Kingsland Walk Senior Living Culinary Department to Honor Asian American Pacific Islander Month

May is Asian American Pacific Islander month, or AAPI for short, a time to celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States and their contributions to the history of this country. By recognizing the culture, history, and achievements of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, we can broaden the understanding of their countries and cultures, as well as enhance the appreciation for all that they have given to make this country great.

As is the case with many commemorative months, AAPI originated with Congress. In 1978, Congress passed, and President Jimmy Carter signed into law, a joint resolution declaring a week in May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.” This was later expanded to a month, and in 1992, May was designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

At Kingsland Walk Senior Living University City, MO, we will be celebrating by honoring the state of Hawaii and the countries of Vietnam, China, and Thailand.

The dishes I am making are homemade veggie spring rolls with ginger soy and sweet and sour sauce; lobster Rangoon, sweet and sour meatballs, and chicken satay with peanut sauce.

I chose these dishes because I figured the Vietnamese spring rolls would go over well and they loved them! Lobster Rangoon is an elegant twist on the classic crab Rangoon popular in Chinese restaurants. Our residents love our meatballs, and a Hawaiian version should wow them. The Thailand favorite, chicken satay, will give me the opportunity to have a cooking demo and show how to make the marinade, cut the chicken, and skewer them.

I feel we should celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Offering meals indicative of Asian American Pacific Islander cuisine pays homage to the cultures and diversity of ingredients available in those countries. By featuring produce and recipes of these regions we are showing respect for cuisine we may not be familiar with in our western culture. It is nice to use ingredients that are not as common in my cooking. It is always great to be challenged into thinking differently about how to cook and present food attractively.

We are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate these countries, their contributions, and their foods this month! And we would be even more honored if you would join us. Give us a call to learn more about how you can get a seat at the table this month!