Country Asian Tapas hosted by Chinese Southern Belle

Our Country Asian Tapas event Sunday night, May 31 was a "smashing success" as one guest exclaimed. Held at Urban Oasis B&B in Atlanta's historic neighborhood, Inman Park, new friends from around town (and from MD, OK, CA) mingled and munched over a dozen selections of Chinese Southern Belle Asian Tapas creations, including Plum Wine Sangria (couldn't keep punch bowl filled), 5-Spice Roast Beef, "Keng's Wings" Original Honey Braised Wings (they put me through college!) and local/organic Garlicky Greens Stir-Fry.

Big thanks to our partners--Sevananda Natural Foods Market; Slow Food Atlanta; Urban Oasis; New Tricks; China Cafeteria; Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts; and Chinese Southern Belle, LLC.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the fun, delicious evening making new connections and supporting "good, clean, fair food" (a portion of proceeds benefit Slow Food Atlanta).

Maybe this will become an annual tradition....Enjoy the pics!

Natalie

No Biscuit No Cry

Recently, while arriving early for a class downtown, I went to the Flying Biscuit for a dinner snack. It was in-between meal times and the servers enthusiastically announced “$3 Mimosas!” Not a big drinker, I declined but excitedly noticed it was “Biscuit Happy Hour” on the daily special board. Excited about the prospect of a free or perhaps “all you can eat” biscuits, I asked my server about the daily special. He flew by and repeated “$3 Mimosas!” I asked again and this time pointed to the poster, “What is the Biscuit Happy Hour?” He repeated in the same cheery tone as he flew back the other way, “$3 Mimosas!” A bit flustered and confused, I reiterated, “But it says BISCUIT Happy Hour.” Then, it dawned on me that they were all about the “happy hour mimosas” and this Raccoon Foodie was all about the biscuit! Ha! I had a good chuckle at myself as I munched on my whole wheat biscuit and love bean cakes.

Register now for April and May events!

Cook's Warehouse-Midtown (our debut!), "Eggrolls 'n' Sweet Tea, Hands-on class, Monday, April 13, 6:30-9:30pm https://www.cookswarehouse.com/ClassReg/Public/classes.asp?id=2162

Asian Market Tour & Lunch, Saturday, April 18, 10am-1pm Register here http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/62997 or call 800-838-3006

Cook's Warehouse-Decatur, "Chinese Southern Belle Express" Demo & Tasting, Saturday, May 2, 11am-1pm. Register
https://www.cookswarehouse.com/ClassReg/Public/classes.asp?id=2163

Country Asian Tapas with Natalie & Margaret, A Benefit Dinner for Slow Food Atlanta, May 31, 6-9pm, Inman Park. Register here http://http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/63011 or call 800-838-3006

Look forward to seeing y'all soon!

Check out: New Life Journal article (April) "Soul Kitchen" feature

http://newlifejournal.com/cms/content/view/901/55/

Chinese Southern Belle - Intro

I started documenting, writing and sharing my Chinese family’s history and journey, in China, Taiwan and the Deep South with the hope that it would add an entertaining and enriching cross-cultural dimension to the tapestry of Atlanta’s history. It was a journey marked by a constant juxtaposition of cultures and customs, from egg rolls and Big Macs to Taoism and Dow Jones.

Asian American culture has come a long way since my parents landed in Houston, Texas then Atlanta, Georgia in the early 1960's. We were the only Asian family in the neighborhood and tofu and soy sauce were unheard of in the local grocery stores. Now, of course, Asian food and culture, in all its diversity, is accessible and very popular. Many of my friends have traveled to China and now teach me about the nuances of taichi, karate or Indian yoga. The cooking class my mother taught in 1988 stretched culinary boundaries with Hot and Sour Soup. In 2009, our new course will cover sushi, bibimbap, pad thai and a tour of an Asian market the size of Wal-Mart.

While the motivation was personal, I also hope that these stories will help create a stronger, shared sense of community across our differences and similarities through an appreciation and remembrance of one family's immigrant experience. Perhaps, we will find insight and inspiration in the commonality of the American experience.

May we all enjoy more cross-cultural friendships, potlucks and eggrolls n’ sweet tea!

Happy Winter Soulstice!