Aren't Asians All Alike? Podcast 3: Attention: Caterers and Event Planners - Avoid these Blunders
Catering Blunders, Big Time!
Welcome to "Aren't Asians All Alike?" If your answer is a resounding yes or no, you're in the right place. Caterers and event planners, listen up. This episode is for you if you want more and better clients and avoid culturally insensitive mistakes that people talk about on podcasts and blogs.
"Let's eat Asian food." Avoid embarrassing catering mistakes. My name is Jolene Jang, the Asian American Ambassador. I'm here to educate folks on Asian Americans and discuss authentic Asian cuisine. What does that mean? The term "authentic Asian cuisine" is often used by those unaware that Asians come from different countries. It's problematic unless specific, like saying, "for our Korean menu, we are serving Korean BBQ and all the side dishes." Otherwise, it perpetuates the misconception that Asians are all alike.
On my journey back from the Muhammad Ali Awards in Kentucky, where I received a humanitarian award for educating white corporate audiences about Asian Americans, I overheard a lady in the airport exclaim, "Let's eat Asian food." This phrase struck me as odd. In Seattle, we specify sushi, pho, or pad thai. Even those less familiar with Asian culture can distinguish between Chinese and Japanese food.
Caterers and event planners, pay attention. Avoid culturally insensitive blunders. Let me share an incident from last week. At a conference of elite event planners with over 4,000 attendees, we ventured to an offsite park for a grand reception. In the distance, I heard Chinese drums from a lion dance performance. A massive sign read "Cherry Blossom Festival," leading to a food station adorned with pink cherry blossom branches, a red lantern proclaiming "Happy New Year" in Chinese, and a sign reading:
Cherry Blossom Corner Menu:
Tri Tip Bao Bun
Soup Dumpling
Shrimp Kimono
The soup dumpling was visually appealing but disappointingly cold and hard. As someone of Japanese, Chinese, and Swedish descent, wasting food is against my principles.
For those unfamiliar, soup dumplings are Chinese, notably served at Din Tai Fung. Baos, steamed buns of Chinese origin, come in various forms. And then there were deep-fried egg rolls, also Chinese. The "Kimono Shrimp" likely got its name because the wrapper looked like traditional Japanese silk formal clothing from 800 AD. This event was in San Diego. How did they botch this up? This event, meant for at least 2,000 people, likely involved 50-100 people in planning. Were none of them Asian American? Or if these positions were lower, perhaps they feared being gaslit if they spoke up. Or maybe it's standard practice to group all Asian food together and mislabel it for a white audience.
The impact is significant. Mislabeling Japanese culture as Chinese contributes to miseducation and perpetuates the belief that all Asians are alike. For event planners and caterers, such errors project ignorance and uninformed practices. Recognizing the difference between Chinese and Japanese food is essential, reflecting an understanding of diverse cultures, including marginalized groups.
Event planners and caterers, think about how this happened. Maybe they had no Asian Americans on the team for this huge event. If they did, consider why their feedback wasn't sought or why they may not have spoken up. Was it a safe space where their voices were valued and respected? Where was the breakdown? This is unacceptable, and I am embarrassed for them. As an outsider, this says to me they don't have a diverse staff or don't seek opinions or make it safe for them to share.
Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Nike prioritize cultural competence. To avoid looking foolish, follow suit and tap into the untapped market of diverse businesses.
Caterers and event planners, learn from this. Seek input from the community you're celebrating, promote local vendors, and most importantly, stay true to the authenticity each culture deserves. Let's strive for authenticity. Event planners, as you aim to be more inclusive and celebrate Lunar New Year, involve people who celebrate it. This is more than one person. Educate your audience beyond eating and watching cultural visuals. Explain their significance. Lunar New Year is coming up on February 10.
This podcast is about learning how Asians are not all alike through history, current events, food, and much more. You'll hear my unfiltered thoughts, something hard to get from your Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander friends, and as you listen in, you'll learn why.
And learn how Asians are not alike.
JOLENE JANG'S INFO
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