Chinese Seniors Cook Up First Book
August 31, 2009
Nothing beats a home-cooked meal, but how often do we even know how to cook something distinct as homemade Chinese cooking? San Francisco’s local Chinese senior community at Lady’s Shaw Senior Center (LSSC) offers a cookbook to satiate your curiosity for authentic Chinese cuisine!
LSSC’s seniors offer a vast menu - from crunchy Jellyfish to tender shreds of Xi An Style Chicken to bring a savory meal to any family, traditional or new age.
Last year, the seniors and staff at LSSC, which houses residents who average 84 years of age, found their recipes to be a hit amongst family and friends. At the beginning of 2009, they decided to publish their first cookbook called, 溫情美味 (Warmth, Passion, and Beautiful Taste) for the public. What formally began as a cooking session coined “Wednesday’s Gathering” allowing Lady’s Shaw’s tenants to share Chinese staples & secret ingredients, has become a legacy these San Francisco Chinese seniors want to hand down to the next generation of Asian Americans.
Most importantly for the first time it shows that even with formal language barriers, nothing speaks more universally for Chinese seniors and immigrants than cooking.
“The cooking class is one of the many LSSC activities created to prevent the seniors from isolation. This class allows them to be active, talk to other tenants they may not know, and learn to speak in front of a group,” says Karen Ho, LSSC’s administrator and founder of the preliminary form of LSSC Resident’s Cookbook.
Miss Chau Ping Yu, one of the main contributing senior chefs to the cookbook, offers fundamental Chinese recipes particularly Roast Pork and Fried Rice Cakes. Like many of the other senior chefs, her cooking skills were self-taught at an early age between 10-16 years old. The LSSC senior cooks all share similar experiences where cooking was a necessity because life demanded them to attend & care for other children and elders while the adults worked in rural Chinese fields to feed their families.
LSSC Cookbook Team - Front Row: Fung Hai Lee, Chau Ping Yu, Gui Chan Wong, Hin Mann Ng, Back Row: Jerry Lee, Esq., Amy Cai, Yuen Kiu Low, Ching Kwei Yip, Ngot You Choo Hway, Shirley Chan, Alice Lam
Jerry Lee, editor of the LSSC’s Cookbook & Self Help for the Elderly’ Board of Director member says, “The food [in the book] represents dishes that one may have had in their youth. They are what I would call “Chinese Comfort Food”, sometimes common & sometimes unique.”
Mrs. Yuk Kang Choy Lee, Lee’s grandmother, also took the time to share a Chinese recipe along with a bittersweet story that many early generations of Chinese Americans can relate to. Jerry Lee recalls of the early experiences with his grandmother’s frugal ways. During his childhood in the sixties, he would save the little packets of ketchup, every time ate at McDonald’s - abiding by his grandmother’s request. When there were enough packets of ketchup, Lee’s grandmother would prepare her special hearty fare of pork spareribs.
Join the LSSC Senior’s to experience Warmth, Passion, and Beautiful Taste from generations of home cooking goodness. Order your copy of Lady’s Shaw Senior Center’s Cookbook at www.selfhelpelderly.org or call (415) 677-7600 to learn more about San Francisco’s pro-active Chinese seniors.
If you are interested in learning how to cook Chinese cuisine, Self-Help for the Elderly offers cooking classes in San Francisco Chinese community for a small fee (materials included). For more information, please call Ms. Shirley Chan at (415) 677-7582 or Ms. Cecilia Yeung (415) 677-7581. All levels are welcome.
4th Annual Adobo Festival in Stockton This Weekend
July 22, 2009
STOCKTON - Whether its pork or chicken, scrumptious adobo, an immensely popular Filipino dish, will be featured in the 4th Annual Adobo Festival on July 25 and 26 at the Moose Lodge in Stockton, CA. Celebrating food, entertainment, and camaraderie, the free event will take place from 9am to 6pm both days.
This festival, a brainchild of Joey Camins of JS Camins Productions, takes pride as the only Fil-Am festival that began in the Peninsula and has travelled to the East Bay, South bay and now San Joaquin County, particularly Stockton.
Camins says people can expect a gamut of activities and entertainment for the whole family. The festival features the popular Adobo cook-off contest, with lots of Filipino restaurants and individuals competing . Aside from the cook-off fest, there is the Kiddie PopStar Competition, bazaar and non stop entertainment from local talents. Headlining the performers’ list is the singer-performer Kris Lawrence who won the Star in a Million contest after Erik Santos’ season. Some of the other performers are Rin on Rox, Sinag-tala Ensemble, veteran comedian Prospero Luna, child singing sensation Arianna, UBI, Kristianna, Arnel Rosanes and many more.
Reign of the Shanghai Dumpling King
January 2, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — My mouth watered in anticipation as the waiter placed a large bamboo steamer in front of us. Inside, nestled on top of napa cabbage leaves were ten succulent little soup dumplings waiting for me to eat up. Read more
Hard Knox Café
December 26, 2008
Down home southern soul food
SAN FRANCISCO - When I heard about a soul food restaurant in the Dogpatch run by a Vietnamese guy from Texas, I had to check it out.
Hard Knox owner Tony Hua grew up on southern comfort foods like BBQ ribs and collard greens. Living in Read more
Sushi Zone
December 19, 2008
A neighborhood gem
SAN FRANCISCO — With lines out the door, Sushi Zone is no neighborhood secret, but it sure is a gem. This charming little sushi joint has been serving up exceptionally fresh sushi and other delightful morsels for almost eleven years. Read more
Yoppi Yogurt Grand Opening in SF
December 18, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO—Another froyo Shop has opened in the Financial District, causing people to open up their wallets for this delicious treat. Read more
Chill: Not Another FroYo Shop
December 18, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO—Chill, the newest dessert café to open in the middle of the financial district, has since early November featured cheap promotion deals no one can deny: $1 for organic coffee, $2 for frozen yogurt or custard with 1 exotic topping and $3 for a crispy crepe cone with a sweet filling and your choice of topping. Read more
Bodega Bistro
December 12, 2008
Chilly weather = prime pho-slurping weather
SAN FRANCISCO — When the sky is gray and the chilly fog rolls in off the bay, one thing is guaranteed to make you feel better: a big fat bowl of hot pho steaming in your face.
Indian Clay Oven
December 5, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — Indian cuisine is often associated with a sophisticated blend of spices, and the country’s religious beliefs and culture play an influential role in their culinary arts. For instance, many worshippers of Hindu and Buddhism are vegetarians. Read more
Candybar
November 28, 2008
Western Addition’s new dessert lounge
SAN FRANCISCO — Candybar, which dubs itself as the first San Francisco dessert lounge, is the brainchild of Tan Troung, Derek Chan and Chris Frey who sought to create a meeting spot that resembles a living room with desserts and drinks. Read more
Macao Friends Restaurant
November 21, 2008
Portuguese cooking
SAN FRANCISCO — Macau, while perhaps more renowned for its casinos, has the reputation of serving the comfort food of the East. A territory just south of Hong Kong once claimed by Portugal and now China, Macau’s cuisine is a fusion of Cantonese and Portuguese with major ingredients including potatoes and mackerel. Read more
Hime: Contemporary Japanese in the Marina
November 14, 2008
Vibrant food may play the lead and ambiance the supporting role, but together they make a meal worth talking about.
Embedded in a bustling strip filled with motels, patrons could easily sidestep the modest entrance on San Francisco’s Lombard Street. Candles, mahogany tables and large bamboo poles create a sensual decor. With Read more
