“Oh, but you’re not a real Southerner,” she exclaimed with a wave of her hand and a laugh. “Your ancestors came from CHINA!” I had just bumped into a woman outside the pizza shop who knew my sister. She loved hearing about my cooking classes and tours connecting food and culture which highlight the best of East, West and the Deep South. Noticing my puzzled look, she ... Continue Reading
Supporting Local Talent, Community: Asian Voices Festival, Good Gracious Variety Shows
FIRST-EVER ATLANTA FESTIVAL OF ASIAN-AMERICAN ARTS IN THEATER, MUSIC, AND DANCE ANNOUNCES ARTIST LINE-UP ATLANTA, GA -- Three Atlanta-based artists, Pam Joyce, Michelle Pokopac, and Amee Vyas, are bringing Asian-American Artists of the Southeast together to perform for four days in a festival of theater, dance, music, and conversation. The four-day festival, titled East by ... Continue Reading
Unsung Heroes, Memorial Day: Veterans of Color
In honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month and Memorial Day, many APA veterans are still unsung heroes in their 60's, even 90's. According to a recent U.S. Census release, there are 258,183 Asian military veterans, with about one in three veterans was 65 years and older (and this number does not include many multiracial Asian veterans). The animated short film AN AMERICAN HERO: ... Continue Reading
Joy of Being Yourself: Authenticity in Food & Life
Natalie shares how her cooking style and recipes reflect family, a sense of place, and heritage as a Chinese American and Southerner. “As a little kid, I thought it was only about being Chinese,” she says. “That's what I was teased about, so that's how I defined myself – foreign, different, un-American. In actuality, as a native Georgian, I'm not only more American, but ... Continue Reading
Southern History, Our History: Remembrance, Inspiration and Stories from Georgia
Whenever a "month" rolls around to celebrate a "minority group" like "Black History Month", "Women's History Month", "Latino History Month" or "Asian History Month," I feel ambivalent and torn. A little bit like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Special and inspiring, yet woefully inadequate and kind of cheap. One day, one month to recognize and appreciate centuries of ... Continue Reading
Natalie’s Diary: In the Heart a Brother, a Christmas Baby
"That's terrible. Do you get cheated on presents?" Chalk up another negative reaction to a holiday birthday! It's funny how folks are either delighted or downright negative when they find out that I'm a Christmas baby. I didn't think it was a bad thing growing up--my family would give me extra gifts and my sister would make me any homemade birthday cake of my choosing ... Continue Reading
Bicycling for a Cause
Confession: Will Bike for Jamaican Patties and Watermelon! Besides having the best snacks at rest stops, delicious handmade Jamaican patties from Royal Caribbean, desserts from Mother's Cakes and scrumptious watermelon, oh yes, there's a bike ride (with excellent route support)!! Learn more about the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club and support the One Love ... Continue Reading
First Time Ever New Harvard Class Isn’t White
Milestones... When I was a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School for public policy, "diversity" was defined (and visible) by the significant number of international students and American students. As a member of the Dean's Diversity Task Force and chair of the Alumni Executive Council Diversity Committee, we soon realized that the two groups had common and ... Continue Reading
Video Interview: Redefining Authentic, Fusion Food
https://vimeo.com/69388655 Natalie shares about growing up in Smyrna, Georgia and how family dinners and fusion comfort food like "five spice rutabaga" and mom's Hot Hunan Catfish helped her cope with being different and one of the few Asian families in town. ... Continue Reading
Reflections on Food, Culture, Being American
https://youtu.be/cSh918c0A3s Good friend and musician Kevin So catches Natalie, Founder/Owner of Chinese Southern Belle, on improv car soapbox sharing thoughts on food, family and community...spontaneous food for thought. How do you define being an American? How does food and culture inform or impact your perspective? More: Joy of Being Yourself, PeachDish ... Continue Reading
Podcasts: Eat and Explore with Natalie
Check out Natalie's podcasts! Only Asian Kid in School The Great Dumplings Debate featuring Margaret Keng Empire Radio Interview about Authenticity & Being Southern ... Continue Reading
Father Knows Best: Johnny Cash, Whoppers & Wings
"I want one like that," my father said, holding his burger in the air with one hand while pointing to the over-sized Whopper photo on the wall poster with its glistening juiciness and colorful, fresh slices of tomato and lettuce. Other customers in line smiled and nodded in agreement. It was a far bite from the real thing. The young cashier obliged and messaged the kitchen by ... Continue Reading
Mother’s Day Every Day with Tigger Mom!
Traditional Chinese Tiger Mother?? No way! My mother celebrates and embraces creativity, learning, new friendships and adventures, as much as she honors her own family and heritage. With her help and encouragement, I'm able to pursue my dream of sharing food, culture and diversity through Chinese Southern Belle adventures. She's my beloved TIGGER mom! Luckily for my sisters ... Continue Reading
Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial & Human Rights
I'm honored to serve on the The Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force. The effort is important to me because it symbolizes remembrance, healing and acceptance. HERstory is part of our HIStory which is repeatedly overlooked or denied and sadly, still a reality for women and children around the world. As shameful as the deed was, it is more shameful to ignore the ... Continue Reading
Who’s Laughing? Race, Gender and Stereotypes
Stereotypes are irresistible and so convenient. We've all used, laughed, or stayed silent, at one time or another, including me. But stereotypes cheapen the individuality of all of us, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and class, and undeniably some affiliate groups historically more than others, with many stereotypes influencing or directly ... Continue Reading