The Cleveland Food Adventurers Passport event in June 2014 was at the Emperor's Palace in old Chinatown in Cleveland. People who enjoy trying different foods and learning about different cultures participate in the Food Adventurer's group. The AsiaTown neighborhood in Cleveland has grown and thrived the last several years. But the original Chinatown in Cleveland, a little West of AsiaTown - around East 21st and Rockwell, was not doing well.
Debbie Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com asked Jason Lin of the Emperor's Palace about the history of old Chinatown in Cleveland. Jason told how it was the oldest section but fell into crime and disrepair before being revitalized in 2004. In this video clip he also told why they call this restaurant the Emperor's Palace.
Debbie Hanson and Jason Lin
The Passport Food Aventurer's enjoy learning about the traditional foods they are served. Henry Luu of the Emperor's Palace told about vegetables in China and Chinese cooking. He told about the variety and then Chia-Min Chen told how more parts of the vegetables are used and a joke about bok choi.
Henry Luu and Debbie Hanson
Of course when you eat in a restaurant in old Chinatown you ask about dim sum. Henry said that 'dim sum' translates to 'Hush your heart." Chia-Min Chen then told how dim sum is usually served in the lucky 3 pieces, never the unlucky 4.
Another staple in Chinese restaurants is won ton soup. Chia-Min Chen told of the philosophy and yin and yang of the soup.
Chia-Min Chen
Besides the food and camaraderie, people enjoy learning about different cultures. Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com taught the audience a few basic phrases of Mandarin Chinese including Hello, How are you, I'm good/bad/so-so, thank you, you're welcome and goodbye. He admits that he is far from an expert but everyone had fun with the few basic phrases.
Food Adventurer Joe Meissner gave 8 (lucky 8) interesting facts about Sun Yat-sen who was the first president and founding father of the Republic of China. Sun Yat-sen spoke in Cleveland in 1911 at the Old Stone Church.
Joe Meissner
It was a great evening and adventure to China.Don't miss out on the next adventure. Get your Passport now
Enjoy these images from the Food Adventure to Emperor's Palace.
Ken and Maryann Kovach with granddaughters
August Pust
Lana, Gia Hoa Ryan, Nadia Martinovich and Mari Galindo DaSilva
Linda and Paramjit Singh
Harjit and Mona Alag with Saroj Aggarwal
Mary, Pierre, Rocky, Kelli and Gia Hoa
Maryann, Mari, Luis, Ed, Virginia and Ken
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