Asian restaurants have been in St. Louis for generations and are some of the most popular spots around, but Shayn Prapaisilp, owner of Chao Baan restaurant and of King & I, wants people to recognize there is still racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans. That’s why his restaurants and thirteen others have grouped together to fundraise for the Very Asian Foundation, founded by news anchor Michelle Li after a racist voicemail was left for her following a news segment.
St. Louisans can dine at one – or more – of the fifteen restaurants on February 7 through February 14, selecting a menu item that will then give a portion to the foundation. Prapaisilp and Asian American Chamber of Commerce St. Louis President Alex Lee thought of the idea after seeing Li on and got to work on finding a way to help fundraise since the foundation is so new.
“We have a lot of restaurant owners that are also members of the Asian chamber, and we thought ‘Let’s all band together in our own way,’” Prapaisilp says in an interview with the . “We gathered a lot of Asian restaurants here in St. Louis, and word kind of spread. It is so great to see everyone super enthusiastic about wanting to participate.”
The Very Asian Foundation was started by Li after she received a racist voicemail about a 30-second news segment on what different cultures eat on New Year’s Day. Li had mentioned she ate dumplings, a Korean tradition. The woman, in her voicemail, told Li she should “keep her Korean to herself.”
Li recorded herself listening to the voicemail and posted it on social media, which in turn got #VeryAsian trending. Since the trending topic, Li has been on Ellen, started the foundation and sold t-shirts in order to raise money. The Very Asian Foundation is “committed to amplifying diverse AAPI voices through education, storytelling, and community connection,” according to its website.
“At a time when the rate of anti-Asian hate crimes are increasing, it is important to learn from and connect with the AAPI community,” Lee says in a press release. “After Michelle’s experience, and an outpouring of support including an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, we knew that there was more to do. It’s incredible how a hateful reaction has spurred action to create a foundation that spreads awareness, education and empowerment to stand up against hate.”
The fundraiser coincides with Lunar New Year celebrations, a way for food to serve as a vehicle and what Prapaislip says the restaurants are “excited to share our food and culture during this festive time of year.”
“Nobody should ever be attacked for sharing details about their culture. If everyone took the time to learn about others, we would have more compassion, respect, and care for one another,” Prapaisilp says. “Our hope through this fundraiser is that members of the St. Louis community can stand in solidarity, while learning about AAPI culture through food – whether that be traditional dumplings or any of the other amazing offerings from our partners.”
Here are the list of participating restaurants and the dishes you can purchase to support the foundation, according to the press release:
