Food

August 19, 2023 0

Founder, Chef of Quincy’s First Japanese Restaurant Reflect on ‘Dream’ Come True

In 1998, Quincy saw the opening of its first Japanese restaurant – Fuji, marking the start of JP Fuji Group’s unprecedented growth and success in Boston’s competitive restaurant scene. As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Sampan met with Jimmy Liang, the founder and his partner and Executive Head Chef of Sushi, Ming Cao. Jimmy shared how he was first introduced to the art of sushi. “At 14,” he said, “I met my Sensei (teacher) who taught me sushi-making for a […]

January 20, 2023 0

Food and Memories at Lunar New Year Time

by Sampan Staff

China: Family Reunion Delight Sumiao Chen is the Founder and Co-owner of Sumiao Hunan Kitchen in Kendal Square Cambridge MA. In this role, she has successfully led the development and implementation of its strategic vision as well as management of operation in the last three years. Sumiao was born and raised in Changsha, Hunan, China. She comes from a family of artisans; her father was a famous local painter and calligrapher and her mother was a singer and has owned a […]

September 19, 2022 0

Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Cancer: An Interview with Tufts University’s Dr. Fang Fang Zhang

by Kristen Si

Last month, a study published in the medical journal The BMJ (a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal published by the British Medical Association) connected the consumption of ultraprocessed foods to a higher risk for colorectal cancer. Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, a researcher at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, led this project, focusing specifically on the effects of ultraprocessed diets on cancer risk through a large cohort study over 28 years. A key finding in her study […]

August 21, 2022 0

Sharing Mooncakes and Love at Mid-Autumn Festival

by Max Wei

There are different shapes of mooncakes with different stuffings and skins. Usually, the skin is made of wheat powder, but now there are also ice skins made of sticky rice powder. The stuffing of mooncakes varies depending on the cities and provinces: Beijing style, Jiangsu style, Ningbo style, Shanghai style, Hong Kong style. In northern and southern China, the stuffing of the mooncakes is usually sweet, made of ingredients like sugar, red beans, and lotus seed. In the middle region, […]

May 6, 2022 0

The First Chinese Restaurants in Springfield

by Richard Auffrey

Although numerous Chinese immigrants settled in the Boston area during the latter part of the 20th century, many others moved to different parts of the state, including Springfield. The Springfield Republican,October 1, 1893, reported that there were about 25 Chinese living in the city, employed in 12 laundries. The article reflected very positively on the Chinese, stating “[the] Chinese as seen in the East are as a class law-abiding and inoffensive. Very seldom is one arrested or complained of for crime, […]

May 6, 2022 0

Spring Crêpes at Lady M

by AdenM

Roses are red, this crêpe’s for you! Spring is at last in full swing and Lady M has unleashed its updated menu for May with several exciting new seasonal varieties of its world-renowned multi-layered crepe cakes. Just in time for Mother’s Day, their latest offerings run the gamut from the floral to the fruity and make the perfect gift for the holiday. Show your gratitude with their returning rose cake. Elegantly topped with a glassy sheen of rose jelly and […]

April 12, 2022 0

Origins Of The St. Paul Sandwich: A Missouri Invention?

by Richard Auffrey

“The St. Paul Sandwich — comprising an egg foo young patty, slice of tomato, pickle and iceberg lettuce sandwiched between two slices of mayonnaise-laden white bread..”—Riverfront Times, November 15, 2006 If you’ve visited Chinese-American restaurants in St. Louis, Missouri, or some other Missouri cities, you might’ve eaten a St. Paul Sandwich. The origins of this sandwich are murky, but the most commonly shared legend is that it was invented by Steven Yuen at Park Chop Suey in St. Louis, possibly in the 1970s. It’s […]

April 12, 2022 0

Check Out CGK!

by AdenM

There are times in this life when your craving for a burger and fries goes beyond the usual fare; when raw, guttural primal instinct leads you to seek out food that is big, indulgent, and fun to an almost ostentatious degree. For those times, there is CGK (Crazy Good Kitchen). Boasting titanic-sized sandwiches that assertively and deliciously demand your attention, shakes, topping-heavy fries, and even acai bowls, CGK recently opened its second location on Newbury St., expanding from its original […]

March 28, 2022 0

High Street Place Food Hall Opens

by AdenM

As people return to the office, there’s a new food oasis in Boston. High Street Place in the Financial District opened its doors earlier this month as Boston’s newest food hall, bringing in droves of patrons in a signal that we may have turned a corner on COVID. With 18 different food vendors, there’s plenty to enjoy, particularly if you’re feeling nostalgic for the pre-pandemic days of food trucks and casual dining. With an abundance of savory and refreshing offerings, […]

March 28, 2022 0

Origins of Crab Rangoon

by Richard Auffrey

At most Chinese-American restaurants, you can find Crab Rangoons and they are a hugely popular item. Also known as Crab Puffs, Crab Pillows, and Cheese Wontons, these are essentially fried wontons stuffed with cream cheese and imitation crab (or sometimes real crab). They are crunchy and creamy, and they are prepared nearly the same at every restaurant. When and where did Crab Rangoons originate? Most sources indicate that Crab Rangoons were likely invented by Victor Bergeron, the founder of Trader […]

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