Issue 02: UMAMIUmami: the “essence of deliciousness.” Found in mushrooms, cheeses, tomatoes, green tea, and more, it’s a savory, complex taste universally enjoyed — undesirable alone, but adding richness and depth that brings other tastes together. For centuries, the flavor of Umami has been heralded in Asian cuisine for its ability to effortlessly bring a dish together, capturing the unity of Asia’s multi-cultural diversity. Eating delicious meals with friends and family can both fill the belly and the heart.
The evolution of food around Asia is the representative byproduct of its history, environment, and culture — and we want to know how your culture and cuisine has shaped your personal experience. In this issue of INSCAPE, we invite you to share your story through creative expression to spark joy and connect us this winter. |
From the Editor...
Dear Readers,
As we continue navigating an ever-evolving world, food has been and will always be our grounding force. With the power to forge new connections, provide comfort in times of uncertainty, and spark joy, food has become a compelling medium of communication and a symbol of culture.
Seeing the increasing popularity and representation of Asian and Asian American food in the culinary world, we think back to those first tearooms and banquet halls set up by Chinese immigrants fighting against the 1882 Exclusion Act; we think back to those times we yearned for hamburgers, milkshakes, and even Lunchables over the sharpness and spice packed into our lunch boxes. There is an excitement in seeing the foods of our childhood that were once mocked, rejected, then accepted in placating forms now attract large audiences who crave our big flavors and experimental textures.
The relationship between Asian Americans and food is reflective of a dynamic narrative contributing to the ways Asian American identity is shaped. For chefs like Roy Choi, David Chang, and Cristeta Comerford, today’s Asian American cuisine is no longer the Westernization of Asian flavor. It is a cuisine born from cultural merging, imbued with the histories, traditions, and experiences of those who have created, shaped, and shared it. As “third culture kids,” they’ve inherited both their parent’s culture and the one they were raised in, and thus learned to create their own, which they express through their cooking. More than just fuel, food has become a way for AAPI youth to reclaim their heritage, connecting the stories of ancestors with those of the future.
Our first issue “For(e)word” sparked many meaningful conversations, and we’re thrilled to introduce the next installment of our magazine. Issue 02 of INSCAPE is inspired by one of the five basic tastes Umami, which is Japanese for “the essence of deliciousness” and has long been heralded in Asian cuisine for its ability to effortlessly bring a dish together, capturing the unity of Asia’s multi-cultural diversity. The evolution of food around Asia, America, and the world is a representative byproduct of history, environment, and culture — and we wanted to hear about how culture and cuisine have shaped your personal experiences and identity. In this issue of INSCAPE, we invited AAPI youth creatives to share their stories to spark joy and connect us this winter.
Our food is a reminder of our resilience, strength, and spirit. They are dishes with complex histories rooted in struggles for survival and perseverance. They are dishes that have traveled across seas, blurred borders, and triumphed in the gastronomic world. During this season of celebration and against the backdrop of recent gun violence in the community, we trust that this issue, like cuisine, holds the power to bring us together and create a space for healing, solidarity, and empowerment for our readers. We hope this issue inspires curiosity, reflection, and conversation around your relationship with food and heritage. As you engage with its contents, we encourage you to ask: “How does food nourish my soul?”
We thank you immensely for connecting with INSCAPE and look forward to all that awaits in the future.
Sincerely,
Michelle C.
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
As we continue navigating an ever-evolving world, food has been and will always be our grounding force. With the power to forge new connections, provide comfort in times of uncertainty, and spark joy, food has become a compelling medium of communication and a symbol of culture.
Seeing the increasing popularity and representation of Asian and Asian American food in the culinary world, we think back to those first tearooms and banquet halls set up by Chinese immigrants fighting against the 1882 Exclusion Act; we think back to those times we yearned for hamburgers, milkshakes, and even Lunchables over the sharpness and spice packed into our lunch boxes. There is an excitement in seeing the foods of our childhood that were once mocked, rejected, then accepted in placating forms now attract large audiences who crave our big flavors and experimental textures.
The relationship between Asian Americans and food is reflective of a dynamic narrative contributing to the ways Asian American identity is shaped. For chefs like Roy Choi, David Chang, and Cristeta Comerford, today’s Asian American cuisine is no longer the Westernization of Asian flavor. It is a cuisine born from cultural merging, imbued with the histories, traditions, and experiences of those who have created, shaped, and shared it. As “third culture kids,” they’ve inherited both their parent’s culture and the one they were raised in, and thus learned to create their own, which they express through their cooking. More than just fuel, food has become a way for AAPI youth to reclaim their heritage, connecting the stories of ancestors with those of the future.
Our first issue “For(e)word” sparked many meaningful conversations, and we’re thrilled to introduce the next installment of our magazine. Issue 02 of INSCAPE is inspired by one of the five basic tastes Umami, which is Japanese for “the essence of deliciousness” and has long been heralded in Asian cuisine for its ability to effortlessly bring a dish together, capturing the unity of Asia’s multi-cultural diversity. The evolution of food around Asia, America, and the world is a representative byproduct of history, environment, and culture — and we wanted to hear about how culture and cuisine have shaped your personal experiences and identity. In this issue of INSCAPE, we invited AAPI youth creatives to share their stories to spark joy and connect us this winter.
Our food is a reminder of our resilience, strength, and spirit. They are dishes with complex histories rooted in struggles for survival and perseverance. They are dishes that have traveled across seas, blurred borders, and triumphed in the gastronomic world. During this season of celebration and against the backdrop of recent gun violence in the community, we trust that this issue, like cuisine, holds the power to bring us together and create a space for healing, solidarity, and empowerment for our readers. We hope this issue inspires curiosity, reflection, and conversation around your relationship with food and heritage. As you engage with its contents, we encourage you to ask: “How does food nourish my soul?”
We thank you immensely for connecting with INSCAPE and look forward to all that awaits in the future.
Sincerely,
Michelle C.
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief