Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Asia Pop Lecture Series: Dr. Thomas Baudinette, March 20 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Thomas Baudinette for the next installment of its Asia Pop Lecture Series on March 20.
Dr. Thomas Baudinette is Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies and International Studies at Macquarie University. A cultural anthropologist, his research primarily explores how popular media and fandom culture inform knowledge about gender and sexuality across East and Southeast Asia. He is the author of Regimes of Desire: Young Gay Men, Media, Masculinity in Tokyo (University of Michigan Press, 2021) and Boys Love Media in Thailand: Celebrity, Fans, and Transnational Asian Queer Popular Culture (Bloomsbury, 2023). He i currently working on his third book, tentatively titled Queer Fantasies of Asia: Japanese and Korean Media Fandom in the Philippines.
The event starts at 6:00 pm in 202 Frick Fine Arts (map).

Monday, February 5, 2024

New Thai restaurant coming soon to Fox Chapel.


A new Thai restaurant is coming soon to Fox Chapel, next in line in a series of former Thai places. New ownership has purchased the former The98 spot at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), which was previously the longtime home of Thai Place, and added a new paint job. Management said the new restaurant, which does not yet have a name, may keep some menu items from The98, which was a new venture from the Took Took 98 team in operation from January to summer 2023.

Friday, October 6, 2023

Noodles of Burma Pop-Up Event, from Spice Island Tea House team, October 20-21.

The team behind Spice Island Tea House in Oakland is putting on a Noodles of Burma Pop-Up Event on October 20 and 21.
[W]e hope your love of noodles remain strong to join us on Oct 20 and 21! So save the dates! This is a dine-in only event, so no take-out will be available. No reservations. No BYOB. No rice. Just noodles.
Spice Island Tea House was a long-standing restaurant in Oakland that closed on September 30.  The storefront is located at 253 Atwood St. (map).

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Spice Island Tea House closing September 30; last day of dine-in service September 28.


Spice Island Tea House in Oakland announced today it will close on September 30, with the last day of dine-in service on September 28.
On a more bittersweet note, we will be ending our 28-year run as Spice Island Tea House this week. Our last day of Dine-in Service will be Thursday, Sept 28, and last day for Take-Out Service will be Saturday, Sept 30. We are grateful to have had the pleasure of serving you throughout the years. When we first opened in 1995, never in our wildest dreams did we think we would go on this long. Admittedly, the last few years have been the hardest we’ve ever faced. And thanks to you, our customers, for the enduring support that have kept us going for as long as we have. But now is the time to ride this ship into the sunset. Although we will no longer be operating as Spice Island, we are exploring the possibility of other culinary endeavors through a series of Pop-ups and events. So stay tuned and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming events! Thank you, Spicefans! It has been a lovely venture!
The restaurant is located at 253 Atwood St. (map).

Thursday, September 14, 2023

The98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine in Fox Chapel for sale.


The98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine in Fox Chapel is for sale. From a listing online:
Turn Key restaurant for sale in Fox Chapel Prime. This place has been recently remodeled inside and the front of building as well. Owner is asking $150,000 and will finance $50,000 for qualified buyer. Please call Phil for showing, 412-628-6154
The restaurant opened in January at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), from the team behind Squirrel Hill's TOOK TOOK 98.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

2023 Lunar New Year Parade, February 25 in Squirrel Hill.


Pittsburgh's Lunar New Year Parade will return in 2023 on February 25, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in Squirrel Hill.
We're back! Come celebrate the Year of the Rabbit @Squirrel Hill with the biggest gathering of Pittsburgh's Pan Asian Community Organizations and Friends!
And "We proudly honor Pittsburgh's Buddhist Tzu Chi Organization as our 2023 Grand Marshal for their invaluable work assisting our Asian immigrant community members!" The parade will start at Teppan BBQ, 2209 Murray Ave., and progress up Murray Hill to the intersection of Murray and Forbes (map).

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Lunar New Year Parade, February 25 in Squirrel Hill.


Pittsburgh's Lunar New Year Parade will return in 2023 on February 25, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in Squirrel Hill. It will progress up Murray Hill to the intersection of Murray and Forbes (map).

Sunday, January 29, 2023

The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine soft opening today, January 29.


The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine is holding its soft open today in Fox Chapel. Run by the owner of Took Took 98 in Squirrel Hill, it's located at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), until recently home of one of three Thai Place locations around the city. Banners went up for the restaurant in September.

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Lunar New Year celebration at Pitt, January 25.

via traveloriented.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present a Lunar New Year celebration on January 25.
Join the Asian Studies Center in the Global Hub as we celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with snacks, music, and activities!
It runs from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Global Hub, located on the first floor of Posvar Hall.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine coming soon to Fox Chapel, from founder of Squirrel Hill's Took Took 98.


The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine is coming soon to Fox Chapel, run by the owner of Took Took 98 in Squirrel Hill. Banners went up for the restaurant in September at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), until recently home of one of three Thai Place locations around the city.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Nakama voted best Japanese restaurant in Pittsburgh by Pittsburghers who don't know Japanese restaurants, beating out Umami, Teppanyaki Kyoto, GetGo.

via @familymart.japan 

The Pittsburgh City-Paper announced the winners of this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll today, with Nakama again being named Best Japanese food in the city. The restaurant, with locations in the South Side and Wexford, is the perennial winner of this and other local readers' polls, at the expense of more authentic Japanese restaurants, and thus the joke about Nakama and GetGo is an annual one. Umami placed second and Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse third. Readers also selected winners for Best Asian Fusion, Best Bubble Tea, Best Chinese, and Best Korean, Best Sushi, Best Thai, and Best Vietnamese.

Sunday, September 25, 2022

The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine coming soon to Fox Chapel.


Banners are up for The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine, coming soon to Fox Chapel. It will be located at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), until recently home of one of three Thai Place locations around the city.

Friday, April 1, 2022

A bunch of locally-owned Asian food stalls coming to Strip District's Terminal Building.


A group of locally-owned Asian food stalls is coming to the Strip District's Terminal Building, Hal B. Klein writes in Pittsburgh Magazine.
McCaffery Pittsburgh has reached a lease agreement with Mike Chen, co-owner of Everyday Noodles in Squirrel Hill, and Alex Tang, co-owner of Mola in East Liberty, to curate and oversee the development of a food hall centered around Asian restaurants.

“Our focus is to offer real representations of what you would find in Asia right now,” says Tang.

The food hall, which doesn’t yet have a name, will feature seven stalls surrounding a large bar in The Terminal Building in the Strip District. As of now, Tang plans to operate an offshoot of Mola and Chen, a version of Everyday Noodles.

Established Pittsburgh businesses will run the remaining five stalls: Korean Garden, Sumi Bakery, Silk Elephant and Golden Palace (serving sui mei; Cantonese roasted meat). A boba tea stand run by the owners of Many More Asian Market will round out the food hall.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

No Lunar New Year parade in Squirrel Hill in 2022.

via @LunarNewYearPGH

Although one website is promoting a parade next week, there will not be a Lunar New Year parade in Squirrel Hill in 2022. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition shared in its newsletter:
Happy Lunar New Year! We look forward to welcoming the Year of the Tiger on February 1st with celebrations lasting for two weeks. The Year of the Tiger will be marked with big changes, risk-taking, adventure, and enthusiasm – both for ourselves and for others. Sadly, there will be no community celebrations this year due to Covid-19.
The Lunar New Year parade has moved up Murray Ave. in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood since 2016, capping a couple weeks of festivities, performances, and dining specials in the area. In spite of this year's hiatus, one tourism website atop the Google results does suggest the event will run on February 1 and 2; however, this Ukraine-based website has simply copied-pasted last year's article with a suggested 2022 date.

Friday, October 8, 2021

2021 documentary The Rescue, on 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, in Pittsburgh from October 14.


The 2021 The Rescue, on 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, opens on October 8 and will play in Pittsburgh from October 14. From the official site:
THE RESCUE chronicles the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. Academy Award®-winning directors and producers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they use a wealth of never-before-seen material and exclusive interviews to piece together the high stakes mission, highlighting the efforts of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs and U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and details the expert cave divers' audacious venture to dive the boys to safety. THE RESCUE brings alive one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times, shining a light on the high-risk world of cave diving, the astounding courage and compassion of the rescuers, and the shared humanity of the international community that united to save the boys.
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Nakama, Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse named among city's best Japanese restaurants, beating out Umami, Teppanyaki Kyoto, GetGo.


The Pittsburgh City-Paper announced the winners of this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll, with Nakama again being named Best Japanese food in the city. The restaurant, with locations in the South Side and Wexford, is the perennial winner of this and other local readers' polls, at the expense of more authentic Japanese restaurants. Umami placed second and Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse third. Other relevant categories for PennsylvAsia are Sesame Inn for Best Chinese / Taiwanese, Bae Bae's Kitchen for Best Korean, The Slippery Mermaid for Best Sushi, Nicky's Thai Kitchen for Best Thai, and Tram's Kitchen for Best Vietnamese.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

2004 Thai film Tropical Malady (Satpralat) with ReelQ and City of Asylum, August 25.


ReelQ and the City of Asylum will present the 2004 Thai film Tropical Malady (Satpralat) on August 25.
‘Winner of the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and an official selection of the New York Film Festival, TROPICAL MALADY is the lyrical and mysterious new film by maverick Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Blissfully Yours), one of the most prominent young directors of the Thai New Wave. TROPICAL MALADY chronicles the mystical love affair between a young soldier and the country boy he seduces, soon to be disrupted by the boy’s sudden disappearance. Local legends claim the boy was transformed into a mythic wild beast, and the soldier journeys alone into the heart of the Thai jungle in search of him.
The movie starts at 7:00 pm and will be streamed online. It's free but registration is required.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

2004 Thai film Tropical Malady (Satpralat) with ReelQ and City of Asylum, August 25.


ReelQ and the City of Asylum will present the 2004 Thai film Tropical Malady (Satpralat) on August 25.
‘Winner of the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and an official selection of the New York Film Festival, TROPICAL MALADY is the lyrical and mysterious new film by maverick Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Blissfully Yours), one of the most prominent young directors of the Thai New Wave. TROPICAL MALADY chronicles the mystical love affair between a young soldier and the country boy he seduces, soon to be disrupted by the boy’s sudden disappearance. Local legends claim the boy was transformed into a mythic wild beast, and the soldier journeys alone into the heart of the Thai jungle in search of him.
The movie starts at 7:00 pm and will be streamed online. It's free but registration is required.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Chengdu Gourmet, Everyday Noodles, Pusadee's Garden, Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi, and Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33 among Pittsburgh Magazine's "Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh."


Chengdu Gourmet, Everyday Noodles, Pusadee's Garden, Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi, and Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33 made a list of the 31 Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Magazine dining critic Hal B. Klein. The list is notable this year not only for its composition but for its ethics and motivations.
This list is dedicated to everyone who works in the hospitality industry. To that end, I’ve decided not to name executive chefs in each restaurant’s information bubble, as is typical for our list. This isn’t meant to diminish the importance of an executive chef to a restaurant; instead, see it as a reflection of the reality that restaurants are a holistic operation.

To all the dishwashers, servers, bartenders, chefs, line and prep cooks, managers, bussers and hosts, you deserve unyielding esteem. This pandemic exposed much of the dark side of the restaurant world — the parts we’re not supposed to think about when we’re out to dinner. Wage disparities, often stemming from tipped-wage power dynamics, were exacerbated as servers were thrust into the role of teaching a new dining etiquette to a sometimes politicized public. Punishing hours in cramped, poorly ventilated kitchens were always part of the typically unseen working conditions for many back-of-house staff; now those conditions put those workers at a high risk for contracting COVID-19. Lack of healthcare for too many people who work in restaurants, along with an at-will labor policy that left thousands of people without jobs at a moment’s notice, resulted in many feeling anchorless and, frankly, scared. An even brighter spotlight was fixed on the urgency for a long-overdue reckoning with systemic, overt and unconscious forms of racial, gender and sexual discrimination that have for generations plagued the industry.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Restaurateur, baker battle anti-Asian racism, try to connect cultures with food."


The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette spoke with Noi Chaisri of Thai Me Up and Jasmine Cho on the most recent spasms of anti-Asian racisms and the role of food in bridging divides.
Ms. Chaisri made a sign and put it in the windows of her restaurant, Thai Me Up, on the South Side. It says:

We are not yellow, we are human being

Anti-Asian just f**k off

She knows it’s only a sign, but she just couldn’t keep it inside any longer. She had to strike back after a year in which anti-Asian racism has become an ugly side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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