The first Asian “Feastival” will be held September 6, 2010, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton LaGuardia East, 135-20 – 39th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354. The event is designed to showcase the best of authentic Asian cuisines in the borough of Queens. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Food Bank For New York City and City Harvest.

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By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

MINNEAPOLIS (June 21, 2010) – When Diana Nguyen started her first Tea Garden in the Uptown neighborhood of Hennepin Avenue in 2002, they wanted to offer a popular destination alternative to coffee shops as a bubble tea café that also offers more than 60 organic, fair-trade teas from around the world.

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The City of Saint Paul announced on June 14, 2010 the formation of a new joint Saint Paul – Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission. The Commission is designed to be a forum for public and private stakeholders to assess the operation of local food systems. They will suggest policies, share information and develop strategies to increase access to affordable and nutritious foods.  The Commission will create an action plan for a sustainable system that increases production, distribution and consumption of healthy, local food.

The Commission will discuss topics such as hunger, nutrition, food-related illness, community and backyard gardening, farmers markets, culturally-specific food availability, transportation for distributing and obtaining food, food access and security and environmental concerns related to food systems.

According to Saint Paul City Councilmember Russ Stark, “The Food and Nutrition Commission will be a great way to elevate the level of discussion and planning for a strong local food system in the City. Non-profits and community members are doing lots of good work already to improve access to local food and the Commission will help identify ways for the City to support this work.”

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Hung Tran, co owner of Hoàng Thiên Y Deli in St. Paul. (AAP staff photo by Tom LaVenture)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL (March 27, 2010) – The Hoàng Thiên Y has opened a second location at 371 University Avenue in St Paul.

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By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL (January 22, 2010) – Since taking over the Lagoon Restaurant last September, new owners Kia Her and Kale Pham have given the longtime Capitol area fixture at 540 Rice Street, St. Paul a whole new look.

Lagoon is known as an authentic Vietnamese restaurant that also carries an American Chinese menu. The original owners, the Dang family, were known for their popular Hot & Spicy Chicken. Pham said that customers missed the dish and that it had not been recreated by successive owners over the past few years.

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