Mmm...mmmm.....Mongolian!

How much do you know about Mongolian food, and have you ever had it?

Our pal Jojo (check out her very engaging, very honest and very funny blog BuddhaBelle), who was born and raised in Mongolia, gave us some insight on her favorite Mongolian dishes. And the picture of the woman on the horse to your left happens to be Jojo's mother, in her younger years, cruising around the Mongolian countryside.

Mongolia is a nomad country, and its nomadic people move from place to place 2-4 times a year. They raise sheep, horses, cows, camels and goats in the forest, steppe and Gobi desert. In Mongolian culture, the horse is considered man's/woman's best friend, and Mongolian cuisine reflects the nomadic lifestyle.

Boortsog - think of this as a fried dough ball, or biscuit, of various shapes and sizes. Bouillon fat that is left over from cooking meat is traditionally used for frying, giving the boortsog a unique aroma. However, any type of vegetable oil will do. Jojo says she whips these up whenever she's feeling homesick. A picture of boortsog is in the "Your Asian Heritage" photo gallery on the left.

Airag - a traditional drink of fermented mare's milk that's got 7-8% alcohol and guaranteed to have some kick. Airag is a popular summer drink and is said to provide strength and cheerfulness, destroy pathogenic microbes in the intestines and help improve the living body metabolisms. If you visit a Mongolian family or attend a Mongolian wedding, you'll typically be offered a big bowl of airag.

Buuz - steamed dumplings traditionally made with onions, seasoning and mutton, but beef and other meats work just as well. Mongolians consider fatty meat to be better quality. These are a favorite during the new year.



Aarul - Dried curds, or curdled milk that has been dehydrated and thoroughly dried in the air and sun. Some believe that aaruul is one of the reasons why Mongolians have strong and healthy teeth.


Khorhog - the REAL Mongolian barbecue! It's prepared by mixing water, hot stones, onions, potatoes, carrots and mutton chops into a large, vacuum-sealed kettle and simmering it over a fire for about an hour. In earlier times Khorkhog was a cooking method commonly used by soldiers, and the meat would typically be cooked in the animal's skin...this eliminated the need to tote around heavy pots and other utensils.


And for the record, the Mongolian barbecue options you may see on the menu at Chinese restaurants aren't the real deal...

Jojo - Thanks for sharing an important part of your heritage with us!

*Food photos from Alagtstar Adventure Tours

Monday Movie Review: My Neighbor Totoro

I love movies! I adore sinking into in the big plush theater seat, inhaling the wafting aroma of freshly-popped popcorn drizzled in fake butter, and being enveloped by the surround sound in the overly-air conditioned darkness. Giddy feelings of anticipation wash over me as the lights go down, and the total immersion and escapism of the following two hours is - to me - divine.

This past weekend, I watched Disney/Pixar's Wall-E (by the way, definitely go see it!!!) and I started thinking about some of my favorite animated movies. For those of you who have not yet discovered Hayao Miyazaki, you're in for a treat.

Miyazaki, who started working in the animated film industry in 1965, is an award-winning director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli. His films have won the Anime Grand Prix, the Oscar for Best Animated Film, and Time Magazine voted him one of the most influential Asians of the past 60 years. His movies often incorporate worthwhile themes such as pacifism and environmentalism, and his main characters are commonly young heroines who are independent-minded and courageous. Even his villains are complex characters who are funny and sympathetic.
There are too many Miyazaki films to name them all here, but I did want to highlight one of my favorites: My Neighbor Totoro. It's an enchanting tale about a mysterious creature discovered by two young girls in their new farmhouse home. The nice thing about this movie is that it doesn't have a traditional villain, so I've seen children as young as 2.5 watch it and enjoy it without getting scared. Also, the movie has that Bugs-bunny ability to appeal to both adults and children, so you'll be as entranced as your children for two hours!

Do you have any movies of Asian origin you'd like to share - for kids and/or adults? We'd love to hear about them!

The Guy's Perspective: Being married to an Asian

For today's post, Ivy has bravely handed the writing reins over to her beloved husband. After all, sometimes others can identify your quirks and Asian hold-over habits better than you can, right? That being said, the truth can be a little uncomfortable. She promises, however, that the text below wasn't edited...that much.

Well, first of all, I need to mention my liberal-guy disclaimer. It’s an election year, okay? Ivy is Asian, yeah, but she’s more LongIslandese than Taiwanese at this point. Besides, just because she has some characteristic doesn’t mean that it’s somehow representative of Asians in general, or that any vicious stereotype out there will prove true for any given individual. Maybe this entry would be better labeled “Being Married to Ivy” than “Being Married to an Asian.” Also, one last thing - even though I don’t have much of a cultural connection, I’m 1/8th Chinese myself, so it’s *My* Asian heritage, too!

Anyhoozle, Ivy’s influence is readily apparent throughout our home. Our kitchen would probably be familiar to many of this blog’s readership. The cabinet below the sink is home to every plastic bag that Ivy comes across in daily purchases - they’re neatly tied and stacked, ready to be used when the occasion arises. Why would one ever just throw away such a useful item?

Similar collections of takeout food containers, tiny ketchup packets, paper napkins, and even twist-ties (!) can be found as well. We have one knife for all of our chopping needs; the Chinese cleaver apparently works on meats, vegetables, and even bread when necessary. It definitely sees plenty of use, too -- I don’t think I’ve (sniffle) eaten a canned vegetable since we got married, and any meat item is bound to be better if it’s still on the bone.

Any of you married to Asians? Got any observations that came as surprises after you tied the knot? Let us know in the comments!

Origami....a paper affair

When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be Japanese. One of my kindergarten pals was Japanese, and I recall being insanely jealous of her Hello Kitty lunchbox and chopsticks set, her neat and colorful notebook sets, and the little origami balls she'd make and share with us during recess. I was also mesmerized whenever she spoke with her family in Japanese....I felt that her language was much more lyrical and soothing than what I perceived as choppy and unsettling Cantonese.

OK, so I've come around since then. The lunch gear and notebooks were from the Sanrio store at the mall (and who knows, they were probably made in China), and I've come to appreciate the complexity and history of Cantonese, especially since I can't speak it anymore. But I will say that I'm still in awe of origami.

The Japanese origins of origami - meaning "fold paper" - began in the 6th century when Buddhist monks from China carried paper to Japan. Origami paper is typically thin (yet strong) and colorful, which lends to the whimsical nature of the finished product. The crane, which is auspicious in Japanese culture, is one of the must famous origami designs. According to the legends, anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will have their heart's desire come true.

If you don't have the skill or patience to fold a thousand cranes, you're better off sticking with the basics - animal shapes, balls, utensils, flowers, etc. All you'll need to start is a set of origami paper, which you can find online at sites ranging from Amazon to the Origami Paper Store, or at art shops such as SF Japantown's Paper Tree, Michael's, or even Target.

I've never been good at following instructional diagrams, so my origami animals and designs always looked distorted. And probably ugly. Lucky for you paper folding enthusiasts, you can choose from a range of animated instructional sites online. The Origami Club site seems to be one of the most comprehensive, giving you a slew of easy, medium and hard options, from sumo wrestlers to frogs to grand pianos. So if you're looking for a great, creative bonding activity with your child, warm up those fingers, find a nice flat surface, and start folding!

Got any origami tips? Stories of failed paper folding missions? Examples of origami masterpieces? Let us know!

Infant traditions: 100 Days and Red Eggs

Sometimes I think I'm closet Korean. I love wandering through Koreatown and browsing the cute chachki stores while soaking up the garlicky wafting aroma of kimchi and bulgogi. One tradition for Korean infants that I think is particularly adorable is the 100-day celebration known as Bek-il(literally, 100 days).

The Bek-il hearkens back to pre-western medicine days during which infant survival rates were low. So, the 100-day mark was a time when extended families feted the arrival of the new member and honored the parents. A small feast, with offerings of rice and soup, is prepared, and family, relatives and friends then celebrate with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with sugar or honey.

Tradition states that if steamed rice cakes are shared with 100 people, the child will have a long life. So, rice cakes are sent to as many people as possible - and those who receive them return the vessels with skeins of thread, expressing the hope of longevity, and rice and money, symbolizing future wealth.

Since she liked the idea but we're not even an iota Korean, my sister celebrated the first 100 days of my half-Taiwanese, half-Caucasian nephew by incorporating the Chinese tradition of celebrating the first full month with red eggs (symbolizing happiness and the renewal of life) and ginger. Quite a pan-Asian celebration!

Do you have any infant traditions you'd like to share?

What does "ai ya" mean?

Now there's a good question.

We've been asked by one of our readers to shed some light on this oft-used, multi-purpose expression. Those of us who grew up in Chinese households probably have some sort of visceral understanding - but here's some more guidance for those of you seeking clearer definition.

One of the best explanations we've found is from urbandictionary.com, which provides 3 definitions. However, we think that "ai ya" is best explained by those who use it:

• "Ai ya means 'oh no' to me. . .although it's so much more. It's the perfect response to awkward and silly situations. Much more perfect than "oh no" could ever be."
• It's basically an expression of exasperation that can mean anything from "oh no" to "f***!" The funny thing is that your listeners can pretty much figure out where in that spectrum your ai ya falls! Chinese culture would not the same without it."
• " 'Ai ya' is like 'oh my gosh (OMG),' which can be communicated in many different ways depending on the situation. It can be used to portray the high maintenance side of you – 'Ai ya, it's raining, and my hair and make-up will get messed up!' It can be used to communicate pure horror at a situation – 'There's an hour wait for dim sum? Ai ya!!!!' Many Chinese parents use it to show their disapproval – 'Wah, why did you spend so much money on that shirt??? Ai ya, you need to save!' It's really fun to add variations to the pronunciation, depending on your moods and the situation."
  

So, instead of settling on one definition, we say, why can't all of these be right? "Ai ya" is probably one of the most versatile interjections we know, which can be used in equal parts to express delight, dismay, disapproval...you name it. It can't be defined the way "oy" in Jewish culture will never be translated to the full extent of its expression.

What does "ai ya" mean to you? Tell us about a time when you've used it and I'll share how my mother faced down a ruthless street-merchant in Taipei with an aggressive "Ai ya! Too expensive!"

Countdown to Beijing

With exactly three months to go until the 8/8/08 Beijing Olympics (and we'll talk about number symbolism another day), we've been hearing a lot about the Torch Relay and completion of the birds nest-esque Beijing National Stadium. But what about the mascots?

Meet Fuwa, the five official mascots of the Beijing Games. Each mascot - Beibei the Fish, Jingjing the Panda, the Yingying the Tibetan Antelope, and Nini the Swallow - represent characteristics of four of China’s most popular animals. The fifth is Huanhuan the Olympic Flame.

Each mascot has a rhyming two-syllable name, which is a traditional way of showing affection for children. And when you put their names together – Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni – it translates to “Welcome to Beijing.”

Fuwa also represents the five elements of nature – sea, forest, fire, earth and sky – in their origins and headpieces which also embodies Chinese folk art influences.

Check out the official Beijing Olympics site to learn more about each mascot and their links to various Chinese folktales and traditions. Find out whose headdress was inspired by paintings from the Song Dynasty, who's into water sports, who carries the blessing of health, and who's the aspiring gymnast.

I'm a fan of Yuanyuan, the child of fire. How about you?

Asian American Heritage Month

Did you know that May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage month? Here are some interesting tidbits, courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau...The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed on May 10, 1869.

Be sure to check out celebrations and festivals in your area throughout the month. Here are a few to choose from:

New York, May 10: Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival
San Francisco, May 17: Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Boston: A collection of events and exhibitions throughout the Boston area
Los Angeles: Contests, events and exhibitions throughout the LA area
Chicago: Events, exhibitions, seminars and more

Let us know if you've got other events to highlight in your area!