Susan's Savour-It!: Let's Hear It For May Asian Heritage Month...

Proudly celebrating Asian Heritage Month has everything to do with my roots... a background story and then my food adventure romps in May.

Maybe 6, shyly taking a photo in front of my father's delivery car at his first Chinese Canadian dine-in and take out restaurant Jade East in rural town Barrie, Ontario. He was there, and we were here in Toronto.

Yeah, those early days in Canada were hard for my immigrant parents. My dad working long hours while my young mother took care of us three was exceptionally trying. His 'not being there and always at work' became the worse point of contention for ma when he wasn't present at my birth. These memories flooded back as I watched Woking Phoenix in the Spring at Theatre Passe Muraille with my husband. Landing front row seats, we really got to see and connect with the passion in the actors' performances as each of the talented quartet came into character.

It was an epic exploration and a rollercoaster of emotions highlighting two decades of a family’s survival. Woking Phoenix tells the story of three siblings, their mother, and their restaurant as they seek to find belonging within small-town Ontario. An intergenerational Chinese love story about creating community and the food that reminds us of home.

For us, Jade East was sold by the time I was 10, then six years later in my teens my father did it again. He opened another Chinese Canadian takeout counter in North York with his younger brother called K Brothers Chinese Food (my father Ki, my uncle King). This time, my brother and I were old enough to help-- taking phone orders, packaging and organizing inventory. I learned so much about food, working hard and running a family business, but the biggest take away was understanding the sacrifice my father took in those early years of our lives for us, and that love and taking care of his family were not simply expressed in words but by doing and providing. Thank you ba, for everything. We ❤ you!!!

Now onto the food magic... 😍 Rediscovered a nostalgic Cantonese treasure this May and returned already three times! Oh and did I mention, I am in ❤ with their old school vibes 🤙...

Flashback 25 years ago, they were my family's go-to Chinese restaurant in Scarborough for a decade (when my grandma was still alive and my husband and I were just dating!) Little did I know they relocated not too far from OG... they just dropped the Seafood from their Royal Chinese name and was operating this whole entire missed times 😲! Never too late... It was all smiles, visiting with my boyz and the entire family for banquet style dinner to celeb Mother's Day and my parents anniversary too!

Some of my faves- their deep fried shrimp crab claws, salt and pepper fried squid, HK Style chili garlic and pork clam stir fry, salted egg yolk coated shrimps with broccoli, pork loins and onions with maggi sauce and Yang chow fried rice. Their generous dinner for 10 menu $368 is incredibly priced and so delicious! Bet you can't find this anywhere else 🙏

Another AmaZing thing... I still recognize three of their servers... older and grey but still warm with great auntie and uncle table service. Nostalgic comfort just like old times 😊😊😊🍚🥢 #sicfanla

Momos! Who can resist??! 🥟🥟🥟

Cute and busy hidden gem on a lower level restaurant in Cabbagetown happily patroned by two Friday night celebrating a birthday at Momo Ghar with @lisaeats😋. Momos are made fresh daily, and pumped out of this kitchen until they sell out with a steady coming in and out for dine in and takeout.

Deep-fried, pan-fried, steamed, or served sizzling on a skillet with accompanying sauces such as achar, you can choose from pork, chicken, beef, cabbage, paneer, potato which presents like art on a plate.

Their cold Laping hand-rolled starch appetizer wraps a medley of garlic, chillies, tomato, red onion, cilantro, fine potato bits and alfalfa sprouts served in a tasty chilli-soy sesame oil emulsion, was our fave for its burst of flavours and textures! #24hourstarchgame We also shared steamed cabbage momos, pan fried chicken momos and crunchy deep fried breaded beef momos alongside refreshing mango lassi perfumed with cardamom to counter the spicy 🥭🥤.

The owner hails from Tibet, and extends his love for Himalayan cuisine at their newest spot on 2392 Bloor Street West. Check them out 📣❤

Momo Ghar in Cabbagetown

Yet another celebration-- Oguz Uyghur Cuisine (a wonderful blend of Asian and Turkish cuisines) for our 21st Anniversary with the kids! Xinjiang, an autonomous territory in northwest China, is a vast region of deserts and mountains and is home to many ethnic minority groups, including the Turkic Uyghur people.

Delicious refreshing homemade yogurt for app dressed with honey, pomegranate seeds and golden raisins.

Their flavourful hand pulled noodles stir-fried with fresh veggies, dried chili peppers and beef.

Their main event with an aromatic array of meat kebabs served with palau and grilled tomatoes.

Finished with Turkish coffee and these baklava beauties with pistachios.

Beautiful Friday 🌞 entertaining friends, with take-out Korean and homestyle Chinese dishes to celebrate the last day in Asian Heritage Month. But the truth in the matter is, we celebrate Asianness everyday!

On The Menu: Delicious Korean Kimbap- beef bulgogi and shredded crab surimi sans rice (egg strips instead) and Korean boneless fried chicken- spicy and sweet gangjeon and honey soy from K-Food Kitchen

Shanghai fried noodles stir fried with pork, shrimp, cabbage and bak choy

Pang Pang Chicken noodle salad- shredded chicken, chopped garlic, and cilantro in a tangy sesame sauce served on top of green bean noodles

It is also Dragon Boat festival soon (June 10th) and my mom has already made steamed Sticky Rice in Bamboo Leaves Parcels (Zong Zi) as a traditional celebratory food. Happy to share a bit of Chinese culture with my non-Asian friends🤗

Dessert: refreshing Coconut Jackfruit Tapioca with gels (not shown)

Saving the best of all visuals last, and this time, it's not food-related lol.

Not quite cherry blossoms in my yard but I'll take it 🌸😎

Not quite fully bloomed, but give and take 2 weeks before they cascade into my pool... Their delicate and short visit reminds us of how precious and brief life is and why we need to live to the fullest and savour every moment. And so embrace the fleeting beauty of life just like cherry blossoms do... 🌸🌸🌸