Fried Rice: A dish that comes from many regions of Asia. It’s also a meal that if you have left-over rice (much preferred) you can use it and it also gives you a bit of creative freedom in what you want to add in this dish. The main ingredients across this are rice, peas, eggs, green onions, and cubed carrots. You can simply toss all of these ingredients into a pan and cook them until they’re ready.
Links to absolutely delicious tutorials on how to make fried rice to your liking: link or link 2.
For the first AAPI Festival held by CAPA’s AASU Club, it was very successful. Each lunch period was very attentive and interactive. For those who were not able to go, we highly recommend attending and learning more about Asian culture and history. At this specific festival, you are embracing less-known countries and their customs, and gaining a lesson away from it.
Works Cited
“Hóngbāo: Of Demons and Red Envelopes.” Cargo Partner, www.cargo-partner.com/trendletter/issue-14/hongbao-of-demons-and-red-envelopes#:~:text=Especially%20in%20Southeast%20Asian%20countries,a%20red%20envelope%20is%20widespread. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Mongkolrat, Tayud. "Loy Krathong Festival – All You Need to Know." Thailand Foundation, www.thailandfoundation.or.th/culture_heritage/loy-krathong-festival-all-you-need-to-know/. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Omae, Tracy. "Boiled Dumplings." Oh My Food Recipes, 9 Oct. 2018, www.ohmyfoodrecipes.com/boiled-dumplings/. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Mitchell, C. "What is a Fruit Kabob?" DelightedCooking, 25 Apr. 2023, https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-a-fruit-kabob.htm. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Mongkolrat, Tayud. "Loy Krathong Festival – All You Need to Know." Thailand Foundation, www.thailandfoundation.or.th/culture_heritage/loy-krathong-festival-all-you-need-to-know/. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Omae, Tracy. "Boiled Dumplings." Oh My Food Recipes, 9 Oct. 2018, www.ohmyfoodrecipes.com/boiled-dumplings/. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Mitchell, C. "What is a Fruit Kabob?" DelightedCooking, 25 Apr. 2023, https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-a-fruit-kabob.htm. Accessed 1 June 2023.