By Christopher Hartwell @SILIENCESEEN
In our melting pot of cultures from every walk of life in every corner of the globe, this mishmash of civilization is that which makes America extraordinary. At Las Positas, our ESL classes embody this fundamental part of our society in a way that is unique in our community.
The ESL class this semester evaluated restaurants that express their national heritage, and submitted their reviews for the reading pleasure of our culturally inclined food lovers.
Taihong Chen and Runjie Xiao both went to the Golden Sand Harbor, a traditional Cantonese restaurant in Dublin. Chen feels that what makes this restaurant so special is how their ingredients such as the fish, meat and vegetables are so fresh. Xiao had a strong opinion about this restaurant. “The service is good there and the price of food is not too high.” Xiao said. “If you don’t like dimsum, Golden Sand Harbor also has other Chinese dishes like Mongolian Beef and other delicious food.”
Chen agreed, and enjoyed their experience. “At that time, I understood why this is the best Cantonese food.”
If you are looking for something with curry, then perhaps a flavorful trip to India may be in store. Manpreet Kaur went to Sansar, an Indian food restaurant located in downtown Livermore. Kaur knows how unique the food is and says, “Indian food is different from the rest of the world not only in taste but also in cooking methods.” Those methods make for interesting dining bringing curry, lentils and naan to an environment of traditional songs and colorful Indian paintings. The experience is truly unique, which Kaur described saying “the atmosphere is peaceful and comfortable. I don’t have any words to describe the taste of the dishes.” Overall, a truly exquisite experience.
This flavor train does not stop in land locked nations, though. In a travel across our sea of senses, savory Japanese courses await.
Takami Yamamoto went to the Hisui Express, a Japanese restaurant found in the Fallon Gateway plaza in Dublin. This establishment holds a collection of recipes based on Japanese dishes, but with some American and Chinese twists. For Yamamoto, it is the Salmon Teriyaki that brings them back for more. With excellent portions, Yamamoto says “everything has great volume on my plate.” This restaurant is a surefire hit if you enjoy Japanese cuisine.
Whether you are accustomed to these flavors or not, it is worth checking them out.
As Chen said about the power of cuisine, “I believe the authentic hometown food will bring memories back to where you were living that is beyond the definition of food. It’s about a kind of emotion.”