Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage with Food
Throughout May, we recognize the instrumental contributions and influence of Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. Celebrate with us by trying out these Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander-inspired dishes.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Inspired-Recipes
Take a trip through the many flavors that this month brings to the table.
- RECIPE -
ORANGE-GINGER
SALMON SALAD
Flaky salmon with a sweet glaze
on a bed of mixed greens.
- RECIPE -
THAI-STYLE
CORN FRITTERS
Crispy-sweet corn nuggets
with a savory-spicy kick.
- RECIPE -
CHICKEN STIR-FRY
WITH VEGETABLES
Pan-tossed tender chicken with
vegetables in an umami sauce.
- RECIPE -
SHRIMP CURRY
WITH RICE
Sautéed shrimp in a rich curry sauce on a bed of
white rice and topped with green onions.
Regional Food Traditions
Pack your bags and travel through the many cuisines that we are tasting this month.
Food traditions throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands are vast, ranging from the importance of portion sizes in South Korea, to distinctive styles of cooking in China and even the varying range of delicacies in the 7,000 islands that make up in the Philippines. Each culture highlights their particular craveable foods like Yakitori, or "grilled bird", from Japan or Kalua Pig from Hawaii. Let's not forget the variety of herbs and spices that flavor these dishes.
Explore Our Aisles
Create new flavors and tastes with ingredients that are sure to take your palette on an adventure.
The Origins of Soy Sauce
This all-purpose condiment is used in a variety of dishes across Asian countries and the Pacific Islands.
The origin of soy sauce or “Jiang” actually began as a paste. Originating in Chinese cooking over 2,000 years ago and made from fermented foods like soybeans, roasted grains and brine. The results of this process is a rich umami taste that flavors many dishes across Asian and Pacific cuisine.
Symbolism Behind the Lei
Aloha! Recieving these beautiful flowers is a significant part of the Polynesian and Hawaiian culture. Welcoming you to the tropical shores as well as bidding you farewell in hopes of your return.
The lei represents love, friendship, celebration, honor or a greeting. This ring of flowers symbolizes Aloha, a term used to define bond within the culture. This beautiful gift is typically made of carnations, kika blossoms, ginger blossoms, jasmine blossoms, or orchids they are given as a welcome or a farewell.
Take a Bow
Traditional greetings don’t always require words. In some cultures a gesture speaks for itself.
A traditional greeting found in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam and Taiwan, a bow takes on many forms. This gesture can represent a greeting, a sign of respect, an apology or even gratitude. In some cases, kneel before bowing and then will move their forehead towards the ground. It is also sometimes acceptable to bow before shaking hands.