explorASIAN festival, BC Book Prize Gala, ADBF public paddling program, MAY DAY 2006** "Long live International Workers' Day!", SPIRIT OF SCOTLAND, SOUNDS OF SCOTLAND, RICE ROCKETS & YACHT PEOPLE, PALESTINE, ISRAEL, AND ME: A POWER PLAY, explorYOUTH 2006: e-race, JAPANESE FAIRYTALE, TOMODACHI, FINDING HOME -    more »

This event was to raise money and awareness about the house that author Joy Kogawa grew up in. When she was 6 years old, her family was forced from the only home she had ever known and forced to live in what she described as shacks for the next 30 years. The family was interned in Slocan, than sent to work beet farms in Alberta, "to work for nothing and prove their loyalty to Canada," as Coyote said in the Thomas King story. Actors and cultural celebrities were invited to read some of Canada's most important literary works. Obasan and some of the works read such as Anne of Green Gables are listed on the recent Literary Review of Canada's 100 Most Important Canadian Books Ever Written. Authors such as Thomas King and Leonard Cohen were also presented, to create a short but incredibly rich and diverse samplng of Canadian literary riches. Readers include: Sheryl Mackay, Joy Coghill, Doris Chilcott, Rhonda Larrabee, Bill Dow, Hiro Kanagawa, Maiko Yamamoto, Minami Hara, Marion Quednau, singer Leora Cashe, MC's Bill Turner and Todd Wong + Joy Kogawa LOTS OF PICTURES!    more »

"This is multicultural skiing, I like it!" declared Francisco Carreon Argudin. I looked at him puzzled. I didn't see anything mulicultural about spring skiing at Silver Star Resort, just north of Vernon BC. It was Easter Sunday, and we were sitting in the "Bieregarten" on the main stroll of Silver Star Village, eating our Steak Sandwich lunch specials and drinking beer. "What's multicultural about skiing?" I ask. They look at me in disbelief, like I missed the punch line of a joke. "We're multicultural!" They exclaim. "Oh, yeah.... I forgot about that," I sheepishly reply. We were drinking Corona beer because Francesco bought them and he is originally from Mexico, with Mexican and Italian heritage. Our mutual friend is Jeff Chiba Stearns, the animator/film producer of "What Are You Anyways?" Jeff describes himself as hapa - Half Japanese, and Half Euro-mutt. I am 5th generation Chinese-Canadian.    more »

The new tartan incorporates colours of the Saltire and Chinese flag.

A Chinese-Scottish tartan has been created to strengthen links between the two countries.

It was inspired by Chinese Consul General Madame Guo Guifang, who said tartan was a key to the appeal Scotland holds for Chinese tourists.

The creators hope the tartan will boost tourism and business opportunities between China and Scotland.

It was specially designed by the Strathmore Woollen Company and the Scottish Tartans Authority.

The company is also hoping to link up with a business partner in China to launch a clothing label using the design.

3,000-year link

The new tartan incorporates blue and white from the Saltire and the red and yellow featured in the Chinese flag.

The tartan will be officially unveiled in Angus on Tartan Day, on 6 April.

Angus provost Bill Middleton said: "The new Chinese-Scottish tartan symbolises the co-operation and harmony that exists between Chinese people and Scottish people everywhere.

"As this tartan belongs to the Chinese as a nation, we hope to see it worn around the world."

China's link with tartan goes back almost 3,000 years when an explorer in Xinjiang, Western China, discovered the burial place of a group of ancient Caucasian travellers wearing perfectly preserved tartans.

BBC Radio Scotland: Vancouver's Toddish McWong talks about Canada's Scottish-Chinese-Canadian Community: Gung Haggis Fat Choy!

A special warm welcome to Scots finding our website after listening to BBC Radio Scotland's arts and culture program The Radio Café.  

"Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Canada’s Scottish Chinese community," is how the Radio host described what was coming up on the Monday April 3rd program, as Radio Cafe this week is featuring aspects of the Scottish diaspora and its influences around the world, and will highlight Tartan Week in New York City where a huge parade will take over the street with men in kilts!

I, Todd Wong aka Toddish McWong, was featured today on BBC Radio Scotland this afternoon at approximately 2:53pm Greenich Time (5:53am Pacific).  But you can listen to the BBC Radio website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?/radio/aod/scotland_aod.shtml?scotland/radiocafe_mon"
Click on Play to hear the introducations, then click on the Fast Forward buttons to reach 38:00

Clips from a pre-recorded interview of me run from approximately 38:30 to 41:45 of the full 45 minute Radio Cafe broadcast.

"This is what you get when you cross Robbie Burns Day with Chinese New Year", opens the host, as my voice comes in.

Here are  some links to help you navigate www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com


Origins of Gung Haggis Fat Choy story - It all started back in 1993, when I was a wee student studying at Simon Fraser University on the highlands of Burnaby Mountain.

Todd's poem "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" - 

Dinner menu for 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner - 10 courses of food, mostly traditional Chinese , but served up with haggis won ton, and haggis lettuce wrap + spicy jelly fish, noodles, rice vermicelli, curried beef and potatoes, and crab.
 

article and photos from Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
- pictures of real-life intercultural music, relationships and food.  Pictured above is our 2005 poster, my friends Lorrie and Tony Breen, myself with my girlfriend Deb Martin.


Recipes for Gung Haggis Won Ton, and Gung Haggis Spring Rolls and haggis-stuffed tofu - Honestly!  So many people have said, "I didn't know haggis could taste so good!"


Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team mixing Chinese dragon boats with wearing tartans!

Hapa Izakaya restaurant: A upscale Canadian fusion version of Japanese bistro dining

Hapa Izakaya, 1479 Robson Street at Nicola, 604 689-4272

There is a new kind of dining experience happening in Vancouver....  upscale Japanese bistro dining.  While Japanese bistros have been around for awhile, making homestyle Japanese cooking available for the rising  numbers of Japanese English language students - the upscale trend started a number of years ago with  restaurants such as Raku, which was later renamed Guu.

I was first introduced to sushi on Vancouver's Robson Street in the early 1980's - many years before it was trendy.  Today, you can walk down Robson Street and see many of the young Japanese students hanging out with their friends while studying in Vancouver, one of the most popular global cities for learning English.

Vancouver's multicultural environment, and large Asian population, makes it a natural desired destination for Asian students from around the world.  And now many former students are returning to Vancouver to live and work.  Many are involved in computers, programming and are part of a new rising affluent demographic.

Vancouver also boasts a happening film industry.  Famous actors are often seen in many of the restaurants along Robson Street like Cin Cin.  Now... they can also be seen at Hapa Izakaya too!

Hapa Izakaya at 1479 Robson Street, is a beautiful smooth lounge-type restaurant in minimalist black.  You step in, and you know that movement flows like water.  Music dances trance-like through the speakers.  The chefs stand behind the counters and shout out greetings, like many other Japanese restaurants - but something's different here.  It's the food.

The food mixes traditional Japanese homestyle dishes with inventive cultural fusion - just like it's owner Justin Ault.  Ault is "hapa"- the Hawaiian word for "half" which has also come to mean half white/half Asian.  Read about Jason Ault in a 2003 Vancouver Magazine article Diner: Beyond Sushi.

Last Wednesday night, we went to Hapa Izakaya with the Save Kogawa House committee, as one of our members is Ellen Crowe-Swords whose nephew is Justin Ault, the owner of Hapa Izakaya.  Justin grew up on Vancouver Island, the descendant of Japanese Canadians who had been interened at Slocan, during World War 2.  Justin was born in Port Alberni, and spent some time in Tokyo where he met his wife, who is also hapa.

Ellen ordered food for our table, and explained about the dishes.  All were very delicious.  But I can't remember everything we ate...  The first thing I tasted was the very delicious Japanese pumpkin puree with a whipped cream, spread on melba toast.  Next, I ate the spinach salad - very fresh and tasty, served with something on the side - wish I could remember.

Tuna belly chopped with spring onions, mixed with slices of red and yellow peppers, and spread over garlic toast.  ummmm.... I love good tuna!  There was a tempura prawn dish.... bacon wrapped asparagus.

I love rice... There was a crispy rice hot pot with pork, tomato sauce and kimchi, served in a Korean hot stone bowl.  Be careful not to touch the bowl.  It reminded me of my own mother's "Spanish Rice" dish that her father used to make for her.  I offered my girlfriend some of the crispy rice, from the sides of the bowl.

This was a great dining experience - perfect for hanging with friends.  The Kogawa House committee is now planning a fundraiser event at the restaurant to help raise funds to save Kogawa House.  Look for a our event before the end of April.

My friend Roland Tanglao wrote a 2003 mini-review of his visit to Hapa Izakaya for his website Van Eats, and even posted pictures of the food.  Roland wrote

Another friend Tim Pawsey wrote his review for the Vancouver Courier 'Hapa'-ning Tokyo-style tapas



Check out these other reviews from web

www.arthurhungry.com

www.frommers.com

www.dinehere.ca