The Food that Makes Us

As we honor and celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, we are reminded of the different aspects that make up culture. History, art, music, language, and food are some of the ways we celebrate our cultural heritage and remain connected to family and friends. This month, we asked a few of our GSTV team members to share recipes that are not only delicious, but also meaningful. Please enjoy these recipes, whether they are familiar or new to you!  

Anya Harris, VP, Client Partnerships

Name of Dish: Kai Yad Sai  

Kai Yad Sai is a Thai dish that’s considered comfort food in the home.  Both my mom and grandma made Kai Yad Sai for me growing up and now they will make it and I eat it along with my kids (that are 4 and about to be 1).  It’s special because it's so simple and unique where you don’t find it at restaurants and I love that this omelet is eaten for lunch or dinner and not necessarily breakfast.  I hope my kids enjoy it and I can cook it for them.

Anne Beaulac, Senior Campaign Manager, Delivery 

Name of Dish: Banh Mi and Korean Gimbap 

My favorite dishes at Asian restaurants are a Vietnamese banh mi and Korean gimbap. I'm much too lazy at attempting to cook either, so I trust my local spots! Banh mi is a perfect sandwich any time of the year; it has lots of herbs to keep it bright and fresh. Gimbap (Korean for seaweed “gim” + rice “bap”) could be considered an equivalent to Japanese sushi. Pro tip: Combine them for a perfect meal! 

Aachal Thapa, Software Engineer 

Name of the Dish: Momo 
 
The beauty of making Momo lies in its communal aspect – it's a dish best enjoyed with friends and family. Whenever the weather's gloomy, I call it "weather calls" and either order Momo or invite my friends over to make it and eat together. Being a vegetarian, I prepare veggie Momo using similar ingredients but without the meat, replacing it with paneer. Pro tip: You can use ready-made wrappers from nearby Asian store, so you don't have to worry about making the dough from scratch