Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities, like Subtle Asian Baking, Celebrate Their Heritage with "Love Through Food" with Facebook
Fred Chang (Subtle Asian Baking) makes a yuzu castella strawberry shortcake
“In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, inspiring AAPI Facebook communities share their recipes and personal stories through the “Love Through Food” Reels series.
Whether it’s a holiday, family gathering, dinner with friends or even an online community, homemade food plays an important role for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a powerful gesture of love and affection. Through its variety of flavors and rich history, Asian cuisine represents the diversity that exists within the greater AAPI community. Food often brings this community together while serving as a gateway for others to learn more about the mosaic that exists within Asian culture.
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting the stories of AAPI Facebook groups, community leaders and their members through the series “Love Through Food” to showcase how their unique Asian recipes embody the shared love language of food.
Founded as a safe space for shared experiences and fostering meaningful relationships among Asians growing up in Western culture, Subtle Asian Traits has launched a global movement of millions and inspired a number of thriving communities on Facebook, including Subtle Asian Baking, Subtle Curry Traits, and Subtle Asian Cooking. With many members living in the United States, these communities together are celebrating their heritages, while also exploring the intersection of their Asian and American identities.
Using Facebook Reels, community leaders and members from these groups share stories of tight family bonds formed over food and how these dishes help them connect back to and honor their ancestral roots.” Facebook.com
Check out the savory dishes and sweet treats below:
Bánh Bò Nướng (Vietnamese Honeycomb Cake)
Kat Lieu, Subtle Asian Baking
Kat Lieu has vivid memories of treats her Vietnamese-Chinese grandmother introduced to her as a child, including bánh bò nướng. This popular street vendor sponge cake originated in the 1800s and was dyed bright colors to entice people passing by. The Subtle Asian Baking founder has perfected this recipe through getting tips from her fellow Facebook group members.
Mango Sticky Rice Macaron
Tanantha Couilliard, Subtle Asian Baking
When thinking of iconic Thai desserts, the first thing that comes to mind for Tanantha Couilliard is Mango Sticky Rice. Tanantha, who was born in Thailand and moved to the US originally for school, fuses this traditional summer dessert with her love of macarons to transport you to the country’s warm sunny climate. As a self-taught baker, she loves to bring Asian-inspired components into her recipes while also applying the cooking skills she learned from her mom growing up.
When the pandemic shut down international borders, Kat Lieu craved various Asian baked goods she had during her travels but struggled to find them in her local shops. So, she began recreating her favorite treats and started Subtle Asian Baking in May 2020 to bring together other like-minded bakers. Now, over 144,000 members are sharing their own recipes, teaching others about the diversity of Asian baking, and giving back to the greater community by hosting bake sales that have raised thousands of dollars to fight AAPI hate. Kat’s community is even coming out with a cookbook, Modern Asian Baking at Home, filled with recipes from the group.
Yuzu Castella Strawberry Shortcake
Fred Chang, Subtle Asian Baking
Castella is a light cake first introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries centuries ago. It has since become a staple of wagashi (a traditional Japanese confectionery) and led to more varieties in other Asian countries, including Taiwan — birthplace of Subtle Asian Baking member Fred Chang. Raised in Southern California, Fred often reminisces about the castella cakes his mom would get from the local Taiwanese bakery for his after-school snack. So, the former MasterChef contestant created his own take on the treat as a dedication to her. Fred combined his childhood memories with Japanese baking techniques and flavors he learned while spending some time there, for a unique castella.
Bear-Shaped Leche Flan
Bianca Fernandez, Subtle Asian Baking
Bianca Fernandez is a first-generation Filipino American who started baking back in high school when she thought it would be fun to learn how to make French macarons. Practicing techniques and comparing recipes made her fall in love with the troubleshooting process of baking, leading her to eventually start her food blog, Bites by Bianca, where she shares fun, cute recipes that represent her heritage. Passed down from her mom, this leche flan recipe reminds her of home but with her own little twist.
