4 in 10 Americans see Asian Americans as more loyal to their countries of origin than to the U.S., key survey finds

INdulge: Chinese dish with surprising Hoosier ties is best thing I ate in Indy this week

Indianapolis Star

5 days ago

Indianapolis Star

INdulge: Chinese dish with surprising Hoosier ties is best thing I ate in Indy this week

Seldom do I feel more like a Hoosier than when I'm at the State Fair, the only place I know of where you can eat deep-fried cheesecake and marvel at a pig roughly the size of a Toyota Yaris, all while a jazz-funk rendition of Für Elise blares over the speaker system. With the Fair in town through Aug. 17, I've started seeing Hoosier DNA where I least expect it. Take a close look and you'll even find it in: After days of subsisting largely on battered pork and dairy, I was grateful for the gastrointestinal reprieve of a bowl of mapo tofu ($13.95) from Tian Fu Chinese Food and Japanese Sushi on the far east side. More: We tried 12 wild Indiana State Fair dishes and ranked them from worst to best Mapo tofu is a popular, relatively new Chinese dish comprised of great wobbling tofu cubes in a thick broth flavored with fermented beans and chili paste. The throat-scratching stew also traditionally includes a small amount of minced beef. Most historians trace the invention of mapo tofu to the late 1800s at Chen Mapo restaurant in the Sichuan Province's capital city of Chengdu. Per popular legend, the dish was named for one of the restaurant's owners, Mrs. Chen, whom locals affectionately called mapo due to her smallpox-scarred face (ma comes from the Chinese word for pockmarks; po comes from a word meaning elderly woman or grandmother). While not exactly my idea of a pet name, 'mapo' stuck, and Chen Mapo Tofu has served diners in Chengdu for more than a century. At Tian Fu, Chen's namesake delicacy arrived at my table via a roving four-foot-tall delivery robot with cat ears and an LCD 'face' that smiled when I pet the machine at my server's behest, a kind of cute, yet off-putting twist to the dining experience that I simply don't have the word count to fully unpack here. Most importantly, the mapo was excellent. The stew features a savory garlic-spiked broth and crimson Sichuan peppercorns that speckle the tofu like little sparks of fire. The spice level isn't quite málà ('numbing hot' in Mandarin) but might give your tear ducts some exercise nonetheless. Celery and scallions bring a little crunch, the ground beef adds a nice meaty chew and the tofu provides the nutritional bulk of the meal. For the noninitiated, tofu is made by thickening and straining soy milk into jiggling protein-rich blocks of bean curd. It isn't especially pretty and it doesn't taste like much when plain, but tofu has long been a dietary staple in China. All that tofu requires an enormous soybean supply. That's where Indiana and other Midwest states with fertile, government-subsidized farmland enter the picture. Previously in INdulge: These ridiculously hot wings are (sort of) the best thing I ate in Indy this week The Hoosier State is one of the United States' biggest soybean producers, harvesting more than 9 million tons and exporting more than $2 billion worth in 2023, according to National Agricultural Statistics Service data. In the last five years China on average has purchased roughly one quarter of the United States' soybean yield to make oil and livestock feed while dedicating its own soybeans to culinary purposes (likewise, most tofu eaten in the States is made with American-grown soybeans). Imports of American soybeans in China are down a tick this year because, well — I don't know if you've heard of this thing called a trade war, but we're sort of in one. Chinese soybean processors haven't purchased American soybeans since January before the start of President Donald Trump's second term, which has seen a back-and-forth of retaliatory tariffs between the two nations. In April, Chinese tariffs on American soybeans briefly peaked at 115%. Regardless of how compelling you find Trump's reasons for initiating the trade dispute, China backing out of the American bean business has left American soybean farmers, many of them Hoosiers, facing considerable economic uncertainty. To avoid overstepping the expertise I gleaned from one semester of pandemic-era Zoom microeconomics in college, I'll refocus on the culinary component of our state's most lucrative legume. Tofu certainly isn't everyone's thing, but as a nutritionally complete flavor sponge, it's tough to beat. Tian Fu's mapo tofu is an expertly seasoned gutful of Sichuan tradition that you certainly don't need an extensive knowledge of geopolitics to appreciate; speaking purely for myself, I find matters of the soybean much easier to digest in a big spicy stew than in trade talks. What: Mapo tofu, $13.95 Where: Tian Fu Chinese Food and Japanese Sushi, 7525 E. Washington St., (317) 520-8888 and Tian Fu Asian Bistro, 3508 W. 86th St., (317) 872-6888, In case that's not your thing: Tian Fu's east side and northwest side locations offer a variety of traditional Chinese and Japanese dishes, plus plenty of familiar Chinese American favorites. House soups ($3 to $8), pot stickers and dumplings (around $6 each) precede stir fries, noodle dishes and traditional Sichuan dishes including hot boiled fish and smoked duck ($12 to $19). For dessert, diners can cool off with red bean or green tea ice cream ($4 to $5).

Yahoo

27-07-2025

Yahoo

5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do

A lesson for the faux polite people of the world. Rude people either live in a vacuum of self-awareness — or just don't care. I fear I have been 'that guy' a few times. I've unintentionally ruffled feathers and burned bridges in my wake. Heck, I'm sure a few people have said, 'If Sean does that one more time, I will reach across this table." By the end of this article, you will know what to look out for — and how to avoid being an accidental fool. It will help you preserve friendships, and live a better, more seamless life. Getting a gauge on where they are 'really' from Some people are as subtle as a brick through a window. Especially here in the US. If someone is non-white, don't make it into your mission to find out where they are 'really' from. I see this cringefest commonly with Asian-Americans, some of whom have been here for two generations. They talk with no accent and couldn't be more American. But some stranger begins interrogating them like they just stepped off the boat on Ellis Island. The stranger stops just short of asking for their green card. And look — I'm not Mr. Perfect. I'm sure I've done this at some point. It's more out of curiosity as I'm into family heritage stuff. I've now seen it from the outside and realize it's generally a bad look. Questions about a stranger's heritage can wait until you know them a little better. A question that implies there's something wrong My spouse, Laura, says that men used to always ask her, 'So why are you still single?' They often asked it in this curious and doubtful tone — that implied something had to be wrong. 'She must be crazy or have some type of baggage.' If you think about it, that question is loaded with assumptions: that she is looking for a boyfriend, that she's getting rejected because she's broken, and that you know her well enough to ask that type of question. For the record, Laura was one of those women who spent most of her 20s single by choice. Their question was probably just their awkward way of saying she was super attractive. But they unintentionally send bad vibes. Commenting about anything bizarre on their appearance One of my guy friends has dark circles under his eyes naturally. That's just how he looks. Too often, people comment, 'You look tired.' 'Have you gotten sleep, buddy? You look sleepy.' He plays it off like it doesn't bother him. But I can tell it makes him insecure. In general, I'd refrain from commenting about someone's appearance in any negative or neutral light. Don't point out irregularities about their face. That includes telling them they should smile more. This is especially true with women. Years ago, my dad was in the car with me and I was only 10-years-old. We weren't even talking. And just out of the blue he said, 'I don't care how tall, beautiful, ugly, skinny, or fat a woman is — don't ever make a joke about her weight.' I suspect he'd witnessed some cringe. Dining habits from hell There's this habit of slurping amongst otherwise civilized people. They sound like a toddler using a straw for the first time. And I'm not just talking about soup. Literally, any liquid is grounds for a mouth concert. It's the drinking version of hearing someone chew with their mouth open. It also makes the person seem like they are finishing their drink in a frenzy of dehydration. Some people are repeat offenders. They moan in pleasure as they eat and smack their mouth like a cow and then unleash burps. One of my coworkers had this big bag of tortilla-style Doritos. Every day around 11, he sat behind me and spend a solid 20 minutes each day slowly crunching through these chips. Now granted, I know in some countries in Asia, slurping is normal — while blowing your nose in a restaurant would be hugely rude (it generally isn't in the US). I hate hearing the sound of other people eating and consuming food with no effort to conceal the noise. Please have the courtesy to limit the mouth noise. Culture math on our arrival time Years ago, one of my marketing professors, Professor Eric Ritter, told me people judge you by three things: Your personality. The quality of your work. Your punctuality. And it makes sense if you think about it. Some people are on time, have great personalities, but do shotty work. Others do great work, are on time, but total jerks. And there have been plenty of people who I liked and respected greatly, who drove me nuts on their habitual lateness. It's particularly aggravating when meeting someone for lunch or dinner. I don't like writing their tardiness off as being on Island Time. Perhaps this is my military upbringing making me a bit of a stiff. I don't like sitting alone at a lunch table for 15–20 minutes every time we get together. It tells me the other person doesn't respect my time. A friend suggested, 'Just lie to them and say you are meeting 15 minutes earlier than you actually are.' That feels convoluted and dishonest. I don't like doing culture math on the appropriate level of lateness to be. If we are meeting at 6, let's meet at 6. Cool? The worst one of all The Kingslayer unintentionally rude thing that I've had the non-pleasure of witnessing. Asking a woman how 'far along' she is—when she isn't pregnant. If you have to ask, go with something safe like, 'Do you have children?' Or make sure I'm out of earshot so I don't have to cohabitate the cringe grave with you. Stupid Bob to the non-pregnant girl: 'Wow! you look so regnant. When are you gonna pop that thing out?' It makes me want to shrivel up into a ball. Unless you are her doctor, and she is in front of you, in labor, avoid that question. Recap for memory: intentionally rude things people do Slurping and being a loud eater (with cultural exceptions). Commenting on someone's appearance or pointing out any abnormality. Interrogating a minority stranger's 'real' homeland. Being habitually late with no valid excuse. Asking a woman how far into her pregnancy she is. Solve the daily Crossword

Yahoo

27-07-2025

Yahoo

5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do

A lesson for the faux polite people of the world. Rude people either live in a vacuum of self-awareness — or just don't care. I fear I have been 'that guy' a few times. I've unintentionally ruffled feathers and burned bridges in my wake. Heck, I'm sure a few people have said, 'If Sean does that one more time, I will reach across this table." By the end of this article, you will know what to look out for — and how to avoid being an accidental fool. It will help you preserve friendships, and live a better, more seamless life. Getting a gauge on where they are 'really' from Some people are as subtle as a brick through a window. Especially here in the US. If someone is non-white, don't make it into your mission to find out where they are 'really' from. I see this cringefest commonly with Asian-Americans, some of whom have been here for two generations. They talk with no accent and couldn't be more American. But some stranger begins interrogating them like they just stepped off the boat on Ellis Island. The stranger stops just short of asking for their green card. And look — I'm not Mr. Perfect. I'm sure I've done this at some point. It's more out of curiosity as I'm into family heritage stuff. I've now seen it from the outside and realize it's generally a bad look. Questions about a stranger's heritage can wait until you know them a little better. A question that implies there's something wrong My spouse, Laura, says that men used to always ask her, 'So why are you still single?' They often asked it in this curious and doubtful tone — that implied something had to be wrong. 'She must be crazy or have some type of baggage.' If you think about it, that question is loaded with assumptions: that she is looking for a boyfriend, that she's getting rejected because she's broken, and that you know her well enough to ask that type of question. For the record, Laura was one of those women who spent most of her 20s single by choice. Their question was probably just their awkward way of saying she was super attractive. But they unintentionally send bad vibes. Commenting about anything bizarre on their appearance One of my guy friends has dark circles under his eyes naturally. That's just how he looks. Too often, people comment, 'You look tired.' 'Have you gotten sleep, buddy? You look sleepy.' He plays it off like it doesn't bother him. But I can tell it makes him insecure. In general, I'd refrain from commenting about someone's appearance in any negative or neutral light. Don't point out irregularities about their face. That includes telling them they should smile more. This is especially true with women. Years ago, my dad was in the car with me and I was only 10-years-old. We weren't even talking. And just out of the blue he said, 'I don't care how tall, beautiful, ugly, skinny, or fat a woman is — don't ever make a joke about her weight.' I suspect he'd witnessed some cringe. Dining habits from hell There's this habit of slurping amongst otherwise civilized people. They sound like a toddler using a straw for the first time. And I'm not just talking about soup. Literally, any liquid is grounds for a mouth concert. It's the drinking version of hearing someone chew with their mouth open. It also makes the person seem like they are finishing their drink in a frenzy of dehydration. Some people are repeat offenders. They moan in pleasure as they eat and smack their mouth like a cow and then unleash burps. One of my coworkers had this big bag of tortilla-style Doritos. Every day around 11, he sat behind me and spend a solid 20 minutes each day slowly crunching through these chips. Now granted, I know in some countries in Asia, slurping is normal — while blowing your nose in a restaurant would be hugely rude (it generally isn't in the US). I hate hearing the sound of other people eating and consuming food with no effort to conceal the noise. Please have the courtesy to limit the mouth noise. Culture math on our arrival time Years ago, one of my marketing professors, Professor Eric Ritter, told me people judge you by three things: Your personality. The quality of your work. Your punctuality. And it makes sense if you think about it. Some people are on time, have great personalities, but do shotty work. Others do great work, are on time, but total jerks. And there have been plenty of people who I liked and respected greatly, who drove me nuts on their habitual lateness. It's particularly aggravating when meeting someone for lunch or dinner. I don't like writing their tardiness off as being on Island Time. Perhaps this is my military upbringing making me a bit of a stiff. I don't like sitting alone at a lunch table for 15–20 minutes every time we get together. It tells me the other person doesn't respect my time. A friend suggested, 'Just lie to them and say you are meeting 15 minutes earlier than you actually are.' That feels convoluted and dishonest. I don't like doing culture math on the appropriate level of lateness to be. If we are meeting at 6, let's meet at 6. Cool? The worst one of all The Kingslayer unintentionally rude thing that I've had the non-pleasure of witnessing. Asking a woman how 'far along' she is—when she isn't pregnant. If you have to ask, go with something safe like, 'Do you have children?' Or make sure I'm out of earshot so I don't have to cohabitate the cringe grave with you. Stupid Bob to the non-pregnant girl: 'Wow! you look so regnant. When are you gonna pop that thing out?' It makes me want to shrivel up into a ball. Unless you are her doctor, and she is in front of you, in labor, avoid that question. Recap for memory: intentionally rude things people do Slurping and being a loud eater (with cultural exceptions). Commenting on someone's appearance or pointing out any abnormality. Interrogating a minority stranger's 'real' homeland. Being habitually late with no valid excuse. Asking a woman how far into her pregnancy she is. Solve the daily Crossword

4 in 10 Americans see Asian Americans as more loyal to their countries of origin than to the U.S., key survey finds

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INdulge: Chinese dish with surprising Hoosier ties is best thing I ate in Indy this week

5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do

5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do

4 in 10 Americans see Asian Americans as more loyal to their countries of origin than to the U.S., key survey finds

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INdulge: Chinese dish with surprising Hoosier ties is best thing I ate in Indy this week

5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do

5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do

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