Did you want to yell and rant when the whole Mahjong Line thing surfaced? Were you confused about the situation and why people called it an act of cultural appropriation? In this episode of Banchan!, Pauline and Christina break down how The Mahjong Line's "revamp" of mahjong constitutes a classic case of racist cultural appropriation and why calling it "cultural appreciation" in this instance just ISN'T IT. Also, did you know that mahjong is food culture? We talk about the broader culture that surrounds mahjong before delivering some local food news in Seattle. 

Links and articles mentioned can be found at our podcast page on divergingmag.com 

Is there anything as beautiful as watching the birth of a donut? Not according to Thomas! For this holiday season, celebrate the birth of a holy child with a scrumptious holey dessert. In this episode, we talk about why it’s spelled ‘donut’ and ‘doughnut’, highlight its Asian American history, and share some of our favorite spots in Seattle.

What makes a potato chip a chip, and how is it different from a crisp? What are some of the best potato chips you can buy from your local chain supermarket? This month, we dive deep into the bottom of multiple bags of potato chips to find our answers. Melie Ros (she/her, they/them) joins us on this episode, in which we taste test each person’s favorite potato chip, muse over the chip’s true nature, and indulge in every loud and delicious *crrrooonnnchhh* possible.

SPAAC SNACC now comes with Banchan! – a new minisoda series where we provide commentary on the drama in social media food discourse and dig deeper into conversations on food, identity, and social justice. We will also be using this space to share news on the food scene in Seattle, where we're based. 

This inaugural episode is a special double feature. In the first segment, Pauline and Christina talk about the Twitter storm that brewed over Hainan Chicken Rice,  and bid sad farewells to a beloved restaurant in Capitol Hill before dishing on some newcomers to the International District. Jenny and Thomas round off the episode with a thoughtful, reflective segment on voting and the elections that are happening as we speak. 

Post-show notes: 

Echoing the gravity of our times, SPAAC SNACC takes a deep dive into what we’re eating and what’s eating us in this episode. We discuss consumerism, the possibility for a theology of food, and how what we consume in the media reflects our desires, fears, and thoughts about ourselves in relation to the divine.

How do you take care of yourself in a pandemic? Special guest and SPAAC mod Tim brought their thoughts about self-care, which includes food and more food. We ponder how food relates to our self-care and also ask other very serious questions like: "Is pooping self-care?" “Is food just pre-poop?” "Could we have talked any more about healthy bowel movements?" (But really, we care about your gut health. Probiotics are awesome!)

Note: We are still working out some audio difficulties, so we recommend listening with speakers instead of headphones, if possible!

Season 2 of SPAAC SNACC kicks off in the “2020-iest” fashion – the SNACCs gather around a warm and bright Google Meet call with some delicious, easily prepared meals from their freezers as they rage about life. From poorly moderated Facebook groups to the current administration failing to protect international students, the SNACCs’ heat on this call might be all that they need to cook their meals. 

The SNACCs talk about an assortment of things that might trigger listeners. They ask that you take care of yourselves, drink water, and know that your rage is holy.

Washington state is still observing shelter in place, and over the past couple months, many of us have been staying connected through video calls. Inspired by this community building, the SNACCs called a couple members of Seattle PAAC who haven’t yet been on the podcast.

First up, Pauline called Kenji Fujinaka, and they talked about “procrasti-baking” and the experience that brought Kenji to SPAAC. Then Christina spoke with Katya Nemec about her upbringing in Asia, the complexities of her identity and how it has shifted in different contexts in the US, as well as what is bringing her joy during the lockdown.

Thank you to Kenji and Katya for joining us on the podcast!

[cw: body image; please note that the slurs of ‘banana’ and ‘coconut’ appear in this minisoda]

What are new ‘norms’ that you want to continue after this pandemic? For Mickey, it’s making sure to spend more time with his family. On this quarantine minisoda, Mickey invites his younger brother Jonathan to share a spoken word poem about decolonizing his racial identity. The brothers talk about Jon's journey, art, being brown, their upbringing, and their hopes for the future.

Additionally, Mickey has an announcements for you snaccs! We hope that you are keeping safe and are doing well. We wish you health and peace in these uncertain times. We are here for you!

[loud slurping noises]

Ah, instant noodles on a cold day ... and when you're practicing social distancing? The stores might be out of instant ramen but we found some noodles to slurp up with our third minisoda. Christina and Pauline dive into all things coronavirus, whether we're thinking about past epidemics in Asia or what the situation is like now in the US. Featuring brief homages to therapy and pizza, as you do. Stay safe out there.

A thing we didn't mention is that we believe in tipping restaurant staff well! It's ridiculous that they're not paid well enough and have to rely on tips. So if you're at a restaurant in a culture that tips, please do! Especially now because in Seattle, where restaurants can only do take out, business has nosedived and restaurants need your help!