JoySauce

12/11/2024

In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee became the first Asian American woman to earn her pilot’s license. But despite being more than qualified to fly for the U.S. military, women weren't allowed to join. She instead joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a program founded by the U.S. Army Air Force that trained women to fly military aircraft to ferry planes to where they were needed.

Members of the WASP program weren't granted military status until 1977, decades after their contributions during World War II. Writer Samantha Pak gave us the full history lesson on Hazel Ying Lee's heroic life.

Writer Samantha Pak delves into how the Chinese American pilot helped pave the way for women in the U.S. military.

08/11/2024

Chef Edward Lee won our hearts on Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars." The veteran chef not only showed off his incredible cooking skills, he also showcased his authenticity, dedication, and humility.

He graced us with his time to chat about his experience on the show and how it has shaped his culinary journey. Read his full convo with writer Daniel Anderson:

Chef Edward Lee's journey on Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" became a delicious and tear-jerking story of identity and cultural heritage.

06/11/2024

With Donald Trump winning the 2024 election, many people are uncertain about the future. The election saw record turnout among Asian American voters, but it wasn't enough. However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep fighting.

Writer Xintian Tina Wang talked to a few community leaders about their thoughts on the election. Now isn't the time to give up hope.

The community braces for a challenging future with Donald Trump winning the election, spotlighting the nation’s divisions on safety and equity.

05/11/2024

People have been debating whether or not there's a detectable Asian American accent. What do y'all think? Some say that we have an accent, but it's hard for them to pinpoint exactly what sets our speech apart from others.

Writer Teresa Tran did the research and even talked to a few linguists to see what they could add to the discussion. While there are common speaking patterns among Asian American communities, it may be a bit simplistic to say that we all have one accent.

TikTok users are claiming that Asian Americans have an accent. Writer Teresa Tran does the research to find out if it truly exists.

01/11/2024

Filipino American History Month may be over, but here at JoySauce, we celebrate Filipino culture year-round. If you wanna join in on the fun, you can start by visiting your local Filipino enclave. ⁠
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Writer Agnes Constante looked into a few of the Filipino districts across the country to see what they're doing to uplift their community members. Learn all about these vibrant, unapologetically Filipino neighborhoods:
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Writer Agnes Constante looks at Filipino cultural districts in the U.S.—how they formed, what they look like, and what their futures hold.

31/10/2024

The New York Yankees put up a good fight, but the Los Angeles Dodgers ultimately won the 2024 World Series yesterday. But no matter what team you were rooting for, Asians and Asian Americans were front and center.

Writer Quin Scott praises the stellar performances of players Anthony Volpe, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tommy Edman, and Shohei Ohtani, as well as the leadership of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. This World Series really showcased the pure talent of Asian athletes ⚾️

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have taken home the trophy, but writer Quin Scott explains that APIs played crucial roles on both sides.

30/10/2024

You may have seen Abi Marquez's viral lumpia recipes on TikTok over the years, but she's way more than that. She has since turned her viral fame into a full-time career as a food content creator, collabing with celebs and working on a cookbook.

Writer Teresa Tran talked to Marquez about how she's bringing Filipino food to the masses and what she hopes to achieve next. Read about how this "Lumpia Queen" plans to go global:

Writer Teresa Tran chats with the Filipina food content creator about her viral rise and her ambition of breaking into the U.S. market.

29/10/2024

When most Americans think of South Asian singers, they typically think of Bollywood music. But that isn't Zoya. Instead, the singer crafts energetic and conceptual independent pop music.

She met up with friend and writer Vik Chopra to chat about her career so far and her upcoming album, "THE I/O (The Human Era is Over)." Learn about her exciting journey, from going viral in India to working with Jack Harlow:

Zoya has had an impressive career as an independent pop singer over the past decade, from going viral in India to her upcoming album.

28/10/2024

This week on , Youngmi processes her emotions about her book coming out next week in real time. She comes to the realization that her fear of her parents being angry at her for sharing her account of her childhood is actually misplaced sadness, anger and the feeling of utter unfairness at the realization that she is, in fact, the person who deserves to be angry.
She realizes she is the person owed an apology, not the other way around. She also once again touches on how ridiculous it is to feel bad when something good happens. Link in bio 🩷

21/10/2024

Chef Tue Nguyen first blew up at Tasty making 12-pound soup dumplings and four-foot bánh mì. But she has since taken full advantage of her viral success by amassing a huge following, coming out with a cookbook, and opening a restaurant in West Hollywood.

Writer Daniel Anderson talked to the chef about her much-deserved success and what authenticity means to her. She shares some of her inspirations (like the incredible Anthony Bourdain) and how she juggles her many passions.

Internet chef twaydabae released her debut cookbook Di An, a celebration of Vietnamese cuisine and her journey on her own terms.

17/10/2024

After leaving theaters in 2008, Tarsem Singh's "The Fall" couldn't find a home. It was never technically lost; Singh just couldn't find someone to buy his polarizing movie. But after almost 20 years, the film is now streaming on MUBI and can be seen in select theaters across the United States.

Writer Andy Crump recommends you see the film, whether it's your first watch or you saw it back in 2008. The stunning 4K re-release will immerse you in Singh's vibrant, fantastical world. Learn more about the cult classic here:

Now streaming on MUBI and showing in theaters across the United States, "The Fall" can be seen for the first time since 2008.

16/10/2024

Anyone familiar with BTS's j-hope knows that he's an incredible dancer. But where did his passion and talent for dance come from? We can all thank the dance crew Neuron for helping him hone his craft.

Writer Samantha Lui chatted with the crew about their humble beginnings and how they shaped j-hope into one of K-pop's best dancers. They reminisce about j-hope being a hard worker with an infectiously positive energy.

The crew reminisces with writer Samantha Lui on their humble beginnings and how they turned j-hope into one of K-pop's best dancers.

10/10/2024

Season 3 of "Drag Race Philippines" wrapped up yesterday, and fans can't get over how phenomenal it was. As of right now, it's the highest-rated season of the entire franchise on IMDb. Not only is the series showcasing the enigma of Philippine drag artistry, but it's also refreshingly reminiscent of the early, more authentic days of "Drag Race."

Writer Andre Lawes Menchavez makes the case for why Drag Race Philippines is the best iteration of the franchise and why you should definitely check it out if you haven't yet.

Writer Andre Lawes Menchavez dissects why the Philippines' iteration of the worldwide phenomenon flawlessly exceeds its peers.

10/10/2024

From 130 B.C. to 1453 A.D., the Silk Road connected the Far East, China, and Europe, allowing ideas, goods, cultures, and religions to flow from country to country. It's no surprise that cultural cuisines were heavily impacted by the vast trade route.

Foods that were easy to dry, freeze, store, and cook made their way along the Silk Road, adapting to each country's taste buds and becoming global staples. Writer Clara Wang mapped out the routes of the different variations of noodles and dumplings to see exactly where they originated.

Writer Clara Wang looks at how easy-to-transport foods, like noodles and dumplings, were introduced to countries along the trade route.

09/10/2024

Comedian, writer, and activist Abby Govindan proves that you don't have to sacrifice who you are or what you stand for as you pursue a career. She has made a name for herself as a stand-up comedian, opening for the likes of The REAL Russell Peters and Hasan Minhaj.

Govindan sat down with writer Aleenah Ansari to chat about how she fosters community and shows her support for people in Palestine all while working on her comedy career.

The comedian sat with writer Aleenah Ansari to tease her upcoming tour and share how she found her comedic voice throughout the years.

08/10/2024

Twice a year, fashion designers showcase their latest collections in major cities across the globe. Asian designers never fail to disappoint us at these shows, but smaller, independent designers took the spotlight debuting their spring/summer 2025 collections.

Writer Vandana Pawa shared her favorite highlights from this Fashion Week season! They include Shuting Qiu, Keisukeyoshida, and Ahluwalia, all smaller brands by designers of the Asian diaspora.

Writer Vandana Pawa highlights the Asian diasporic fashion designers who caught our eye with their spring/summer showcases.

04/10/2024

You should already be familiar with THE Connie Chung. She was the first ever Asian American broadcast journalist in the country, paving the way for generations of AA+PI women. She's an absolute legend, and there's a good chance you know an Asian Connie who was named after her.

Writer Samantha Pak recently saw Chung at an event in Seattle, which inspired her to reflect on the veteran journalist's impact on both herself and the Asian American community at large:

Writer Samantha Pak reflects on the veteran journalist and the impact she has had on AA+PIs in the news industry.

03/10/2024

Have you tried Lao food? If you live in the Twin Cities, there's a good chance you have. In the past few years, Laotian cuisine has shaken up Minnesota's culinary landscape for the better. Writer Sanaphay Rattanavong looked into this recent boom and gave us a crash course on Lao food.

He talked to House of X Tia, who has been popularizing Lao dishes through her YouTube channel for over a decade. He also highlights some popular restaurants that have introduced the unique characteristics of Lao cuisine to the Midwest.

Writer Sanaphay Rattanavong explores how Lao cuisine has shaped Minnesota’s culinary landscape in recent years.