AsiaTown Cleveland is home to many cultures from throughout Asia and the world. Here you will find a sampling of these cultures. Come visit the neighborhood for more.
Known to be charismatic, hardworking, industrious, eloquent and sociable.
The rat can also be selfish, dictatorial and a schemer.
(1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)
Calm, dependable, modest, but also stubborn.
(1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009)
The tiger is rebellious, powerful and passionate, affectionate and generous. The tiger can also be reckless and impatient.
(1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)
Gracious kind and reserved, the rabbit can also display traits of moodiness and detachment while being opportunistic.
(1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)
The dragon is strong, self-assured and proud which to the extreme can become tyrannical and outright arrogance.
(1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)
A mystic deep thinker that is often soft spoken the snake can be a loner, bad communicator that also displays hedonistic qualities.
(1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)
Quick witted, perceptive and agile both physically and mentally, the horse can be stubborn and lack perseverance.
(1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)
Mild mannered, creative and gentle which can lead to indecisiveness, over-sensitive and pessimistic qualities.
(1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)
The monkey is an innovative and flexible problem solver that can be egotistical and vain.
(1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)
A self-assured perfectionist that can be overly critical and out-spoken.
(1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Those born in the Year of the Dog can be honest and intelligent that but also cold and lazy.
(1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Honest, persevering and sturdy those born in the Year of the Pig can be naive and over-reliant.
(1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
According to Chinese folklore, the animals fought over which animal would be
the head of the cycle of years. It is said that the Gods were asked to decided
and a contest was held in which the first animal across the river would be first
in the cycle and each animal would receive their spot based on what place they
were in crossing the river.
The ox was winning but did not know the rat was riding on his back. As the ox
was about to finish the rat jumped off and won the race and becoming the head
of the cycle. The ox finished second. The pig, known for laziness, finished last.
Another important aspect of the Chinese Zodiac is its relationship to the
five elements of metal, wood, fire, water, and earth. The five elements give
the Chinese zodiac animals their characteristics. One animal represents one
year in the cycle and is paired with an element. This creates 60 pairings that
means there is actually 60 years in a cycle.
Of course, there is much more to this story, for more information on the zodiac
and its importance to Chinese culture please visit the many cultural institutions
dedicated to Chinese and Asian heritage.
So there you are sitting in the restaurant with carts of delectable food zipping by and no idea what it is. Well, you are most likely in one of the wonderful Chinese restaurants located in AsiaTown Cleveland and what you are witnessing is the serving of Dim Sum.
Dim Sum is translated to mean "touch the heart" and the name is used to refer to the small plates of food that is served all day in traditional Chinese restaurants. Dim Sum is usually enjoyed with tea and tea is considered an integral part of the dining experience. The Cantonese generally refer to Dim Sum as Yum Cha (drink tea). It is believed that teahouses were established along the silk road to serve hungry travelers as well as rural farmers.
Dim Sum dishes number into the dozens and include seafood and pork rolls.
So make sure to check out one of the fine Chinese establishments in the neighborhood and try out the wide array of offerings on the Dim Sum cart. Don't forget the tea.
For more information, try these websites:
wikipedia.org chinesefood.about.com
Pho
Have you tried this traditional Vietnamese rice- noodle soup?
If the answer is no, then you need to come to Superior Avenue in AsiaTown Cleveland. Generally speaking, pho is white rice noodles in a clear beef broth with slices of beef in it. However, pho has many variations and in AsiaTown can be had vegetarian, chicken and many other ways. There are two restaurants to choose from practically next door to each other serving the Vietnamese specialty.
#1 Pho sits on the corner of East 31st and Superior Avenue and is a favorite spot for lunch meetings and the downtown lunch crowd. Housed in a lovingly restored building, the outside matches the great food and atmosphere found inside.
Tucked into the hallway of an arcade-like building at 3030 Superior Avenue is Superior Pho. This is truly a hidden gem of AsiaTown and once found the food does not disappoint. A no-frills set-up keeps the focus squarely on the great food.
So what are you waiting for? Come to AsiaTown, try the pho, and while you are at it, visit other restaurants, markets and shops. You won’t leave disappointed.
