New Sampan Article: Yung Wing & the Earliest Chinese Students in Massachusetts

"The most interesting feature of Chinese life to me was that on board their boats, or sampans, as they are called....Upon these boats live whole families of three and even four generations."

--The Fall River Daily Herald, November 20, 1888

For about two yearsr, I've been contributing to Sampan, the only bilingual Chinese-English newspaper in New England. It's published in print as well as online, available in both Chinese and English. I've previously written over 40 articles for Sampan, and you can find links here. 

My newest article, Yung Wing & the Earliest Chinese Students in Massachusetts, is now available in the new issue of Sampan. Springfield was one of the first cities in Massachusetts where Chinese arrived in the 1840s, primarily fueled by the desire for education. In 1847, three Chinese boys, 12 to 15 years old, with him, named Wong Shing, Yung Wing, and Wong Fun (also known as Wong Afeen), came to Springfield for education and they were the first Chinese boys ever allowed to study abroad. One of those students, Yung Wing, would go on to assist other Chinese students obtain an education in the area. Check out my article for the full inspiring story on Yung Wing.. 

What is a "sampan?" The newspaper's site states, "A sampan is a popular river boat in traditional China. This small but useful vessel, by transporting cargo from large boats to the village ports, creates a channel of communication among villages." And like that type of boat, Sampan delivers news and information all across New England, and "acts a bridge between Asian American community organizations and individuals in the Greater Boston area."

Sampan, which was founded in 1972, is published by the nonprofit Asian American Civic Association, "The newspaper covers topics that are usually overlooked by the mainstream press, such as key immigration legislation, civil rights, housing, education, day-care services and union activities. These issues are crucial to the well-being of Asian immigrants, refugees, low-income families as well as individuals who are not proficient in the English language."

There is plenty of interest in Sampan which will appeal to all types of readers, from restaurant reviews to historical articles, from vital news stories to travel items. In these current days when racism and prejudice against Asians and their restaurants is high, it's more important than ever that accurate information about the Asian community is disseminated and promoted. We need to combat the irrational prejudices that some possess, and support our Asian communities just as we would support any other element of our overall community. We are all important aspects of a whole, and we need to stand together.

Support Sampan!

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely, tips well and are nice to their servers.
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1) Due to the complications of the Covid pandemic these last couple of years, New England’s Outdoor Living and Culinary Show – Utopia – is postponed until early November 2022. Utopia’s partners at Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS) are hosting a slimmed-down version of Utopia, appropriately-titled Micro-Topia, at the Garden at Elm Bank on Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th, from 10am-8pm each day. 

There will be cooking demonstrations with Chef Evan Hennessy along with Brian Poe of TipTap Room, Crane River Cheese Clube and Parish Café. There will also be food trucks scattered throughout the premises, a book signing from local mixology influencer and cocktail blogger, Katie Stryjewski of @Garnish_Girl fame, and dozens of vendors showcasing their locally-crafted goods which will be available for sale that day. MHS experts will also conduct gardening classes over the two days, and two tiny houses will be on display in the Garden at Elm Bank courtesy of TinyHouse.com.

Where: The Garden at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
More Info: Tickets are $20 for each day and can be purchased at https://www.utopiaseaport.com/ Children under 12 are free.

2) Somerville’s neighborhood watering hole, R.F. O’Sullivan & Son, is celebrating its return by debuting the “Early BURG Special” for the month of May. Available weekdays from 4-6pm, the “Early BURG Special” prices each of R.F.’s nine signature burgers at just $10 each, a savings of $4-$6 on each burger. 

The hand-formed patties – seasoned and grilled – cover more classic preparations like The Celtic with lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, pickles and American cheese; BBQ with bacon, onion rings, pickles, bourbon BBQ and cheddar; Bloody Mary with tomato, onion, bacon and sriracha; The Pub with lettuce, onion, tomato and mayo; and Mushroom & Swiss with horseradish pepper sauce. 

Twists on the basic burger are seen in The Greek with lettuce, tomato, onion, tzatziki, roasted red pepper and feta; Don’t Poke the Bear with bacon, maple bacon glaze, fried egg and cheddar; Bacon & Blue with crumbled blue cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo; and The Impossible, a plant-based patty topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle.

New Sampan Article: Origins of the St. Paul Sandwich

(This photo of a St. Paul sandwich is courtesy of Mark, aka GastroPublico)

"The most interesting feature of Chinese life to me was that on board their boats, or sampans, as they are called....Upon these boats live whole families of three and even four generations."

--The Fall River Daily Herald, November 20, 1888

For about two yearsr, I've been contributing to Sampan, the only bilingual Chinese-English newspaper in New England. It's published in print as well as online, available in both Chinese and English. I've previously written over 40 articles for Sampan, and you can find links here. 

My newest article, Origins of the St. Paul Sandwich, is now available in the new issue of Sampan. A St. Paul sandwich is basically "... an egg foo young patty, slice of tomato, pickle and iceberg lettuce sandwiched between two slices of mayonnaise-laden white bread...” The origins of this sandwich are murky, but the most commonly shared legend is that it was invented by Steven Yuen at Park Chop Suey in St. Louis, possibly in the 1970s. It’s further alleged that Yuen named the sandwich after his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota. However, is this legend true, and if so, is there proof? Check out my article for the answers. 

What is a "sampan?" The newspaper's site states, "A sampan is a popular river boat in traditional China. This small but useful vessel, by transporting cargo from large boats to the village ports, creates a channel of communication among villages." And like that type of boat, Sampan delivers news and information all across New England, and "acts a bridge between Asian American community organizations and individuals in the Greater Boston area."

Sampan, which was founded in 1972, is published by the nonprofit Asian American Civic Association, "The newspaper covers topics that are usually overlooked by the mainstream press, such as key immigration legislation, civil rights, housing, education, day-care services and union activities. These issues are crucial to the well-being of Asian immigrants, refugees, low-income families as well as individuals who are not proficient in the English language."

There is plenty of interest in Sampan which will appeal to all types of readers, from restaurant reviews to historical articles, from vital news stories to travel items. In these current days when racism and prejudice against Asians and their restaurants is high, it's more important than ever that accurate information about the Asian community is disseminated and promoted. We need to combat the irrational prejudices that some possess, and support our Asian communities just as we would support any other element of our overall community. We are all important aspects of a whole, and we need to stand together.

Support Sampan!

Rant: We Need More French Toast Sandwiches!

The delectable Monte Cristo Sandwich. 

It's essentially ham, turkey and Swiss cheese between two pieces of French toast, though there are plenty of regional variations across the country. For example, the cheese might be different, the sandwich might be grilled or fried, it may contain spicy mustard, could be covered in powdered sugar, and so on. There might even be a side of jelly with your sandwich.

No one seems to know the exact origins of the Monte Cristo though it's believed to be a variation of the French croque-monsieur, which is basically a grilled ham and cheese sandwich that was invented around 1910. The earliest newspaper mentions I found for the Monte Cristo were from the 1920s, and nearly all in California, which might be where the name was coined, although no one knows the origin of that name, and if it truly is related to the Count of Monte Cristo. 

The first reference to the sandwich was in a California paper from May 1924, which provided a recipe that called for "American full cream cheese" and boiled ham. There was a single reference in the 1920s from another state, and that was Hawaii. The first recipe I found calling for more than ham and cheese was from a 1937 California newspaper, that stated to add  "white meat," such as chicken, turkey, lamb or pork. There's even a National Monte Cristo Day, celebrated on September 22, which was established back in 2015.

For me, and many others, maybe the most compelling element of this sandwich is the use of French toast. What a wonderful and delicious vehicle for the meat and cheese. The eggy texture and flavors of the French toast elevate this sandwich. Without the French toast, this would be a rather boring ham, turkey and cheese sandwich. 

So why aren't there more sandwiches which use French toast? It's extremely rare to find any other sandwich made with French toast and that's plain wrong. It needs to change and offers an excellent opportunity for an adventurous restaurant to blaze a pioneering path to the future of sandwiches. Who will step forward and offer diners unique, scrumptious French toast sandwiches?

French toast would seem a great choice for breakfast sandwiches, but that's an easy choice. Why not a burger on French toast? Many people enjoy eggs on burgers so why not make an eggy bread for it? Or maybe a steak and cheese sandwich? Meatballs? Chicken parm? The possibilities are endless and worthy of experimentation. Home cooks can also try variations in their own kitchens. 

We need more French toast sandwiches!!!

Do you know of any restaurants that make more unique French toast sandwiches?

Dr. Dane's Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce: Tasty, Versatile & Hot!

Sa Tế is a traditional Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce, and in the Vietnamese city of Huế, they are well known for their use of strong flavors with chiles, fermented shrimp paste, and various sauces. Recently, I've been using a new Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce as a condiment and ingredient for a variety of dishes. It's tasty, versatile, hot and full of flavor. 

I received media samples of Dr. Dane’s Kitchen Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce, including their Vegan version. These sauces were created by Dr. Dane Hoang, a pediatric dentist in Texas, a first-generation immigrant who learned to prepared Vietnamese cuisine in her mother's kitchen. Working with her daughter Isabella, Dr. Hoang has produced a line of Vietnamese dipping sauces and chili sauces. 

The first chili sauce is the Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce (8 oz/$15), a Huế-style Mắm Ruốc Ớt Sã Sa Tế, which is made with chopped garlic, lemongrass, chili flakes, salted shrimp paste and Thai chili peppers. It's also 100% all-natural and gluten-free. without any GMOs, MSG, added preservatives. 

The second chili sauce is the Vegan version, a Huế-style Ớt Sã Sa Tế, which is made without the salted shrimp paste and adds flaked sea salt instead. 

Dr. Hoang states, “We prioritize flavor over everything and are excited to offer the first all-natural line of authentic Vietnamese lemongrass chili sauces. From top-to-bottom, every jar is rich and full of chopped garlic, red chili flakes and heat from Thai chili peppers that is well balanced by zesty lemongrass. It’s our take on the chili sauce craze – inspired by our native city of Huế – that motivated us to create a bold-tasting, crave-worthy condiment that is not overly oily, dried out or inedibly hot.” 

She has also stated, “The infused flavors from lemongrass, chili and fresh spices add a distinct personality, turning any dish into a thrilling and aromatic experience. We’re excited to offer this new line of sa tế that dares to cross all culinary boundaries to liven up dishes around the world.” 

I first tasted the two Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauces on their own, and the first version was spicy hot, with a complex blend of flavors, a pleasant lemongrass element, and lots of umami. Delicious and intriguing. The Vegan version had a similar complexity and fiery heat, but was lacking in umami, likely due to the omission of the shrimp paste. There's still plenty of flavor, but it is different from the original version. My preference was for the non-vegan version as I enjoyed the umami aspect, and believe it also enhances food better due to that aspect. 

The Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce is quite versatile and I've used it atop a variety of dishes, from onigiri (rice balls) to hamburgers. It was also delicious atop stuffed clams (pictured above) and salmon. You only need a small amount to add plenty of flavor and spicy heat. Just be wary that if you use too much, the heat level might be too great for you. Dr. Dane's Kitchen website also provides some recipes you can make with this sauce. You can simply use it as a condiment with almost any dish, or an ingredient to enhance almost any recipe. With summer coming, you could use it on grilled meats or seafood, atop salads, hotdogs, and more. Highly recommended!

In addition, a portion of the profits from the sales of the Chili sauces, and dipping sauces, benefit the Kids 4 Smiles organization and their work to improve communities, schools and the environment. Kids 4 Smiles partners with local and global non-profit organizations to raise awareness and funds for projects which will improve and change people’s lives and spread smiles along the way.

Put a Vietnamese spin on any dish, and enjoy this delicious Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce!