Asian Pacific American Month

Did You Know

Nail Polish was invented about 5000 years ago by the Chinese.  Today’s polish is basically the same, but a bit more durable, since it is a refined version of car paint.

I.M. Pei’s Pyramids in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum actually serve as an entrance doorway, providing a long-overdue entrance portico to the main galleries.  Pei is Chinese American and a legendary architect.

The Joy Luck Club (1993) is a novel by Amy Tan that focuses on the dynamics common to many Asian family relationships.  It is also available on VHS and DVD.

Kites made their first appearance over three thousand years ago, in China.  All the right materials were found there, for its making: bamboo for the frame, and silk for the sail and bridle.

You can take a virtual tour of the world’s finest and oldest Japanese Gardens that are located in the monasteries of Kyoto, Japan.  Simply visit academic.bowdoin.edu/zen.

Shark Fin Soup, Ox Tail Stew, and Bird’s Nest Soup are all delicacies within Chinese cuisine.  Not all restaurants will have these dishes, as the ingredients are hard to find.

 

1000-year-old eggs are a traditional Chinese delicacy.  They are actually preserved duck eggs and are rarely more than 100 days old.  You can buy them at your local Asian market.

Shoshoyu is the Japanese word for soy sauce.  It is used generously in Japanese and Chinese cuisine.  Soy is a great source of calcium and beneficial in fighting bone loss when consumed daily.