Asian is a very broad term, so to clarify, I’ve included desserts from the Philippines, Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Thailand. As with a lot of food, you’ll see some similarities and variations between cultures. Taro, red bean, pandan, and matcha are some of the flavors you’ll find in these Asian desserts.

This is a shortlist of the many, many Asian desserts out there. My goal was to share some desserts you can easily try in Austin, and if you have any recommendations of a dessert and/or restaurant to get it at, let me know!

Here are 17 Asian desserts to try and where to get them in Austin!

Bingsu

Bingsu is a Korean shaved ice dessert with toppings. The sky’s the limit for flavor combinations, and places usually have set bingsu options that work best together. I typically enjoy mango shaved ice with fresh fruit, but I like the Brown Sugar Mochi Bingsu at Snowy Village on West Parmer Lane and the Birthday Cake Bingsu at Bar Peached.

Where to Get it in Austin: Snowy Village, Bar Peached

Boba Tea

Also known as bubble tea, boba tea originated in Taiwan and is named after the tapioca balls at the bottom of the cup. The beverage is usually black tea and milk, though you can find plenty of tea options now. Milk Tea Boba, Brown Sugar Boba, and Taro Tea are some of the most popular (and some of my favorite) flavors. If you don’t like tea, you can get a fruit slush, and if you’re not sure about tapioca balls, a variety of jellies are available. Some places offer different sugar and ice amounts to customize your drink.

Where to Get it in Austin: See this blog post

Bubble Waffle Cone

This dessert from Hong Kong is an egg waffle by itself or wrapped like a cone and filled with ice cream or whipped cream and toppings. Austin establishments usually have the waffle by itself. What makes or breaks this dessert is the waffle. Is it crispy on the outside? Is it soft and chewy on the inside?

Where to Get it in Austin: Bambu, Happy Lemon

Cake

You can find cake in many Asian cultures. The Swiss roll / cake roll / jelly roll is a popular bakery item. This type of cake likely came to Asia from Europe and I like the variations with matcha and pandan flavors. I also grew up celebrating birthdays with Chinese sponge cake with fresh fruit. This cake is light and airy with whipped cream and strawberries, peaches, and kiwi in between the layers and on top.

Where to Get it in Austin: Tous Les Jour, Texas Bakery

Chè

Chè (pronounced chay) is a Vietnamese dessert with jelly, tapioca, fruit, and beans accompaniments. It’s topped with ice and finished with a coconut cream sauce. This dessert is similar to the Indonesian cendol and Filipino halo-halo.

Where to Get it in Austin: Bambu

Cheesecake

When it comes to cheesecake, you probably think of Japanese cheesecake. The Japanese version is crustless and is very fluffy. The secret to its lightness is less cream cheese and more egg whites. OMG Squee has them occasionally, or you can find them at the Austin location of Uncle Tetsu, a national chain.

Where to Get it in Austin: OMG Squee, Uncle Tetsu

Cookie

When it comes to cookies, add Asian flavors! Cookie Wookie Kitchen has delicious creations made with aged cookie dough. Ube coconut, black sesame cookies and cream, pandan with toasted rice, and red bean mochi are some of my favorite flavors!

Where to Get it in Austin: Cookie Wookie Kitchen

Egg Tart

The best way to end dim sum is with egg tarts, my ubiquitous dessert growing up. It’s a crispy and flakey outer shell filled with a smooth egg custard that’s slightly sweet. I love the Hong Kong version but you can also find the Portuguese version (Macau is a city near Hong Kong and used to be a Portuguese colony), which is sweeter and has a flame-kissed top.

Where to Get it in Austin: 85 Degrees, Chinatown, Lin Asian Bar

Halo-halo

Halo-halo has all the good stuff in it. This Filipino dessert is similar to the Vietnamese chè in that it’s a crushed ice dessert. Halo-halo has jellies, sweet beans, fruit, corn, shredded coconut, yams, and a scoop of ice cream on top.

Where to Get it in Austin: Little Mama’s, Filipino Asian Mart

Ice Cream

Our favorite Asian flavors are back in ice cream form. Matcha, black sesame, taro, Thai tea, and pandan are only some of the flavors available. For something more adventurous, visit DipDipDip Ice Cream for flavors like yuzu mascarpone, orange and hōjicha (Japanese green tea), or cookies ‘n matcha.

Where to Get it in Austin: DipDipDip Ice Cream, Thai Fresh/Gati Ice Cream, Sugar Pine

Mango Sticky Rice

One of my favorite Thai desserts is this one – mango sticky rice! The sticky rice is mixed with coconut milk and sugar and topped with sliced mango. I’d be surprised if you don’t find this dessert on Thai restaurant menus.

Where to Get it in Austin: Thai Fresh, Dee Dee

Mochi Donuts

Mmm this dessert has popped up in Austin in abundance! Mochi is a Japanese dessert made with glutinous rice. Now put this stretchy and chewy texture into a donut – yum! Bom Bakeshop rotates some delicious flavors with icing made with real fruit.

Where to Get it in Austin: Bom Bakeshop, Mochinut, OMG Squee 

Sesame Ball

Some might not classify this Chinese pastry as a dessert, but it was always a semi-sweet end to dim sum for me. The glutinous rice ball is typically filled with red bean paste but you may also see lotus paste. Don’t miss this when you go eat dim sum!

Where to Get it in Austin: Lin Asian Bar, Fresh Tofu

Shaved Ice

Taiwanese shaved ice or snow ice is unlike shaved ice or snow cones you already know. This shaved ice is created through a machine that creates thin shavings. It melts in your mouth! After choosing your shaved ice flavor – mango and strawberry are two of my favorites – you can choose your toppings. The toppings include boba, jelly, sliced fruit, mochi, and more.

Where to Get it in Austin: SnoMo

Steamed Pandan Layer Cake / Khanom Chan / Bánh Da Lợn

I’m in love with this jelly-like dessert! It’s stretchy and slightly chewy and typically layered by color and flavors of pandan and coconut. In Thai culture, it’s khanom chan and in Vietnamese culture, bánh da lợn is similar but typically includes mung bean.

Where to Get it in Austin: Hhomdee, Texas Bakery, Hana World Market

Taiyaki

This Japanese pastry is recognizable because it’s shaped like a fish. The crispy croissant dough, pressed in something like a waffle iron, is traditionally filled with red bean but can also be filled with Nutella, custard, and mochi.

Where to Get it in Austin: Snowy Village

Tofu Pudding with Ginger Syrup (Dofu Hua)

Tofu Pudding or Sweet Silken Tofu is a dessert I grew up loving! The tofu pudding texture is similar to flan and tastes like sweet tofu. The ginger syrup you pour on top makes the tofu sweeter and it’s where a lot of the flavor comes from.

Where to Get it in Austin: Fresh Tofu, NG Cafe

Which desserts have you tried and which will you go try?

P.S. Want more dessert? See these top 30 cold treats in Austin or this list of the best cupcakes in Austin.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Among the many foods I love, noodles make the list! Growing up, I had Chinese noodles at least once a week in different forms, usually in soup or stir-fried.

Below are 10 countries and regions and their noodle dishes, plus a few recommendations of where to try them in Austin.

Vietnamese Noodles

One of the noodles I eat most often is Vietnamese. I love pho, no matter what season it is because the soup is light yet flavorful. I usually order it with brisket and meatballs. For soup-less noodles, vermicelli bowls are delicious with chargrilled meat and the amount of greens makes it feel like a salad.

Where to get Vietnamese noodles in Austin: Fresh Bowl, Pho Dan, Pho Saigon

Filipino Noodles

The Filipino pancit noodle dish reminds me of a Chinese variation (lo mein) I ate at home growing up. These thin, white noodles are stir-fried with mixed veggies like cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers.

Where to get Filipino noodles in Austin: Filipino Asian Mart, Pogi

Spanish Noodles

Fideua (or also spelled fideo) is like paella but instead of rice, noodles are used. The fideua looks like thin angel hair pasta about an inch long. Fideua is traditional to Catalonia, the northeastern part of Spain. The most popular kinds of fideua are with seafood or with seafood and squid ink, which turns the dish black.

Where to get Spanish noodles in Austin: Verdad True Modern Mexican

Chinese Noodles

My love of noodles came from all the Chinese noodles I ate as a kid. There are LOTS of options for Chinese noodles in Austin. Hands down, my favorite noodle dish is wonton noodle soup, a Cantonese dish with shrimp and pork wontons with long, thin noodles. Don’t forget the braised cow stomach! I also love stir-fried beef flat noodles and bird’s nest noodles.

Where to get Chinese noodles in Austin: First Chinese Barbecue, China Family, Fat Dragon, Si Jie Special Noodle

Peruvian Noodles

Tallarin is the Spanish word for noodles and the word Peruvians use to call their noodle dishes. Their noodles are similar to linguine and spaghetti. A noodle dish “Lima-style sauteed” will come out saucy and you can get it with “lomo saltado” or sauteed steak on top.

Where to get Peruvian noodles in Austin: Inka Chicken, Lima Criolla Peruvian Restaurant

Korean Noodles

Korean cuisine has some great noodle dishes. Japchae, stir-fried glass noodles, is one of my favorites. Some other dishes you’ll find are naengmyeon (cold noodles in chilled broth), bibim-naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), and udon.

Where to get Korean noodles in Austin: Jjim Korean BBQ, Oseyo, Korea House

Italian Noodles

One noodle-heavy country you might think of first is Italy. Their kinds of noodles are endless, from penne to linguine to spaghetti. Carbonara features a runny egg yolk with cheese and guanciale or bacon. Bolognese sauce is the typical red sauce with ground meat, known as your typical spaghetti. Don’t forget cacao e pepe (cheese and pepper)!

Where to get Italian noodles in Austin: Patrizi’s, L’Oca d’Oro, Arlo Grey

Thai Noodles

Pad Thai might be the first Thai noodle dish you think of, but the varieties are endless. Pad kee mao and pad see ew are two others. Offer me a bowl of my favorite Thai noodles, khao soi, and I’ll be a very, very happy girl. This northern Thai dish is also popular in Myanmar and Laos, and the egg noodles in spicy curry soup are an explosion of flavors.

Where to get Thai noodles in Austin: Titaya’s, Madam Mam’s, Tuk Tuk

Japanese Noodles

From the instant noodles at your grocery store to the rise in popular restaurants, ramen is probably a noodle you are more familiar with today. Wheat noodles await in a rich broth and you must get ajitama (marinated soft-boiled egg)! Soba noodles and udon noodles are two other Japanese varieties, and like ramen, you may enjoy these in soup or soup-less with a dipping sauce.

Where to get Japanese noodles in Austin: Ramen del Barrio, Kome, Ramen Tatsu-ya

Southeast Asian Noodles

The noodle dish on this list I haven’t tried is laksa, which is eaten in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Laksa is a dish with rice noodles or vermicelli and very spicy coconut curry soup. (Sounds like khao soi!)

Where to get Southeast Asia noodles in Austin: The Peached Tortilla

What’s your favorite noodle and/or noodle dish?

P.S. Need more food recommendations?

• Here’s my list of favorite Austin restaurants
• Where to Eat Chinese Dumplings in Austin
• The Ultimate Austin Foodie Bucket List

The post Where to Eat Noodles in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Where are the Chinese Bakeries in Austin?

While there are similarities in baked goods in East Asian cultures, I’m most familiar with Chinese bakeries, and they were a regular delicacy while growing up in Dallas. I’ve noticed more and more the lack of these bakeries in Austin, a somewhat common deficiency in ethnic food. Austin’s population is becoming more diverse, and hopefully, with that, the choices and variety of restaurants will expand along with it. Years ago, we had at least two mom-and-pop bakeries, but with closures and constantly changing hands, it’s evident that this has always been on shaky ground. This is why I want to support Texas Bakery as much as I can – they have great baked goods to offer in a sorely lacking category in Austin.

You might be thinking, you’re forgetting all the other East Asian bakeries in Austin! There are several locations of Tour Les Jour (national Korean franchise) and 85 °C Bakery Cafe (international Taiwanese franchise) in Austin to satisfy our cravings for milk bread and taro buns. I still shop there. They fill the need and their products are consistent, but I’m always left wanting more. Maybe it’s something only mom-and-pop shops with recipes passed down through generations provide. Maybe it’s using local ingredients and making things from scratch. For me, Texas Bakery hits different.

Texas Bakery

Tucked in the corner of Austin’s Chinatown Center in North Austin, this small shop holds big dreams. It’s nostalgia for enjoying a coconut cream bun after school and the growing need to connect with my culture as an adult. This spot has been an Asian bakery for at least 10 years, though it has changed owners several times. A Chinese family currently owns it.

When you walk in, you’ll find trays and tongs on the left to help you gather your choices. The shelves are overflowing with options, a bit haphazard when it comes to the differing tables but still organized with item labels in English and Chinese.

As with many Chinese bakeries, dietary restrictions aren’t accommodated and most of the breads are made with gluten and milk. However, if you’re looking for meat-free options, they have sweet and savory types.

If you need a cake for a special occasion, they also do custom orders. Ask to see their product book and talk through the options.

They do have a $15 credit card minimum, so be sure to bring cash just in case or be ready to load up on pastries.

What to Buy at a Chinese Bakery

When it comes to sweet offerings, my favorite things are:

• Coconut cream bun
• Sponge cake and cake rolls
• Coconut bun
• Red bean bun
• Taro bun
• Pineapple bun
• Egg tart
• Wife cake
• Sesame ball with red bean

At Texas Bakery, I don’t recommend their egg tart and pineapple bun, but I love their coconut cream bun and pandan cake!

For savory items, the hot dog bun is traditional as well as dry pork / pork floss rolls. Texas Bakery sells curry “dumplings” (like an empanada) and pork buns.

It might be a monumental ask for this small shop to fill the physical and emotional needs of Asian Americans like me. All we can do is give them our support and hope for the best. I encourage you to give it a try!

If you’re looking for more Chinese baked goods, Tour Les Jour and 85 °C Bakery are available. You can also find them at dim sum at restaurants like Lin Asian and Chinatown.

Looking for more Asian food? Check out these posts:

• Where to Eat Chinese Dumplings in Austin
• Best Asian Desserts in Austin
• Where to Eat Noodles in Austin

The post Why You Should Visit Texas Bakery, Chinese Bakery in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Growing Up Chinese

“Do they understand what I’m saying?” my aunt asked my dad in Chinese when our family arrived at her house in China for a visit.

Thinking my siblings and I didn’t understand Chinese was a fair assumption for my aunt. After all, we were born and raised in the U.S. Like many immigrant families, my parents grabbed onto any opportunity for us to fulfill the American Dream. This American Dream meant we would have a good education, go to college, get an office job (easier and higher paying than a labor-intensive job), get married, have kids, and gain wealth. They thought that for us to become successful, the priority was following the rules and expectations of white suburban life. In a way, being successful was being white or at least being an upstanding citizen imitating American (white) culture.

This is in no way a snub on my parents or any immigrant parents who acted this way. Their actions were out of love and what they could see worked. When given an opportunity for your kids to experience a life you’ve only dreamed of, wouldn’t you do whatever it takes? In coming to a country you know nothing about, wouldn’t you try to fit in and learn local customs to make it an easier transition? And when you hear being a model citizen is the way to get ahead in life, wouldn’t you follow it and teach your kids to do the same? There’s no right or wrong. We all have our learned behaviors.

I felt it too, the strangeness of growing up in two cultures. On top of the woes of trying to fit in and be “cool” as a kid (I’m pretty sure I’m still not cool!), I mispronounced words and wore weird clothes. Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy didn’t exist at my house (things my parents never really cared about), so I made up stories about what they would bring me. I threw away lunch I brought to school because my classmates said it smelled funny. I avoided talking to my parents in Chinese in public because of the weird looks and comments. These were the little things that made me feel like an outsider, that being Chinese wasn’t normal and maybe even shameful.

It was hard to live in two cultures, and I grew up thinking I didn’t want to be Chinese because I thought being white meant I would be more normal and more accepted. I told people I was a banana or Twinkie – yellow/Asian on the outside and white on the inside – because I wanted them to know I was one of them. I don’t think I was proud to be Chinese in a lot of ways and that’s a strange realization as an adult. Becoming more American meant giving up being Chinese.

Proud to be Asian American

So…now it’s cool to be Asian. The shortlist? All the Asian food. Korean skincare and beauty. Boba drinks. BTS and BlackPink.

Being proud means feeling a deep connection with others who have grown up as Asian Americans and recognizing the struggle of others. Jon Chu, the director of Crazy Rich Asians, talks about this in his letter to Coldplay asking for rights to a song he used in the movie. It’s being drawn to learn the Chinese traditions and explore the Chinese recipes that I took for granted as a kid. It’s celebrating Asian joy by honoring our history and cheering on Asian accomplishments.

Becoming proud has been a difficult pivot when I’ve lived most of my life thinking I needed to be something else. I’ve begun the long work of accepting who I am and letting go of all the lies I built in my mind. It involves a lot of retraining my brain to be proud of what being Chinese means to me. It’s all part of the process of growing up – you see your past in a new light and learn from it – and it’s a delicate and hard process!

Some related media:

• Video: Sesame Street shows that speaking another language is a superpower
• Article: Adopted Korean ponders similar questions

But There’s Racism

At the same time, learning how to be proud to be Asian is dealing with racism.

I’ve experienced racism from the kids on the playground in elementary school to adults today. I like to think that most comments were not hateful, just kids not knowing better or adults never questioning why their comments would be disrespectful. But we live in a time where information is more readily available, people will speak up, and people are tired of having to explain why they are offended.

These comments – like asking where someone is really from – are microaggressions. Microaggressions are indirect, subtle, or unintentional verbal or behavioral discrimination. This article goes deep into the discussion.

More seriously, there is blatant racism – the external voices that tell me being Asian is not something I should be proud of. That Asians can be beaten up without consequence and the violence and hate towards them is not real or that it is warranted because they caused certain things to happen. Or that hate is ok because Asians are different. Racism is present because racists feel superior because of their race, are close-minded and/or uneducated, and are encouraged by others, especially people in power. If you would like to read recent examples of racist accounts, see this post.

White American society has long fought for their own, what they thought was right, was owed, or was earned. It started with land. It continues with culture, policies, and values.

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” – James Baldwin

How to Help the AAPI Community

If you are part of the AAPI community, I feel you, I see you. We stand together.

We can all do more and learn more. I want to be a stronger ally and we can work together to make the world more inclusive. Here are some ways.

Educate Yourself

You don’t have to know or understand it all, but fighting racism means you have to do your part. Unlearning what you’ve been taught or what you grew up with is not fun and actually, it is emotional and uncomfortable. Learning and remembering can be hard, too. It’s hard being told you’ve hurt someone’s feelings when it wasn’t intentional, but it’s hard being continuously faced with racism.

Some resources:

• Who is Asian American? See this graph!
• History of Anti-Asian Hate in America from Vox and The Skimm

See Color

When you see and recognize color – our heritage – you can understand where we’re coming from and celebrate our differences. Read Asian American literature, consume media (films, music, TV shows, podcasts) featuring Asian voices, learn about Asian cuisines, and support Asian creatives. See the beauty and honor the representation.

Some resources:

• Equity at the Table – learn about professionals in the food industry through this database
• Books by Asian American Authors
• Make Chinese dishes through this food blog – The Woks of Life
• Ty some of these Asian American Cookbooks

Speak Up

Most people don’t like confrontation and they rationalize not getting involved because they think maybe they can’t make things better or maybe it’s not their place. Be empowered to stand up for someone who is being confronted by someone hateful or inappropriate. Stop things before they escalate. You could save a life or at the least, give a reminder that the world isn’t a terrible place. Learn about bystander intervention.

Donate Money

There are many organizations doing big work to bring change, aid, and education. Here are two:

• Asian Family Support Services of Austin
• Stop AAPI Hate

Support AAPI Businesses and Creatives

When it comes to food in Austin, check out some of my blog posts:

• Asian Desserts in Austin
• Chinese Dumplings in Austin
• Coffee Tasting at Greater Goods Coffee Roasters

Here are some of my other favorite companies in Austin: 

• KathyPhantastic
• The Paper + Craft Pantry
• Madhu Chocolate
• Polkadots Bakery
• Cookie Wookie Kitchen

Thank you for reading and taking in what I had to share. Many organizations and companies support the cause with their voice and dollars, and I encourage you to do the same!

P.S. A few years ago, I wrote about why representation matters. Read it here!

The post Being Asian American + How to Support the APPI Community appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

If you’ve ever visited Taiwan or visited a Chinatown, you’ll likely recognize this popular Asian drink, bubble tea! If you’ve never heard of bubble tea, think of it as a coffee shop drink. Want to learn more and find out where to find it in Austin? Keep reading!

What is Bubble Tea?

Bubble tea is an iced drink from Taiwan that usually includes tea, milk, and toppings. It can also be called pearl tea, boba tea, milk tea, or boba. Since its creation in the 1980s, its popularity has spread internationally, especially to other Asian countries, Canada, and the U.S.

While tea is a popular component in these drinks, some shops have expanded to offer fruit smoothies. These drinks are a caffeine-free alternative that still allows you to enjoy the toppings. The toppings are the chunky stuff at the bottom of the cup, like tapioca balls or jelly.

In most bubble tea shops, you can adjust the amount of ice and sweetness level (percentage). To enjoy the toppings, you’ll have a fat straw, one wide enough to suck up the boba or whatever toppings you choose.

When you order you typically choose:

1. Type of tea, juice, or smoothie
2. Type of topping

What Toppings are in Bubble Tea?

The traditional topping is the black tapioca ball, boba, but topping varieties also include pudding, aloe vera, jellies, red beans, and ice cream. A newer topping option is cream cheese, also known as a cheese cap! Cheese tea has a foamy cream cheese and condensed milk mixture plopped on top.

What Bubble Tea Should I Order?

My order depends on my mood, time of day, and what I’m craving. I usually get a classic milk tea or jasmine milk tea with black tapioca balls. I usually start at 50% sweetness and decrease from there.

To give you more ideas, I asked some of the biggest boba tea enthusiasts I know to share their favorite orders.

• Wintermelon Tea with Grass Jelly
• Mango Green Tea
• Jasmine Milk Tea with Honey Boba
• Kiwi Fruit Tea with Aiju Jelly
• Strawberry Ice Blended with Lychee Jelly and Ice Cream
• Oolong Milk Tea with Boba, less sweetened

Best Bubble Tea Shops in Austin

Boba tea shops have exploded in the Austin area! We have places that are local shops and the franchises we are lucky to have are usually owned by locals passionate about bringing quality bubble tea to the masses.

If you’re looking for bubble tea in Austin, here are some places you should check out!

Coco’s Cafe

This locally owned restaurant is popular for its boba drinks (and their peppercorn chicken with rice). I recommend their milk tea and green milk tea! They also have selections of smoothies (with milk) and slushies (without milk).

Locations:

• 8557 Research Blvd Suite #118, Austin, TX 78757
• 1910 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

Gong Cha

This international bubble tea brand comes from Taiwan, established in 2006. Since then, it has expanded to multiple countries, including coming to the U.S. in 2014. Gong Cha is currently in four U.S. states and in Texas, also in Houston and Dallas.

Locations:

• 2021 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705 (Dobie Food Court)
• 13201 Ranch Rd 620 N #206, Austin, TX 78717 (Anna Plaza)
• 3210 Esperanza Crossing, Suite 126, Austin, Texas 78758 (Domain)

Kung Fu Tea

What happens when you miss the authenticity of Taiwanese bubble tea? You find a way to create it in the U.S. That’s how Kung Fu Tea started in 2009 in New York. Four friends, one whose expertise running a bubble tea chain in Taiwan came in handy, now have an international brand and locations across the U.S., including plenty of locations in Texas!

Locations:

• 9070 Research Blvd #102, Austin, TX 78758 (Crossroad Plaza)
• 2001 Guadalupe St #A2 Austin TX 78705
• 905 E Whitestone Blvd Ste C Cedar Park TX 78613

Sharetea

The oldest bubble tea chain in the U.S., Sharetea is now in Austin. This chain started in Taiwan in 1992 and has grown to over 450 stores in 18 countries. Franchise owner Christine Nieh, who is a UT grad, loves bubble tea so much, it was fated that she open up her own shop. The shop also features a bubble tea mural by my friend, Kathyphantastic!

Location: 13343 US-183 #275, Austin, TX 78750

TeaHaus (temporarily closed)

While the international chains bring a lot of clout, it’s cool to see a local shop stand its own with its authentic drinks. Opened in 2014, TeaHaus was co-founded by four guys who became boba connoisseurs through their experiences. This shop has become a local favorite for its focus on perfecting craft with quality ingredients. (See my post about 101 by TeaHaus here.)

Locations:

• 10815 Ranch Road 2222 #207, Austin, TX 78730
• 101 by TeaHaus, 6929 Airport Blvd #131, Austin, TX 78752

Teapioca Lounge

How about a national bubble tea shop that started in Austin, TX? Teapioca Lounge is now in four U.S. states. When you visit, you may notice a slightly different terminology. Their “cream blastea” is their version of milk tea.

Locations: 

• 1700 W Parmer Ln #210, Austin, TX 78727 (Scofield Farms)
• 10000 Research Blvd #137, Austin, TX 78759 (Arboretum)
• 9600 South Interstate 35 Frontage Road B-300, Austin, TX 78748 (Southpark Meadows)
• 2000 S Interstate 35 N-1, Round Rock, TX 78681
• 11301 Lakeline Blvd, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78717
• 1713 Farm to Market 685, Suite 140, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Conclusion: You Should Try Boba Tea

As you can see through the history and growth, bubble tea love is strong. You’ll find bubble tea shops expanding all over the country where Asian populations are greater, and Austin has gotten its fair share of expansion!

Have you ever tried bubble tea? What’s your order?

P.S. Want to see more food suggestions?

• Best Cold Treats in Austin
• Best Cupcakes in Austin
• Where to Find Chinese Dumplings in Austin
• Best Desserts in Austin

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Best Bubble Tea Shops in Austin, TX appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Our childhood food memories hold so much weight, sometimes all it takes is one bite. From recipes passed down through generations to cultural dishes, food can wake up our taste buds and take us back to a memory. Do any specific dishes do that for you?

My Childhood Food Memories

My parents are Chinese, so naturally, my first food experiences and many of my food memories involve Chinese dishes. I get my fill when I visit my parents or when they visit me, but I haven’t tried cooking many recipes. In working on this post, I realized my desire to learn to cook more Chinese dishes, not only for posterity but for my own enjoyment. I don’t want to have to run to the nearest Chinese restaurant to taste the dishes that mean a lot to me.

My friend Sharon of StreetSmart Kitchen is an inspiration to me. Coming from her hometown of Shanghai to the United States, she learned how to cook her favorite Chinese dishes with guidance from her mom and created a popular blog while doing it. When it comes to Chinese dishes I crave, mapo tofu is one of my favorites. I’m sure to reference Sharon’s recipe when I try making it. My parents don’t have recipes written down, so Sharon’s blog is a good starting place to learn.

The simplest of dishes, congee is another dish I crave. It’s as glamorous as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, though some Chinese restaurants do have it on the menu, especially for dim sum. I remember it as a dish my mom made us when we were sick, and it’s typically a breakfast dish. I usually crave congee with pork and thousand-year-old egg. Mmm…you’ll be hearing from me when I try to make this recipe!

We rarely ate instant noodles, but my first experience is seared into my mind because I couldn’t believe my parents hadn’t been feeding us this all along. I had my first instant noodle cup in third grade on a plane to China! I remember thinking it was the best noodles I had ever had. Ha! I also have fond memories of Spam sandwiches and fried Spam on top of rice. It’s not something I crave, but I had to order it when I saw Kimchi Spam Fried Rice on The Peached Tortilla‘s brunch menu.

I grew up in the United States, so I also have funny memories of discovering traditional American dishes. I lived for my elementary school’s pizza and chocolate milk, both things I had never had at home. The school cafeteria was also where I was introduced to spaghetti! At summer camp in 4th grade, I discovered cereal, Cinnamon Toast Crunch to be exact. I looked forward to it every summer because my parents didn’t give in to feeding us sugar for breakfast.

Bloggers and TV Know What I’m Talking About

Read through food blogs and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of stories and accompanying recipes about a childhood dish.

My friend Alyssa who blogs at Her Modern Kitchen shared her Grandma’s Dilly Bars:

My Grandma’s Dilly Bars take the classic Rice Krispie Treat and mix the marshmallows and rice cereal with melted chocolate and creamy peanut butter. As a kid, she served them chilled cut into squares and they were the perfect sweet snack for a hungry kid playing all day. In those final days of sun, I remember begging my Grandma to make Dilly Bars over and over again so I could get my fill before she retired the recipe for the season.

Dilly Bars still remind me of the final days of summer.  Even now that my Grandma has passed and we’ve sold our lake cottage, I still crave her chocolate-peanut butter Rice Krispie Treats. So in these final days of Summer, I find myself digging into my stack of family recipes to make Grandma’s Dilly Bars — serving them just as she did, chilled and cut into tiny little squares.

My friend Kaylin of Enticing Healthy Eating has a similar story about her grandma making “Thanksgiving Salad” or frozen fruit salad cups when she was a kid.

Restaurant menus also bring back nostalgia with certain dishes. I’ve seen a few dishes in Austin, including Launderette‘s Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich, Rosewood‘s Fig Blondie, and Drink.Well‘s Twinkies. Also, Halcyon‘s signature s’mores could take you back to the campfire at summer camp or scout trips.

On TV, I’ve seen chefs on Chef’s Table and other cooking shows aiming to re-create the flavors of childhood into an elevated dish. The Chef’s Table Pastry episode featuring Christina Tosi is a clear example of this! I love the way she talks about the fun these reminiscent desserts create for people.

Conclusion

There’s something about those childhood taste bud memories that delight. It takes us back to sweet memories of a time or a person that means and meant so much to us as children. I hope you can find a way to re-live those memories! In my case, I’ve got some recipes to learn!

What’s a dish that brings back childhood memories for you? What’s the story?

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The post Childhood Food Memories and Favorite Foods appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Growing up as an Asian American, I had a prideful attraction to celebrities who were Asian like me, Lucy Liu and Michelle Kwan to name the very few. Without a lot of Asian representation, I looked up to the actresses of my generation, but I wonder how my life could have been impacted had I seen people like me on the screen more often.

I talked about what growing up with immigrant parents was like in this post. Growing up in a suburb where I was one of maybe five Asians in my grade when I started school, I naturally came to be more “Americanized,” something I’m sure many Asian Americans would recognize. Yet, it’s so strange to stop and think about the ways I’m keenly aware when an Asian person enters a scene of a TV show or movie. It’s a subconscious habit of connecting with someone because they looked like me and thinking that maybe they knew what it was like growing up suspended between cultures. They found success while trying to fit into the expectations of being American and Asian.

Representation matters because maybe if I had seen Asian representation in mainstream media, I would have realized it wasn’t a matter of being more American and less Asian. I wouldn’t have felt that pulling away from my Asian culture would help me feel like I fit in and make me more liked by my peers. I wouldn’t have been embarrassed when my mom spoke to me in Chinese in public or when I brought dumplings to school for lunch. I would have been more proud to be American AND Asian.

Representation matters. It’s why Asians have rallied behind the TV show Fresh Off the Boat, and actress Kelly Marie Tran, the first woman of color in a leading role in the Star Wars movies. The new movie Crazy Rich Asians is significant because it is the first Hollywood Studio film in over 25 years to feature an Asian American’s story. (The previous movie was The Joy Luck Club.) When you think about Hollywood movies with Asian actors, you’ll likely think of ones with martial arts (i.e. Rush Hour) or Asian characters as sidekicks or stereotypes. Those movies and roles hold their space, but one of the reasons why Crazy Rich Asians is so important is because there are Asians in the lead roles and Asian characters outside of the typical stereotypes. Plus, it’s a full Asian cast, including great cameos; did you LOVE musician Kina Grannis‘ song during the wedding?

Representation in mainstream media trickles down in ways we might not realize. Can you imagine what Asian American kids might think when they see Asians as the leads of a Hollywood movie? While celebrities seem a world away, we, kids and adults, look up to them because we view celebrities as successful and view movies as projections of a possible reality. It’s much easier to dream when we can envision it clearly. It also gives an opportunity for Asian stories to be heard and for others to learn about the culture and recognize the similarities in our stories. Humanity is much more connected than we think. When we get to know people who are different from us, there’s no limit to the success we can make together.

Aside from the cultural and representation significance, Crazy Rich Asians is an entertaining movie and a fun romantic comedy. Sure, it’s not as good as the books and it wasn’t the best movie I’ve ever seen, but I loved seeing the characters come to life. (#TeamAstrid) I got choked up a few times, maybe because of the sappy scenes or maybe because the movie showed Asian culture and in a way, I felt seen. I love all the cultural features in the movie, from playing mahjong and making dumplings to the traditions of family first and revering elders, and it means a lot to me for others to experience these things I’ve grown up knowing. This movie is not a representation of every Asian American’s story (I am not and don’t know any billionaires, ha!), but it’s a step to build other Asian Americans up. Culture aside, the movie has its funny moments and the fashion!

I’m so proud of director Jon M. Chu and the cast for this movie. We celebrate victories wherever we can because the significance can be fleeting, but I hope it doesn’t take another 25 years before a big success like this. I hope this success means increased recognition for Asian Americans in the arts.

Thank you to all of you who understand, support, and advocate this movie and representation.

If you can’t get enough, check out these articles:

• Why Jon M. Chu wanted Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ in the movie and how it happened
• Ken Jeong’s interview about his role and what this movie means for Hollywood
• Kelly Marie Tran speaks out
• Why an Asian American heartthrob on screen matters
• Crazy Rich Asians‘ mahjong scene explained in depth

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The post Why Representation Matters and What I Thought About Crazy Rich Asians appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Wanting too much
The following quote from this post made me stop and think: “The problem isn’t that we have too little time — we all get the same amount of time each day and each week. It’s the exact right amount of time because it’s all there is. It’s possible that we have too many things to do. But actually, the real problem is that we want to do too much in the time we have.”

We have limited time. Do you know how some of the most successful people get things done? They have help from assistants, nannies, and even full teams. I know it’s sometimes hard for me to be realistic about what I can accomplish in a certain amount of time. That creates unrealistic expectations, stress, and disappointment!

Simone’s Robots
I found Simone’s YouTube channel this month and I am so entertained by her videos and personality.

This Month is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
In celebration, here are 10 books by Asian authors. The Best We Could Do was one of my favorite (and heart-breaking) reads this year so far. I haven’t read Free Food for Millionaires but Min Jin Lee’s newer book Pachinko was also a favorite. I will note, I tried to read Sour Heart and didn’t like it.

Crazy Rich Asians
Speaking of Asians, I’m so excited about the movie Crazy Rich Asians coming out in August! Why? It’s an all-Asian cast and the movie has nothing to do with martial arts! A Hollywood movie that features people who look like me and the traditions and culture that I know!

This romantic comedy-drama is based on the best-selling book of the same name. An American girl goes with her boyfriend (they’re both university professors in the U.S.) to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. She has no clue his family, while humble and low-key, is one of the richest families in Asia, so in addition to meeting his family, she is in awe and baffled by the show of wealth by his family and friends. Of course, there’s drama with a disapproving mother, family members doing anything they can to gain more wealth (or at least look the part), and all the complicated parts of a rich boy meets not-so-rich girl love story.

Mr. Rogers’ Thoughts on Drawing
Give this a quick look.

This is America
Childish Gambino released a new music video everyone is talking about. It contains possible triggers so don’t watch if you’re sensitive to gun violence. There are so many things to talk about from the video and Luvvie does a good job in this post.

Related to guns, this article from The Atlantic was a sad read. The evidence is clear. Studies show “Americans are no more emotionally troubled than people in Europe and Canada, the stark difference is guns.” Gun access is an issue. The bulk of the article focuses on how school shootings can be prevented and the difficulty in providing for those with mental health issues. Parents have to take the time and money to figure out the mental health issue to treat it and there aren’t enough resources for this. All of this effort is on top of the stigma.

Secret Millionaire Donates Fortune After Death
The NY Times did a story about Sylvia Bloom, who died at 96 and donated $6.24 million (of the $9 million she left) to a non-profit. The noteworthiness of this story is that she was a secretary for the same law firm for 67 years, lived a “simple” life, and no friends or family knew about her fortune. She started her wealth by following her boss’ stock purchases with her own smaller purchases. I’m amazed that she worked for so long, and I hope she took some really awesome vacations.

Happy Mother’s Day
Being a mom is a big deal, even bigger than I can imagine since I’m not one. This post is a clear example of why it’s such an important, hard, and beautiful role. I hope all you moms had a sweet Mother’s Day!

RSVP
Here’s an editorial about why one woman will now always RSVP yes to weddings. It will get you thinking about the relationships in your life and how you perceive them.

Wrongfully Jailed
Can you imagine being wrongfully jailed for murder at age 14 and spending 17 years in jail? John Bunn’s story is incredibly heart-breaking. He founded an organization to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Now Watching
Have you all watched the show Humans? It’s a British show on AMC (and available on Amazon) about life-like humanoids gaining consciousness. Seasons one and two are available and season three is currently on British TV. Watch the trailer below. We also started the quirky Netflix show Love. The third and final season was released recently. Is it a good or bad thing when you know a show you’re watching has an end?

U.S. Fertility at Record Low
The statistics are showing the effects of woman postponing or deciding not to have babies but births by teenagers are also down. I’d love to see the stats of people who are trying to have babies to see if it’s a matter of getting pregnant.

What About Russia?
My friend Yulia wrote about Russia’s Victory Day and the sacrifices Russia made in World War II. (You should read it!) I really enjoyed reading about the traditions and history, and the post made me think about biases and perceptions. She questions why people around the world don’t know about the 26 million Russians that died in WWII. As an American, I blame my ignorance from being a bad student, the patriotic bias in teaching materials and movies, and general patriotism that makes everything outside of the U.S. not as important. Also, there’s so much world history, I probably can’t recall exact American history facts either. What do you think?

Thoughtful and Healthy Conversations
Do you have healthy conversations? My parents were not and are not good communicators, and it’s been eye-opening in the last few years to learn how to communicate better. I think how you communicate says things about your feelings and confidence, so knowing how is a good thing! Here’s a quick article to help.

What’s got you captivated?

P.S. Did you see my recent ax-throwing party at Urban Axes?

The party never ends. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Captivations v.47: Asians, Millionaires, and Robots appeared first on Fearless Captivations.