In all my four years at Emory University, I can confidently say that my favorite event has been the CUSO Asian Night Market! Hosted on McDonough Field, the market had over 20 different food stalls and an array of activities like carnival games, art performances, and photo booths. Of course, I went to the event with one sole purpose: to try as many different dishes as possible! Below are a few of my favorite dishes that I highly recommend you all try.
#1: Bao Buns
The Bao Buns from Baolicious were definitely on the top of my favorites list! We tried one of the matcha Thai basil chicken and one of the black sesame beef bulgogi. The fillings were so flavorful, and the buns themselves were pillowy and soft. It was the perfect start to my night at the market.
#2: Samosas
The second dish we tried was these incredibly flaky and delicious samosas from NaanStop. This South Asian pastry was filled with perfectly seasoned potatoes and vegetables and was paired with a sweet and spicy combination of sauces.
#3: Onigiri
If you haven’t tried an onigiri before, it is a traditional Japanese rice ball that is shaped into a triangle and enveloped by an outside layer of seaweed. The Musubee stand offered three different types of onigiri flavors: salmon, tuna, and veggie curry. We went for the salmon option, which was the perfect salty snack before our main course tastings.
#4: Vietnamese Tapioca Dumplings and Sticky Rice
Our next stop was the Ba + Me food stand that offered two Vietnamese dishes. The first was Bánh bột lọc, a chewy tapioca dumpling filled with shrimp and pork belly and wrapped in a banana leaf. I absolutely loved the texture of this dumpling and the combination of proteins paired surprisingly well!
The second dish was xôi mặn, a sticky rice bowl with Chinese sausage, pork floss, fried shallots, and scallion oil. As you can see in the picture above, this dish was both visually stunning and incorporated a wide variety of ingredients that I had never paired together before.
#5: Pad See Ew
Just looking at these pictures makes me crave this dish. Commonly eaten in Thailand, Pad See Ew is a stir-fried noodle plate, typically made with chicken and broccoli. Surprisingly, the most complex part of this recipe is the sauce, which requires more than five different components to make.
#6: Mochi Donuts
If you haven’t already noticed, I absolutely love a chewy tapioca consistency, and this Mochi Donut from Mochibees is the perfect dessert if you’re looking for that type of texture. We tried the honeydew flavor which was so unique and unlike any other cake-like sweet I’ve had before.
#7: Jalebi
Last but not least, we tried Jalebi: a traditional Pakistani dessert made from maida flour, saffron, ghee, and sugar. Although they look like they might have a jelly-like consistency, these sweet treats had a crunchy shell with a soft interior paste. They were the perfect ending note for our amazing night with CUSO.
Final Thoughts
Events like the CUSO Night Market are the perfect way to share a wide array of cultures through the blending of different foods and culinary traditions. Not only did CUSO do an incredible job at planning the entire night, but they also created a welcoming environment for people to learn more about Asian cuisines with fellow Emory students.
I am honored to write my last article for Spoon University on this amazing event, and I truly feel like this has been one of the best (if not the best) programs I’ve attended at Emory. I urge you all to go next year, and maybe I’ll even fly in for it myself…