There used to be something called the Yellow Peril (aka Yelllow Terror) in the late 1800s as people feared the effects of Asian, mostly Chinese, immigration to western countries. The term resurfaced again in World War II with fears related to Japanese military expansion. It's hard to conceive of such times today when Asian flavors, culture, travel, and traditions are red hot popular. Instead of fear and hostility, there's curiosity and appreciation.
Commentator Andrew Lam sums up a few things in his piece Eats Meets West (5/16/09). The LA Times has been running pieces on a story on the Kogi Korean BBQ taco trucks since December and the New York Time's April piece on New York's banh mi sandwich craze got people eating and talking. Korean taco trucks have been spotted and tweeted about in other urban locations such as San Francisco and New York.
What do you make of all this? Are Asians now popular? Have we hit the mainstream or just the hipster urban scene? Or is this part of the 21st century, post-ethnic, Obama-esque age? I'm curious about your thoughts!
Commentator Andrew Lam sums up a few things in his piece Eats Meets West (5/16/09). The LA Times has been running pieces on a story on the Kogi Korean BBQ taco trucks since December and the New York Time's April piece on New York's banh mi sandwich craze got people eating and talking. Korean taco trucks have been spotted and tweeted about in other urban locations such as San Francisco and New York.
What do you make of all this? Are Asians now popular? Have we hit the mainstream or just the hipster urban scene? Or is this part of the 21st century, post-ethnic, Obama-esque age? I'm curious about your thoughts!
