Thanks to Ambs Loves Food, your cravings for a Korean beef bowl can be sated in just 20 mins. This simple ingredient list of pantry staples will pack your dish with so much flavor your little foodies will be asking for seconds. Pst – cooking the rice will take longer than the beef, so if you plan ahead and have pre-cooked rice to reheat, making this dish could take less than 20 mins!
Ingredients: 1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon crushed ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon veggie oil
1 tablespoon chives
roasted/steamed broccoli
cooked brown rice
Method: 1. Start with a large skillet and heat oil until hot. First add garlic and cook for a minute until you can smell it fragrantly. Add in ground beef.
2. While beef is cooking mix brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and lastly ginger in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Once beef is cooked and all crumbled, drain the fat. Pour in sauce mixture with chives, let simmer until hot.
4. Serve over brown rice with roasted broccoli.
Planning on cooking this recipe today? Share your results with us in the Comments below!
Textile designer by day, food blogger by night, Amber Knight is the author and photographer of Ambs Loves Food, a blog full of easy, delicious recipes. Her recipe index is filled with classical dishes that kids will love, like banana oat chocolate chip muffins to comfort mac and cheese. She even gets her craft on with fun DIY projects! Visit Ambs Loves Food by clicking here.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and New Yorkers are fortunate to live in a place that is home to so many thriving AAPI communities. So we’re taking a minute to spotlight some of our favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander businesses. These local entrepreneurs make being a parent in the city easier, more fun and more delicious (among many other things.) And of course, many owners are parents themselves. Want to support other NYC parents who run small businesses? We love these women-owned businesses in NYC, and these NYC Black-owned businesses and these parents are kind of our heroes.
At Nguyen Coffee Supply, it’s all about the experience of brewing a cup of coffee. This, the first specialty Vietnamese coffee company in the U.S., opened its doors in Fall 2018 and prides itself on importing and roasting single-origin Vietnamese coffee beans. Apparently, compared to Arabica beans, its Vietnamese Robusta has twice as much caffeine (without the jitters), 60 percent less sugar and up to 80 percent more anti-oxidants. Co-owner Sahra Nguyen encourages people to support the small businesses in the city. “Especially immigrant-owned mom-and-pop shops that may not be so social media savvy. We need diversity in businesses, experiences and culture so that our city remains the dynamic place we love.”
For the past decade, the Lo family (Jan, Derek and their mom Helen) has been designing stylish travel bags from their Dumbo studio. (During the pandemic, they pivoted to helping healthcare workers by donating almost 4,000 bags to those on the frontlines.) The company's timeless, thoughtfully designed bags are created with eco-friendly materials and plenty of organizational features and pockets to keep your trip as streamlined and seamless as possible.
Love cute, fashionable and distinct kids' clothes but not so into the cost (or trying to find them in the right size?) Check out Dopple, the creation of co-founder and CEO Chao Wang. This subscription service for stylish and affordable clothing for children, which offers pieces from brands such as Stella McCartney, Chloé, Bonpoint and Dôen, makes it easy to up your kid's look without going broke. You can also order a single "Dopple Drop", a cute starter outfit set for newborns (in various styles) as a gift for new parents. The latest rollout from the company is ReDopple, a peer-to-peer marketplace where users can buy or sell any of the 380 plus brands in Dopple’s inventory.
Yu & Me Books
Lucy Yu
Lucy Yu is not even 30 yet, but she's opened NYC's first female-owned Asian American bookstore in Chinatown. The shop, which is also a cafe and bar debuted in late 2021. It highlights works by Asian authors and books that feature the stories of immigrants. Closed Mondays.
At Korean K9 Rescue in Astoria, the mission is all about building awareness and compassion for dogs, especially those that are rescued from dog meat farms, high-kill shelters and puppy mills both here and abroad. Gina Bohler, executive director and founder started the organization in 2017. These days, New Yorkers in all five boroughs—and around the Tristate area—are happy adopters.
“We are so thankful to the NYC community for embracing our rescue organization and giving these homeless and mistreated dogs a second chance here,” she says. “We also have a Patreon page where you can get a sneak peek inside our facility in Bundang, South Korea, while supporting our rescue efforts monthly for just a few dollars.”
When Lin Chen, a second-generation Asian American, launched Pink Moon, an online beauty site in mid-2020, her focus was on curating exclusively female-founded, sustainable self-care, well-being and lifestyle brands. “Practicing self-care/love has positively changed my life and this is why I want to offer other women the opportunity to experience this, too,” she says. These days Chen runs her business from her office in Midtown East, with hopes of opening a flagship well-care and community site for women through every phase of life some day.
Rooted may have started out of Ryan Lee and Kay Kim’s apartment in Williamsburg in 2018, but it’s soaring now with a greenhouse in Florida, a Brooklyn team and a commitment to doing everything through a lens of sustainability. "We’re adamant about doing things as green as possible, even if it’s much harder, for the sake of our environment,” Kim says. The online nursery offers plant subscriptions, as well as one-off orders.
Jimmy Ly, co-owner of Madame Vo, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant in the East Village that opened in 2017, began dreaming up his vision when he met ‘Madame’ Yen Vo and the two connected over their mutual love of Vietnamese food. A Queens native, Ly had grown up as his family’s designated sous chef for family gatherings, and later worked in his parent’s banh mi shop. Vo grew spent her youth eating traditional Vietnamese food in her native Houston. When Ly introduced Yen to his family’s cooking, the inspiration for Madame Vo was born—and, since then, the couple became the proud parents of two boys.
“Vietnamese food is more than just the national cuisine of Vietnam—it is a way of life and an integral part of the culture,” Ly says. “At Madame Vo, we strive to honor the tradition of Vietnamese food by providing New Yorkers with the familiar and nostalgic flavors of southern Vietnamese cooking. Whether you're ordering a savory Com Suon Nuong or a delicious bowl of The Madame Pho, you can rest assured that your meal has been made with the utmost care and best ingredients, following recipes that have been passed down through generations of the Ly and Vo families."
In 2019, Ryan Kim opened Kim’C Market, an e-commerce business based in the Brooklyn Navy Yard with the express goal of helping people stay healthy by providing healthy Korean foods and ingredients. “I was inspired to start Kim’C Market after my uncle passed away from cancer in 2018,” Kim says. “Having grown up without a father, I felt the need to be able to guide my late uncle’s children and ensure that the whole family would be able to have access to clean, healthy foods.”
“Whether you’ve been cooking with Korean ingredients your whole life or would like to dip your toes into the world of Korean cooking, our mission is to connect people with tasty, wholesome Korean and Asian ingredients and ship or deliver them fast to you. Food has an innate transformative power, from the nutrients inside it to the people who make it and the cultures which influence it, and it is our goal to make these clean ingredients accessible to all kitchens. To see how our products can be used not only in Korean cooking but your own cuisines, check out our cooking videos on YouTube.com.”
This family-owned and operated kids’ clothing line is known for its modern and thoughtfully crafted designs. Inspired by their own kids, the owners have over 18 years of experience in the fashion industry; they’re passionate about creating lasting, neutral unisex pieces that can be handed down again and again.
Founder Alex Zagami Ng comes from a long line of business owners. When she opened her shop in Little Italy, it quickly became a favorite for NYC locals and visitors alike. Ng curated a wonderful selection of toys, clothing and books, and also designed her own line. Find Piccoliny gear online (including a special collab with legendary dim sum spot Nom Wah Tea House, pictured above) or if you live in NYC, from these select retailers as well as Saks Fith Avenue in midtown Manhattan.
Little Moony is a designer daughter and master tailor mother team. The idea to launch a children’s clothing line was born out of an afternoon watching their niece/granddaughter play in a cute but comfortable dress (which mom had made!). From there, Little Moony has become known for comfortable, well-designed clothes that range from bright and colorful to calm and cool. There’s a brick-and-mortar store in the SOHO neighborhood of NYC, but you can purchase everything from onesies to dress and jogger pants from the website too.
Founder and CEO Eram Siddiqui launched Hudson and Bleecker when she couldn’t find stylish travel accessories. What started as a single shoe bag has expanded into a line of multi-functional, well-crafted travel accessories. Take a peek at the website, and you’ll find garment bags, cosmetic bags, packing cubes and more.
When you have young children it is easy to forget that Los Angeles is a diverse culinary mecca. It’s time to stop sacrificing your beloved Indian food and Korean BBQ for chicken strips and burgers. Here’s a guide to our favorite kid-friendly global cuisine from where to go and what to order—everyone will be delighted, including all those developing tastebuds.
Kids might not appreciate the robust flavors in Indian curries just yet, but that doesn’t mean Indian food is out of the question. There are some great kid-friendly dishes. You just need to know what to order.
What to order at an Indian Restaurant for Kids: It’s hard to go wrong with fluffy and buttery bread, so always order naan. If your kids like chicken tenders or fish sticks, order chicken or fish pakora. Pakora means battered and deep fried…yum! Anything cooked in a tandoor, a special Indian clay oven, is a good choice, too.
Our choice for Indian? Tandoor-A-India in Playa Del Rey. They consistently serve flavorful curries and the kids always devour their chicken tikka. A friend recommended this restaurant and was raving about it, so we had high expectations going in. We were blown away—every single dish we ordered was fantastic. Saag Paneer, vegetable samosas, daal, mushroom masala, chicken tikka masala, special veggie rice and naan. Some of the best Indian food we've ever had, if not the best
If your family eats meat, it’s time to visit Park’s BBQ in K-Town. Park’s is often recognized as the best Korean BBQ in Los Angeles and there’s a reason why—the food is delicious, service is fast, and the experience is interactive – you can grill your own food or have your server do it.
What to Order at a Korean BBQ Restaurant for Kids: The rib-eye Bulgogi, a Korean classic dish of thinly sliced marinated beef, is a favorite among children. It is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Park’s Galbi, a boneless prime beef short rib, is another showstopper that can be ordered with or without Park’s top-secret sauce. Korean barbeque is traditionally enjoyed wrapped in lettuce like a little taco, but kids may prefer it with rice. Japchae, a stir-fry of glass noodles and vegetables, is another one of our favorite kid-friendly dishes.
Park's BBQ 955 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles Online: parksbbq.com
Persian food is super kid-friendly thanks to loads of dishes featuring kid-favorite rice and grilled meats. We've got two destinations in LA for the best Persian restaurants to take your kids—Seaside Place Persian in Torrance and Darya in West LA.
What to Order at a Persian Restaurant for Kids: According to our insider, Negin Kamali, she recommends starting with kabobs like Soltani—a combination beef plate that is a combination of tender filet mignon (barg) and ground beef kabob (koodieh). You can also order the boneless chicken kabob—a nice alternative to beef.
And for the adventurous eater? Try a Persian stew like Fesenjan—grated walnuts cooked with pomegranate sauce, served with steamed basmati rice. Of course, you can't leave without trying the Bamieh (Persian doughnuts) or bastani (Persian ice cream).
Of course if your kids are a hard 'no' on trying something new not in their comfort zone, try to open their culinary world through the always acceptable dessert course. Our pick? Head to SomiSomi (they have locations in Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Santa Monica, Sawtelle, Glendale, Long Beach, Torrance, & Santa Clara so there's bound to a location near you) and order the "AH BOONG"—their signature goldfish-shaped waffle cone stuffed with choice of fillings (custard, taro, sweet red beans or Nutella) and soft serve–everything from traditional chocolate and cookies and cream to ube, sesame and matcha. Because delicious things (dessert or not) come in all shapes and sizes.
We know that being able to hire a nanny is a privilege—and finding a bilingual nanny is even more of a luxury. There are many families for whom this is not an option—whether because of expense or availability. But if you do have the desire and opportunity to hire a bilingual nanny because you want to enrich your child’s dual-language enironment, you can create a much richer environment by thoughtfully partneringwith that person. Whether it’s a full time nanny, part time or nanny share (for our family, we have set up nanny shares—where we partnered with another family to “share” one nanny, both for socialization and to defray cost), here are a few ways to maximize new language skills.
1. Have an explicit conversation with your nanny about speaking in their language.
I have to admit that this is not something I thought of at first. I assumed that if my nanny spoke Spanish, she would just speak Spanish with the kids all the time. But I speak English with her, our house is filled with English books and music, we live in a predominantly English-speaking city, she speaks English, and so it’s natural that she would just use English in my home.
It’s worth thinking about what level of language exposure you are looking for when your child is in your nanny’s care. Are you comfortable with a mix of English and Spanish and letting that happen naturally? Do you want to have certain times of the day or dedicated activities that you would like to be “all in Spanish”? Or do you want as much Spanish as possible all the time—including spoken conversations, songs, books, etc.? Whatever you choose, it’s worth talking it through explicitly with your nanny. She may have some great advice from past experience, and it also allows you to be aligned on expectations.
2. Try to learn yourself (even if just a little bit), so it’s not just your nanny speaking another language.
Many folks we have interviewed have discussed how critical it is to model love and appreciation for the language you are teaching. And perhaps the most obvious way to do this is to speak the language yourself!
Even if you don’t speak it (me!), you can try learning a few vocaulary words and phrases. Don’t worry if your accent is not perfect! This is more about showing that you value the target language vs. you being the pronunciation teacher. For example, our nanny makes eggs for the kids every morning. We talk about huevos instead of eggs and say ¿Quieres comer? Instead of Do you want to eat? I also try to repeat phrases our nanny uses frequently with the kids like ¿Qué pasó? (What happened?) and ¡Hasta mañana! (See you tomorrow!). Another fun activity to help us all learn was decorating and hanging these fun printables of household objects.
3. Keep foreign language books at home for your nanny to regularly read from.
Building a collection of children’s books—however small or large—is, for me, one of the most magical parenting responsibilities. But being an English-speaking family, I did not instinctively start with any Spanish books. As soon as we had the Habbi Habbi books at home, our nanny naturally gravitated to them, reading them to our son in Spanish. It seems so obvious in hindsight—if I wanted her to read to the kids in Spanish, I needed to provide the materials! You may want to ask your nanny for recommendations to add to your collection or provide a library card so she can select some herself.
As a side note, I’m so inspired by other moms’ libraries. For example, Valicia and Eveline are huge proponents of multilingual exposure and have amazing libraries filled with Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French, and more.
4. Seek out foreign language classes and storytimes for your nanny to bring your child to.
Before the pandemic, our nanny took the kids to music classes and storytime at the library. The kids loved it and we loved the exposure to music and stories! It may take a little extra research, but many libraries, bookstores and music programs offer neighborhood classes in foreign languages. Your local children’s museum or zoo may also offer activities in another language. Again, this is a great conversation to have with your nanny, as she may already know the best local classes and programs.
5. Find inspiration from food—whether cooking or visiting restaurants and cafes.
In our family, we love to cook and explore foods from all over the world. Food is one of our favorite reasons to travel, and—much like language—a critical part of cultural identity. So it makes sense for us to celebrate it at home, too.
Our first nanny was originally from Brazil and would take the kids to the Mercado Brasil in our neighborhood to get pão de queijo (still my son’s favorite!). In addition to building a very strong affinity for delicious Brazilian cheese bread, it also gave him an opportunity to hear more people speaking Portuguese together, since the shop was very popular among Brazilians in San Francisco. Our second nanny was originally from El Salvador and was an incredible cook (who loved feeding everyone!). She would make arroz y frijoles (rice and beans) and homemade tortillas for the kids, and green (unripened) mango (which I had never tried before and is so yummy).
There are so many ways to reinforce language and cultural context around food (which is also just delicious and thus creates an association of joy!). You may want to ask your nanny to incorporate Latin foods into your child’s diet, teach them the names in Spanish, talk about the regions they come from or the importance of the dish.
Habbi Habbi Reading Wand & Bilingual Books is the easiest way to start kids on Chinese & Spanish. Just turn on and tap. Every inch is tappable, and our books are as intentional in content as they are beautiful - topics like kindness, emotions, and more. @BeHabbi | habbihabbi.com.
People of Asian and Pacific Islander descent have contributed much to the fabric of American culture and society, but our histories and stories aren’t often well-known. According to the U.S. Census, Asian and Pacific Islanders represent 5.7% of the U.S. population, with 6.5% of the U.S. population identifying as mixed-race Asian. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. From the Smithsonian to the Wing Luke Museum, check out some of our favorite places to learn more about the invaluable contributions, sacrifices, and beauty bestowed upon America by people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.
Located on the largest natural island in the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island State Park offers beautiful views of the surrounding Bay Area, including hiking trails and other recreational opportunities. Historically, Angel Island is best known as the U.S. Immigration Station that processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly from China, in the early 20th century. During World War II, Japanese and German POWs were detained there before being sent to facilities on the mainland. Rich in history, families can explore this national historic park by foot or bike, accessible via private boat or public ferry. Reservations are required.
The Asia Society is a global nonprofit, nonpartisan arts and educational organization with major centers and public buildings in New York, Hong Kong, Houston, and offices in many cities around the world. The Society’s locations as well as most of its programs are open to the public, except when otherwise indicated. The Asia Society’s flagship museum in New York City exhibits traditional, modern, and contemporary Asian and Asian American art, and was one of the first U.S. museums to formally establish a collection focused exclusively on the category. There are plenty of events for everyone in the family, ranging from film screenings to lectures to book readings. While many centers are open to visitors at a limited capacity, virtual museum highlights and online learning opportunities are also available.
Founded more than 50 years ago, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco’s vision is to make Asian art and culture essential to everyone by inspiring new ways of thinking and connecting diverse communities to historical and contemporary Asian art and culture through a world-class art collection, special exhibitions, and education programs and events. Originally conceived as a wing in Golden Gate Park’s de Young Museum, the Asian Art Museum moved to the former Main Library building in the Civic Center in downtown San Francisco in 2003. Numerous exhibitions and programs are available throughout the year, and there’s a growing roster of virtual events for audiences of all ages.
With its mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM)—located in Los Angeles’ historic Little Tokyo district—is dedicated to telling the rich 130-year history of people of Japanese descent in the U.S. Through historical and art exhibitions, public educational programs, documentaries, and an innovative curriculum, JANM showcases the many contributions of Japanese Americans—from the pioneering first-generation Issei to the citizens who were incarcerated in internment camps during World War II to present-day Japanese Americans from all walks of life. Currently on exhibit is “Under a Mushroom Cloud,” which commemorates the upcoming 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The museum is open to the public with limited capacity and requires advanced ticket purchases.
In early 2020, a fire burned down the building that housed a vast quantity of the Museum of Chinese in America’s priceless artifacts. Fortunately, much of the collection was salvaged, but the museum has since been closed. Despite its setbacks, MOCA remains one of the most important and vital arts and cultural institutions for all Chinese of many nationalities in America. While MOCA rebuilds, there are numerous virtual exhibits and programs and an ongoing speakers series accessible online.
Following several years of fits and starts, the first-ever museum in the U.S. dedicated to the history and myriad contributions of Koreans in America is scheduled to open in 2022. Located in Los Angeles, home to the largest community of ethnic Koreans outside of Asia, the Korean American National Museum was established to interpret and preserve Korean American history, culture, and achievements. One of the Museum’s primary objectives is to introduce audiences to the sources of Korean culture, enabling younger members of the Korean American community and its neighbors from other ethnic communities to gain a greater understanding of this rich and complex civilization.
Manzanar National Historic Site in Independence, CA
Between March 1942 and November 1945, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated in one of 10 American concentration camps. Located at the foot of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains 230 miles north of Los Angeles, the internment camp at Manzanar was identified by the United States National Park Service as the best-preserved of the 10 former internment sites, and today serves as a national historic site that seeks to preserve and interpret the legacy of Japanese American incarceration in the United States. While the visitors center and exhibits are currently closed, the grounds are open, and visitors may take a self-guided tour around the grounds, accessible by foot or by car.
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center in Washington D.C.
Founded in 1997, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) is a moving “museum without walls” that shares Asian Pacific American history, art, and culture through its innovative in-person and online museum experiences throughout the U.S. and beyond. Programs include a wide range of activities such as art exhibitions, cultural festivals, public programs, and research in support of Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander people in the U.S. Part of the Smithsonian Institution—the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex—APAC aims to preserve and celebrate Asian Pacific Americans’ cultures and contribution to America in an accessible way through a variety of programs, including an online video series, resources for educators, and digital storytelling.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts South Asian Collection in Richmond, VA
Home to one of the country’s premier collections of Greater Indian and Himalayan art, the South Asian Collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts features stunning examples of sculptures, paintings, textiles, and decorative art from across South Asia. The museum is open year-round and some of the collection is viewable online. Currently on view is “Krishna: The Blue-Skinned Lord,” which showcases art inspired by the mischievous and enchanting Hindu deity.
Situated along the lava flats of the Kona Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii, Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is home to some of the most significant traditional Hawaiian sites in the Hawaiian archipelago. Originally established in 1955 as City of Refuge National Historical Park, it was renamed in the late-1970s. Until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke kapu (one of the ancient Hawaiin laws) could avoid the death penalty by fleeing to this place of refuge or pu’uhonua and seeking absolution from a priest. Today, the 420-acre national park includes sacred and historical sites as well as exhibits and performances that illustrate the history of the peoples of Hawaii. Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is one of the only places in Hawaii where the flag of Hawaii can officially fly alone without the American flag. The park is undergoing a phased reopening, with select exhibits and services currently suspended.
Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum in Long Beach, CA
The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum was founded in 2010, with a mission to amplify the collective wisdom of the people of Oceania through a permanent collection, educational programs, rotating exhibits, and living arts. By connecting the community to resources and foster intercultural exchanges with appreciation and respect, PIEAM seeks to engage visitors and share the rich history and contributions of people from the Pacific Islands. Although the main museum is currently closed, an outdoor exhibit—titled “ALA MAI: An Awakening of Mental Health Awareness”—is currently installed on the exterior of the museum garden and viewable through the end of May.
This Seattle stalwart takes an unflinching look at the Asian Pacific American experience: from Chinese settlement in the 1880s and Japanese internment camps during WWII to the current anti-Asian hate across the U.S. Housed in an impressive 60,000 square foot facility, the Wing Luke Museum is known for creating provocative, community-driven exhibitions and programs that reflect the multiplicity of AAPI identity. Named after pioneering Chinese American politician Wing Luke, the museum’s mission is to connect people to the dynamic histories, cultures, and arts of Asian Pacific Americans through vivid storytelling and inspiring experiences to advance racial and social equity.
As one of the few internationally recognized U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands, USC Pacific Asia Museum’s vast collection of more than 15,000 objects that span more than 4,000 years of history traverse through the regions of Persia to the Pacific Islands. Founded in 1971, the museum seeks to further intercultural understanding through its focus on classic and contemporary arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Housed in the Grace Nicholson building in Pasadena, California, the Chinese-inspired architecture is a registered California State Historic Landmark. The museum is scheduled to reopen on May 29, 2021, and admissions will be “pay what you wish” through June 6, 2021. Advanced ticket purchases and time reservations are required for admittance.
Dreaming of the day your kiddies are old enough to take them travelling internationally? The good news is that the Bay Area has one of the most diverse food scenes anywhere, and it’s constantly growing and branching out. You don’t have to settle for takeout Chinese or plain spaghetti and meatballs when there’s so many restaurants eager to introduce you to the specialties of their country’s cuisine. Here are some of our favorite restaurants that let you take a culinary world tour and also welcome the kids as well.
Aurum Indian Bistro | Los Altos
Hardy Wilson
Families looking for Indian food with a modern flair should order up some delivery from Aurum Indian Bistro in downtown Los Altos. The restaurant is a joint project from Chef Manish Tyagi, formerly the Executive Chef of August (1) Five in San Francisco, and Anupam Bhatia, owner of Broadway Masala in Redwood City. You'll find the menu includes favorites like saag paneer, lamb biryani and naan, along with unique fusion options like the pulled pork thepla taco. Our kid tasters loved the RaGa Kofta, the Chorizo & Bacon Kulcha and of course, the Butter Chicken (it was everyone's favorite). Don't skip out on dessert as the Heaven Can Wait Toffee Pudding was our favorite.
Din Tai Fung, one of the most famous restaurant franchises in Asia, is known for their eastern Chinese cuisine and especially their soup dumplings, called xiaolongbao. The good news is along with the dumplings, much of their menu is kid-friendly, including a wide selection of fried rice and noodles. The tough news is Din Tai Fung’s first Bay Area outpost in Valley Fair is super popular; they accept limited reservations for parties of up to four people, or arrive early before the lines get too long.
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. #1259 (in the Valley Fair Mall) Santa Clara, CA Online: dintaifungusa.com
Wursthall
Anita Chu
A bierhaus may not sound like the most family friendly place, but Wursthall’s modern take on a beer hall welcomes kids with their own menu that features kinderwurst (hot dog) and grilled cheese with apple juice or milk. The adult menu offers updated German cuisine, some with a Korean twist; this really is a beer hall Bay Area-style. Parents, enjoy the excellent beer and bratwurst selection and don’t overlook the chicken schnitzel or the crispy fried potatoes.
310 Baldwin Ave. San Mateo, CA Online: wursthall.com
If you’re a barbecue lover and you haven’t been to a Korean BBQ restaurant, you’re in for a treat at Goku. You can choose from all kinds of prepared meats from short ribs to chicken wings to pork belly to salmon, many of them marinated Korean-style, and cook them yourself over the grill at your table. It’s great fun and kids love picking out what to cook. Goku is an all-you-can-eat style BBQ, so bring your appetite. Kids under four eat free.
Although many equate Peru with a land of adventure, their food is amazingly accessible and appealing, like roast chicken, lomo saltado (stir fried beef with fries and rice), and ceviche. Limon provides a great overview of Peruvian cuisine and kids will be as big a fan of their signature rotisserie chicken as you. Everything is served family style, so it’s a great place for a casual family meal.
There’s more to Japanese noodles than ramen; don’t forget about udon, which features thicker, chewier wheat noodles in a dashi broth. Marugame Udon’s sleek assembly line-style noodle shop specializes in udon and lets you customize your bowl just how you like it. Start with the base bowl, then add toppings and side appetizers like tempura or onigiri. The beef udon is an easy and filling favorite for kids.
1919 Shattuck Ave. Ste 103 Berkeley, CA
3251 20th Ave. (in the Stonestown Galleria mall) San Francisco, CA
The gorgeous, colorful interiors of Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine will transport you to Thailand. Their signature dish is panang neua, a whole slow roasted short rib that’s fall-off-the-bone tender. The kid’s menu includes fried chicken and rice noodles with egg and broccoli (highly recommended), and many of the dishes on the main menu are kid-friendly as well, including the crab fried rice, pad thai and chicken noodle soup.
Dim sum houses can seem noisy and overwhelming to the uninitiated, but once you’ve got the ordering process down and you know your favorite dishes it’s a fantastic way to experience Cantonese cuisine. Dragon Beaux has friendly service and all the dim sum classics, plus creative versions of them like the five color xialongbao (soup dumplings), sea bass dumplings and egg yolk “lava” buns. They also offer hot pot at dinner time, another fun Chinese restaurant experience.
Achilles offers delicious Mediterranean food customized to your taste. The menu has endless options: choose your protein, then choose if you want it on a plate, in a wrap, or a pita pocket. Then you can get crazy with the sides, which include sauces like tahini and tzatziki, veggies, hummus, etc. Everything is super fresh and the workers are very helpful in explaining everything. Kids will love the beef gyro or chicken shawarma, and watching the workers carve them off the vertical rotisseries.
This longtime beloved San Francisco pop-up has made a permanent home in Oakland, so now you can more easily get to their version of homey Filipino cuisine. The Shanghai lumpia (pork spring rolls), lechon (pork belly) and adobo fried rice are big favorites, while the homemade spam with rice and fried egg will be a hit with the kiddies. Don’t skip the macapono (young coconut) ice cream for dessert if it’s on the menu! FOB Kitchen is open for brunch on weekends only, the best time to take the family.
Scandinavian cuisine is particularly family-friendly and we love the homey atmosphere that you find at Pläj. Located within walking distance of the Civic Center, Pläj is a great spot for your pre- or post-theater meal when everyone's all dressed up. We love the smoked fish croquettes and chicken liver more, while kids will definitely want to dig in to the Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam. On Sundays in December you can enjoy their traditional julbord meal. If you head up to Petaluma, don't miss their more casual sister restaurant, Stockhome (their Swedish candy selection is epic!).
Named for Francis Coppola's venerable production company, American Zoetrope, Cafe Zoetrope is located in the majestic Sentinel Building, a San Francisco historic landmark in the heart of North Beach. We love it for it's quirky decor, small tables and totally kid-friendly dining. You can't go wrong with the Pizza Sofia (topped with arugula, prosciutto and shaved parmesan) and the spaghetti and meatballs will make any kid (or adult) both full and happy.
Thinking of introducing a second (or third) language at home? Valicia Saucedo Trowbridge describes her approach to multilingualism, centering around respect for language and culture … and her love of books!
We interviewed Valicia to get the scoop on her method. Check out her answers below!
What’s your background?
I’m a mom, first and foremost, of N and F (5 and 1.5 years old). For languages, I’m a native Spanish speaker and learned English when I was in elementary school. I am proficient in Japanese and can understand some Korean. I’m an Associate Attorney at an immigration law firm in Boulder, Colorado (and by night, the voice artist for Habbi Habbi Spanish Books!). I studied Political Science and Japanese in college, so my interests in the law and in culture and language started young!
Tell us how young your interest in (the three!) languages started! Some parents are curious about what the right “age” is.
Well, learning Spanish comes from my family and heritage—so that started before I can remember. My grandparents were immigrants, and my parents placed great value on the Spanish language. They raised my brother and me as monolingual Spanish speakers until we started school in order to preserve the language.
My interest in Japanese started when I was about 7 years old. There was a sister-city program we had between my hometown in California and Ono City in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture. My family had exchange visitors stay with us, and this was my first exposure to Japanese. I remembered I loved the bright vowels —because they were the same as Spanish vowels, which made Japanese feel accessible, and I took a personal interest in it. I started learning it, spent six weeks in Japan during high school, and minored in Japanese in college.
I learned Korean after college actually—my friend recruited me to teach in Korea after college. I was fascinated by Korean because it is a scientifically created written language. Linguists created Hangul—so when you look at written Korean, you can pronounce it correctly (vs. character memorization).
What do languages mean for you? Why do you value multilingualism?
For me, language has always about connecting with people. Spanish meant connecting deeply with my grandparents and my community. With Japanese, I wanted to be able to talk to people in the exchange program and folks when I visited. It makes such a difference to be able to talk to someone in their native language. It opens up a whole new level of connection, empathy, and understanding. Also, Spanish, for example, is spoken natively on three continents, so language opens up a substantial part of the world!
How do you think about the role of language and learning for your kids?
It’s deeply important to me. But my approach has to be different from my parents’ approach for me because my husband does not speak Spanish fluently. When I was at Stanford, I did a ton of research on dual immersion schools, and my big takeaway was that the *respect* that the “instructor” has for the different languages makes all the difference. So that’s how I treat language learning at home—I try to show respect and value to both English and Spanish, so my boys know that both are important.
What about other languages with your kids? Do you think it’s “too much” to bring in other language exposure at a young age?
My philosophy (and each parent’s may be different!) is that the more the better because kids’ brains are such good sponges at such a young age. That’s why even though we are a Spanish-English household, I have the Habbi Habbi Chinese books as well. That’s why we also carry Japanese and Korean books too.
One fun story—early on, N learned the word “bilingual” and now identifies himself as a “bilingual” person—knowing Spanish and English. One day, we went to our favorite neighborhood Japanese restaurant, and I started speaking to the owner in Japanese. N turned to me and said, “Mommy, you’re not bilingual. You speak more than two languages.” And I told him, “Yes, I’m multilingual.” And he said “I want to try.” And I think that’s wonderful.
How do you support their interest in language learning?
Like so many parents, it is books! That’s why I am so tickled that my “other” job is as a voice artist for Habbi Habbi, because I am in love with the mission. I also love that we have the Chinese set here at home—so N and F can get exposure with the Wand, even though I don’t speak Chinese. It’s fun though because my husband took online Mandarin classes in college. So now that N has picked up a few words, it’s a secret language only N and my husband know, and N is really enjoying that.
I also have tons of books collected over the years. I pick up books whenever I am in a new country. My friends gift books to me because they know how much I love them. It might sound crazy, but I started collecting books when I was in Japan at 17 years old, so you can see how long I have thought about this!
What does success in language learning look like for you?
So much of it depends on the kids! So, it’s not so much the number of languages and fluency in them but more the things that language exposure brings. I so badly want my kids to be global citizens, to have the world open to them through language, and to have real friendships with people across the world. So if they take any interest in any language, I’m on it. I want to nurture that interest and I’m confident it will open a whole new set of doors and life experiences!
Habbi Habbi Reading Wand & Bilingual Books is the easiest way to start kids on Chinese & Spanish. Just turn on and tap. Every inch is tappable, and our books are as intentional in content as they are beautiful - topics like kindness, emotions, and more. @BeHabbi | habbihabbi.com.
My son is Korean American. Not just Korean, but Korean American.
When my son entered preschool and began interacting with more children, I turned to literature to teach him more about conflict resolution and dealing with his emotions. However, I found that the literature available at our local library was lacking. It wasn’t until I took a look around our bookshelf at home when I realized that our books were primarily animal characters or had Caucasian protagonists. Where was the color? Where was the diversity?
Here is the thing; I am proud of our heritage. I want my son to embrace his Korean background and really understand where he comes from. But at the same time, I believe there is a fundamental difference between a book about heritage and a book that represents a minority. Hear me out.
A book about heritage is an African American boy picking up a book about a boy who lives in Africa or an African American boy celebrating Kwanzaa. These books are aimed at teaching children about either their own or a new culture.
A book that represents a minority is a book such as The Snowy Day; a presumably American boy playing in the snow who happens to be black. Do you see the distinction?
What was frustrating to me was that as a parent, I was searching for books about children experiencing life who happened to be a minority. And when all I found in the diversity section of our local book store was Ming Ming and the Runaway Wok, I couldn’t help but feel offended. This is not the quintessential experience of a minority boy living in America; whether we want to acknowledge it or not, there is a difference between shoving heritage down our throats and accurate representation of minorities in America. Because the only experiences we minorities are having are not ones that solely revolve around purely minority experiences. For instance, how many books about minorities are about a) a minority holiday or b) minority food or c) a minority activity? Surprise! My Korean son eats spaghetti. And he does not know kung fu.
Don’t get me wrong; this is not about whitewashing my son’s literary experience. This is not about only reading to him books about children living in America. This is about my son reading about books that accurately depict his own experiences as an Asian schoolboy living in America. And a book about an Asian boy celebrating Chinese New Year is not his everyday experience.
To be fair, these books about minority occasions do have a time and a place and most definitely hold value—especially when teaching children about culture. I want to clarify that the issue is that these cannot be the only books available to minority children. We need options. We need variety.
Now that our country is becoming more diverse and as future generations embrace and lean into each other’s cultures, it is more important than ever to create literature or at least bring more attention to literature that accurately reflects a large population of the youth in America.
To combat this problem, I have created a list of children’s books that I believe deserves more awareness. There are girls in wheelchairs, a girl wearing a hijab, African American boys, and Latino boys. And none of these stories’ messages are limited by the color of the children’s skin or what they are wearing.
Hello! I am an Air Force veteran, high school English teacher, Union Diversity Representative, and a mother. I love spending my time writing, reading, and working out. I currently live in the greater outskirts of Seattle, Washington and I spend about 90 percent of my time thinking about travel.
The South Korean beauty brand has fans across the globe—and now it’s partnering with Disney to create a completely cute collection of lip balms, powder and more.
Along with Mickey & Minnie and Donald Duck & Daisy-themed lip balm sets (both $20), the new line also includes Mickey Mouse Pore Blur Powder ($17) and Minnie, Mickey, Daisy Duck and Donald Duck nail color (all $4).
Charlotte Nebres was only six when acclaimed dancer Misty Copeland became American Ballet Theatre’s first female African-American principal. Now Nebres is making dance history too! The 11-year-old was recently cast as the first African-American Marie in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
Nebres, who is a student at the School of American Ballet, is part of a larger cultural shift going on at the New York City Ballet. Not only is the 11-year-old breaking barriers, but the Ballet has also cast half-Chinese Tanner Quirk as Marie’s Prince, half-Korean/half-Greek Sophia Thomopoulos as the other Marie (the children’s roles are double-cast) and half-South Asian Kai Misra-Stone as the other Prince.
The young dancer recently spoke to the New York Times, talking about the first time she saw Copland perform, “When I saw someone who looked like me onstage, I thought, that’s amazing. She was representing me and all the people like me.”
Charlotte’s mother opened up to the New York Times, about her daughter’s reaction after the audition, “With that poker face of hers, she said, ‘Well, I’m Marie,’ And I just thought, oh my goodness— they really did it. I couldn’t believe it.”
Ms. Nebres also talked about her daughter’s response to finding out that she is the first African-American child cast in the role of Marie. According to the proud mom, the 11-year-old said, “Wow. That seems a little late.”
