Winner Announced for Debbie and Friends Kids Show in New York

Pin It Congratulations to the lucky winner of the Debbie and Friends Kids Show Giveaway…Kimberly from New York City! Kimberly wins a family four pack of tickets to watch the show in either New York City of Long Island. She will also win a Debbie and Friends CD.

Winner was chosen via Random.org. I will contact the winner via email and winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be picked.

Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who entered!

Addicted to Toys? Despite Weak Economy, Toy Spending Increased [Infographic]

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Kids love toys and parents love their kids. Perhaps this explains why even in a down economy in 2009-2010, sales of toys increased 2%. In this same period, families cut back on groceries and school supplies.

Are Americans addicted to toys? Less than 4% of the world's children live in the U.S., yet they consumed 40% of the toys worldwide. You decide. View these facts and more in this “Toying with the World” infographic below.

Inspire Your Little Gardener at the Philadelphia International Flower Show

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The Flower Show offers many
fun activities for children.
Photo courtesy of PHS

Have a little one interesting in gardening and want to encourage his curiosity? The 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show provides an ideal place to expose children to the fun of gardening. 

With the theme of “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha,” children of all ages can experience hands-on planting, flower arranging, Hawaii-inspired arts and crafts, and other eco-inspired activities in the Show’s Einstein Healthcare Network Family Lounge powered by Sprout on March 4-11. The Family Lounge, opened daily from 10 a. to 5 pm, includes games and videos as well as just a place to hang out when parents need a break.

In addition to gardening activities, the Show will be hosting a variety of other family-friendly events.

Beautiful orchids will be
plentiful at the Flower Show.
Photo courtesy of PHS

Meet Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
On March 4^th and 11^th from 2-5 pm, families visiting the lounge can meet The Lorax, the lovable character from Dr. Seuss’ book.

Special guests will read “The Lorax” on the two Sundays during the event:
* March 4^th – Read by WXPN Kids’ Corner host Kathy O’Connell
* March 11^th – Read by Lisa Nutter, wife of Philadelphia’s Mayor

Family Day
March 11th is Family Day and will feature a variety of fun activities for kids including lectures and demos, arts and crafts, and the opportunity to meet popular TV characters from Sprout TV and Universal Studios.

Girl Scout Day
Girl Scout Day also takes place on March 11th. Special ceremonies will honor all Girl Scouts who have completed the new Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) environmental patch program, “Planting Seeds, Growing Lives.” Visitors will also have the chance to purchase their favorite Girl Scout cookies.

The Flower Show's theme
celebrates Hawaiian flora
and fauna.
Image courtesy of PHS

Special Family Fun Pak Pricing
Families can take advantage of the Family Fun Pak which includes tickets for two adults and two children as well as a one-year membership with PHS for $70.

Advance tickets are available online at www.theflowershow.com.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you with support of the Philadelphia International Flower show. Find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Watch the Finding Nemo 3D Movie Trailer Here!

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Finding Nemo 3D - In theaters September 14, 2012
Image courtesy of Disney

The lovable fish from the Academy Award^®-winning Best Animated Feature “Finding Nemo” will be returning to theaters for the first time ever in Disney Digital 3D™. Though the movie won’t be released until September 14, 2012, you can preview the trailer here.

The new animated comedy continues the adventures of lovable characters such as overly-protective clownfish Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks), his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould), and their friendly-but-forgetful friend Pacific regal blue tang Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres).

 

Fun Facts from Pixar Animation Studios’ original “Finding Nemo” movie:

• “Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.
• The film won a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Musical or Comedy.
• At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time.
• Ellen DeGeneres won an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.
• In 2008, The American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made.
  
  

Lil’ Brainiac App Teaches Languages; Exclusive Download Code Here

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The Lil' Brainiac free app helps teach and stimulate young minds.
Photo: Lil' Brainiac

GetBonkers, a creator of mobile learning apps, announced its new Lil’ Brainiac language learning app for children this month. This free iPhone and iPad app is designed to help children learn languages faster whether a child is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner.

A cool and unique Lil’ Brainiac feature is its ability for parents or teachers to use their own voices or visuals when creating game packs. This personalization helps to create a stronger connection with children and may lead to a deeper understanding of the material. Parents can also download packs from hundreds of categories depending on what topics they wish to focus on such as languages, animals, foods, countries, and more.

When using the game board, children hear an audio clue, touch the corresponding picture, and then receive positive reinforcement as they learn. A variety of game packs covers a range of ages and skill levels from basic shapes and colors to advanced geography.

Lil’ Brainiac current languages include English and Spanish. Future game packs will include French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin.

EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD CODE

Bicultural Mama readers can utilize a special BANANA CODE to download free additional learning packs.

BANANA CODE:  biculturalmama

To use the BANANA CODE please download the free app from iTunes. Go to the settings page then click "More Games." After that screen, scroll to the bottom and touch the banana and now insert the promo code.

Let us know in the comments what you think about this app. Enjoy the free app!

Image: GetBonkers

About GetBonkers

GetBonkers, Inc. is creator of mobile learning apps for children. Emphasizing attention to individual learning style, GetBonkers is committed to making games that both stimulate the mind and entertain the soul. Visit them at www.getbonkers.com.

Disclosure: Author did not receive any compensation or free items for this post. All opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Join Hartlyn Kids Book Publisher’s Passport to Africa Twitter Party

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Hartlyn Kids is a unique independent book publisher dedicated to exposing children to cultures around the world through its line up of diverse books. The publisher is holding a ‘Passport to Africa Twitter Party’ to raise funds for a NEW children’s book about a country in Africa. The upcoming book will be the third in a series that travels the globe, one book at a time, through unique stories from people who live and create in the countries that are represented in their books.

Hartlyn Kids believes that everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story in their own words.  Their books empower writers and illustrators abroad, while putting diverse and culturally sensitive stories into the hands of young readers world wide.  Now, that’s something to celebrate!

Hartlyn Kids readers and supporters now have the chance to help this dream to become a reality!

I am honored to be co-hosting this important event along with several other mom bloggers who support raising globally-aware kids. Join us for some fun trivia about Africa, lively discussion and excellent prizes during this LIVE event on Twitter!  We’ll be talking multicultural life, travel and more, all while raising money for a great new project from Hartlyn Kids!  See you there!

Stay tuned during the Twitter party for special announcements about how you can help make the new Hartlyn Kids Africa book a reality!

PARTY DETAILS:

HOST: @mculturalfam

CO-HOSTS:

@HartlynKids

@MarocMama

@BiculturalMama

@WorldTravelMom

When: Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

What Time: From 9:00 PM to 10:30 PM EST

Where: Tweetgrid.com, Tweetchat.com, Twitter.com

Hashtag: #HKAfricaBook

Who to Follow: See host & co-hosts above.

RSVP: twtvite.com/HKAfricaBook

PRIZES:

One (1) $50 Amazon Gift Card from @HartlynKids

Three (3) Africa sticker book collection from @PutumayoMusic

One (1) The Africa Cookbook: Tastes of a Continent by Jessica B. Harris

One (1) World Travel Mom - E-book: “Mom’s Guide To Travel With Young Kids”

One (1) Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering from @shikokusue

One (1) @HartlynKids gift basket (Featuring India book, Philippines books & Hartlyn Kids passport)

*For a chance to win, you must RSVP, follow host/co-hosts and respond to giveaway questions.

LEARN MORE:

For more information visit: http://bit.ly/yUlesU

Donate to Hartlyn Kids’ IndieGoGo Fund!  http://bit.ly/vuzOQj

Take a Family Trip to Hawaii at the Philadelphia International Flower Show

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Beautiful orchids will be plentiful at the
Philadelphia International Flower Show.
Photo: flickr/pennhort

The Philadelphia International Flower Show is renowned as one of the largest flower shows in America. Produced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the show will feature the theme, “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha.” Taking place March 4-11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the event will showcase visually-stunning displays to entertain the whole family.

When guest first enter the Show floor, they will be greeted by an audio-visual Orchid Wave canopy complete with sea creatures. Visitors will then wander into a garden named after Pele, the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. Pele’s Garden features the tallest waterfall the Flower Show has ever erected that will intermittently turn to lava during dramatic multimedia presentations. 

The Tropical Immersion room showcases hundreds of flora and fauna including the largest displays of white orchids and anthiriums ever assembled in the Show’s history.

Families can also visit the floral competitions, world’s largest lettuce wall, free gardening lectures, hula, music and fire dancing performances, and a Family Lounge filled with children’s activities. After a long day, parents can relax in the “man cave” filled with all the trappings of a happy hideaway and sample the free wine and spirits tastings held daily.

Visitors will be greeted by an Orchid Wave canopy.
Image: GMR Design

Other family happenings include the Mothers and Daughters event on Friday, March 9th where participants can mingle and celebrate with the Philadelphia affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. 

Family Day takes place on the Sundays of the Show (March 4 & March 11) where kids can learn about gardening and meet Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” in the Family Lounge. 

Reservations are required for some events; please check theflowershow.com for details.

Pele's Garden will showcase Hawaiian flora and fauna.
Image: GMR Design

All ticket and sponsorship contribution proceeds from the Philadelphia International Flower Show will support The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and its urban greening programs, including City Harvest.

For tickets, directions, hours, and more information, please visit www.theflowershow.com.

This year's theme is "Hawaii: Islands of Aloha"
Image: theflowershow.com

Disclosure: This post is brought to you with support of the Philadelphia International Flower show. Find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Learning About Chinese New Year Traditions...It's Never Too Late

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My little girl at 11 months old dressed in traditional Chinese clothes.
Photo: Maria Adcock

MomsRising.org is celebrating the Year of the Dragon by a holding a Lunar New Year Blog Carnival. The editors of the site approached bloggers of Asian descent to write about their own Chinese New Year stories, all which are shared on its website.

I am honored to be in the company of many other Asian bloggers who I admire and follow. All of their stories are listed in the Blog Carnival. 

I wrote about how as a child I never totally understood (or cared) about the meaning behind Chinese New Year traditions. Now that I have my own child, I want to make sure I understand them so I can pass them on to her.

Read my article: It’s Never Too Late to Learn About Chinese New Year Traditions

Happy Year of the Dragon!

About MomsRising.org - MomsRising.org is an organization striving to bring awareness to important family issues on a cultural and legislative level, both locally and nationally. Please visit MomsRising.org for more information.

Can a Non-Celeb Win a Shorty Award?

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A few days ago, travel blogger Amberr Meadows (@amberrisme) graciously nominated me for a Shorty Award in the Mom category. I hadn’t heard of these awards, but if was based on how short you were, then at 5 feet, 0.75”, I may have a chance to win. 

In actuality, the Shorty Awards honor the best producers of short content on social media. Currently I am tied for 4^th place in my category. Sounds great...I’m within reach of the big win, right? Looking at the front runners, however, hope falters. Why? See for yourself.

Current Standings:

#1) Tish Cyrus – a.k.a. The mom of teen pop sensation, Miley Cyrus. Enough said.

#2) Denise Jonas – Heard of the teen pop group, the Jonas Brothers? Yep, she their mom.

#3) Britney Spears – Oh, look, a former teen pop singer. I’m seeing a trend.

#4) Soleil Moon Frye – Haven’t heard of her? I bet you remember the show Punky Brewster. Yes, Soleil is the former child actress who played Punky.

At least I’m tied with Punky Brewster. We both have about a dozen votes, and voting doesn’t end until February 17th. It's a tight race, my friends, though Miley Cyrus' mom is way, way ahead. But hey, I’m beating Katy Perry who is in 6^th place. Wait...Katy Perry? She isn’t even a mom, but I’m guessing she’ll rise to the top since she’s a pop singer.

Can a non-celeb actually win a Shorty Award? I doubt it - at least in the Mom category, but that’s okay and here’s why. There are about 4 million mom bloggers, and so many are deserving of acknowledgement. They don’t have millions of dollars or round-the-clock nannies, yet they’re able to make time in their busy schedules to write and engage in social media night after night. They write because blogging is their passion, and following that passion in itself is rewarding.

So I’d like to nominate my millions of fellow non-celeb moms for the Shorty Award...and the Best Mom Award, the Best Multitasker Award, and all the other things we do to raise our children. If you’re with me, “vote” here by leaving a comment.

Jessica Alba Launches Eco-Friendly Children’s Products Line with Home Delivery Service

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Maria Wen Adcock (@BiculturalMama) with Jessica Alba
at The Honest Company launch event in NYC.
Photo: flickr/momtrends1

Jessica Alba may be a movie star, but she’s first and foremost a mom. As the mother of 4 year old Honor and newborn Haven, Jessica encountered frustrations finding products for kids without questionable chemical ingredients. The alternatives she found were often expensive, inaccessible, bland, or ineffective.

Jessica took action to create safe, sustainable, convenient and affordable family essentials. Together with former Healthy Child Healthy World CEO dad Christopher Gavigan, and business partners ShoeDazzle.com founder Brian Lee and PriceGrabber.com executive Sean Kane, Jessica launched The Honest Company.

The Honest Company product line includes diapers, wipes, baby bath, skin care, and home cleaning products – all are chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, eco-friendly, and made from natural ingredients.

To celebrate the launch, Momtrends hosted an event on January 17th for select mom bloggers. Held at NYC’s trendy organic eatery ABC Kitchen, the event showcased The Honest Company’s stylish yet practical product line presented by co-founders Jessica and Christopher.

Stylish, eco-friendly and natural diapers
from The Honest Company.
Photo courtesy of The Honest Company

In a Q&A session, Jessica answered my question about how she decided to launch a kid’s product line versus something more glamorous like fashion. In addition to recognizing a need for these products, Jessica answered, “My passion are my kids…my nieces,” and so she naturally only considered working on a project related to children.

Jessica acknowledged how busy parents are, and as such The Honest Company provides convenience by delivering product to customers’ door steps.

How it works:

1) Simply sign up for a monthly subscription at Honest.com where customers can find product details and fun ways to engage with other parents.

2) Choose what to purchase and place items in a personalized online nursery. Parents can select diaper patterns, view new products, and access baby care advice.

3) Just sit back and relax – With an exceptional customer service team and fast shipping, members can be assured of receiving the highest quality care (satisfaction guaranteed).

The Honest Company cleaning products include hand soap,
surface cleaner, dish soap, auto dish detergent,
and laundry detergent.
Photo courtesy of The Honest Company

Parents can try a free Discovery Kit that includes samples of diapers and wipes, or trial-sized versions of the bath, skin and cleaning products. Members can purchase a monthly supply of diapers competitively priced at less than $20 a week and can also choose a monthly supply of the body care and home cleaning essentials for under $9 a week.

The Honest Company donates a portion of every dollar earned to its non-profit partner

Baby2Baby. This charitable organization supplies local families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for children up to age four.

For more information: Please visit Honest.com for product details and delivery service.

Momtrends founder Nicole Feliciano (center) with
The Honest Company co-founders Christopher Gavigan (left)
and Jessica Alba (right).
Photo: flickr/momtrends1

Disclosure: Author did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Author attended The Honest Company and Momtrends event and received a gift box. All opinions expressed are solely those of this author.

The Symbolism Behind Chinese New Year Foods

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Traditional Chinese New Year dishes include lobster and
chicken to represent the dragon and phoenix (good marriage).
Photo: flickr/megahammond

The Year of the Dragon begins January 23, 2012. Families celebrate for fifteen days to bring good luck, long life, and prosperity to the New Year. One of the most important and best parts of the celebration is the food. The Chinese greatly believe in symbolism, and each Chinese New Year dish represents something significant.

In raising my bicultural daughter, I want her to become familiar with her Chinese heritage. Though I do not know how to cook the traditional New Year’s dishes, my husband and I take my daughter to a Chinese restaurant on the first day of the holiday to celebrate with customary foods.

The multicourse Chinese New Year banquet dinners, traditionally served family-style, includes a wide range of delicious dishes. Here is a list of some of the most popular ones and their symbolic meanings.

Bamboo Shoots – Like many foods that are served because the Chinese word for it also means something else, the word for bamboo shoots in Chinese sounds like the phrase for "wishing everything would be well." As such, bamboo shoots are often included in stir fry dishes.

Dumplings represent wealth, so eat up!
Photo: flickr/jasonlam

Chicken – In Chinese culture, chicken forms part of the symbolism of the dragon and the phoenix (lobster is the dragon, chicken is the phoenix). Chicken represents a good marriage and the coming together of families. It’s important to serve the bird whole to highlight family unity.

Dried Bean Curd – Dried bean curd is dried tofu, and it has a unique yet pleasant texture. It is popular at New Years because the Chinese word for it symbolizes wealth and happiness.

Dumplings – Dumplings filled with pork or vegetables represent wealth because they are created in the shape of historical Chinese silver and gold ingots. Another version is round sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice; their sweetness symbolizes a sweet year and the round shape stands for family reunion.

Eggs – Eggs are dyed red for Chinese New Year as red is the color of good luck. Eggs represent fertility.

Fruit – Tangerines and Oranges – It’s common at Chinese New Year to see a plate full of tangerines and oranges. The Chinese word for tangerine sounds like luck, and the word for orange sounds nearly identical to the word for gold so oranges are eaten to promote wealth.

Long noodles equal long life, so don't break any noodles.
Photo: flickr/EdselL

Lobster – Lobsters, or dragons of the sea, symbolize a dragon food as part of the dragon and phoenix combination for a good marriage (see Chicken). Lobsters should be cooked and eaten whole to promote unity.

Noodles – Don’t break these noodles! The long noodles symbolize a long life and breaking a strand is considered unlucky.

Peking Duck – Famous for its crispy skin and succulent meat, this tasty dish represents fidelity.

Rice Cakes (nian gao) – These rice cakes are not the American version of crispy cardboard-like health snacks; Chinese rice cakes are chewy and cooked in a stir fry dish. The Chinese word for rice cakes, nian gao, is a homonym for “higher year” so that each year your family will have a little extra money and good health.

Seeds (lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc.) – The Chinese eat a wide variety of snacks including many with different types of seeds in them. Seeds represent bearing many children.

Shrimp – In Chinese, the word shrimp sounds like the word for laughter. Therefore, eating shrimp is associated with liveliness and happiness.

Sticky Rice Cake – Chinese New Year wouldn’t be complete without traditional sweet, steamed rice cakes. Their sweetness symbolizes a rich, sweet life, and the layers represent rising abundance for the coming year. The cake’s round shape signifies family reunion.

Keep that head and tail on for good luck!
Photo: flickr/stu_spivack

Whole Fish – Cooking and eating fish as a whole is very important to the Chinese. The whole fish symbolizes a good beginning and good ending to the new year. This dish is often served at the end of the meal as the Chinese character for fish is pronounced the same way as the character for abundance (extra good luck). Fish can be served steamed, sautéed, or fried.

Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year with lots of food, laughter, and good luck!

Learn about the Lantern Festival which marks the end of Chinese New Year >>  Miss Panda Chinese explains the traditions.

Toxic Chemicals Found in 85% of Baby Products Tested

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No parent would knowingly expose children to toxic chemicals, but some baby products manufacturers continue to sell products that emit harmful chemicals. In a new report by the Washington Toxics Coalition and released by Clean and Healthy New York, toxic chemicals were found in 85% of new baby and children’s products tested. Products included bassinet pads, car seats, changing pads, and nursing pillows.

The study revealed that the most common substance found was chlorinated Tris (TDCPP) which is associated with flame retardants. In the 1970’s, the government banned this chemical from children’s pajamas when it was found to cause genetic mutations. Some states such as California classify Tris as a carcinogen due to evidence linking it to neurotoxicity and hormone disruption.

If this chemical was banned decades ago because of known health hazards, why do manufacturers continue to put children at risk by producing products for babies and toddlers that emit these toxic substances?

Manufacturers have the ability to make children’s products without these dangerous chemicals as evidenced by several items that tested negative such as the Eddie Bauer Pop-up Booster Seat, Balboa Nursing Pillow, and First Years Co-Sleeper. Other companies known to exclude harmful chemicals include Boppy, Orbit Baby, and Baby Bjorn.

Image: Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition

 

The good news is that lawmakers are taking action. In Congress, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), would overhaul the 35-year old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). He is proposing a law that would require chemical companies to provide full information on health and safety before a chemical is allowed on the market. The law would also allow states to protect their residents with stronger standards.

Many states are passing their own laws such as the Tris-Free Children and Babies Act to address toxic threats as a respond to the failure of the federal law to regulate chemicals. In the last decade, 18 states have passed more than 70 laws to protect the public from harmful chemicals. 

Here in New York, children’s health advocates in the JustGreen Partnership organization are asking the New York State Legislature to expand last year’s Tris-free Children and Babies Act which banned TCEP (one form of Tris) in children’s products beginning January 1, 2013 to include TDCPP -- the similarly harmful and most widely used form. Senator Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo) and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) are sponsoring the legislation.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING FLAME RETARDANTS

Tips provided by the Washington Toxics Coalition

Toxic flame retardants are often used in polyurethane foam. Try to limit your family’s exposure to these dangerous chemicals to reduce health risks.

1.      When shopping for furniture, look for and ask about companies who avoid chemical flame retardants. Instead use naturally fire-resistant materials, such as wool.

2.      Avoid all products containing polyurethane foam with a label reading TB117, which means it has likely been treated with toxic flame retardants.

3.      Buy nursing pillows, car seats, and baby carriers made without Tris – better brands for baby items include Baby Bjorn, Orbit Baby, and Boppy.

4.      Because flame retardant chemicals accumulate in household dust, regularly use a wet mop to clean and remove dust particles and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean your home. This will keep dust from being inhaled or ingested.

5.      Wash hands, especially those of little children, often, to keep dust from attaching to food or fingers and being consumed.

6.      Don’t leave foam exposed. If a couch, seat cushion, or other product is damaged and has exposed foam, cover that foam with a patch.  Exposed foam can release toxic flame retardants more readily.

7.      Tell your legislators to support policies that will eliminate toxic flame retardants from consumer products, especially products intended for kids.   Even the most conscientious consumer can’t avoid every toxic chemical— which is why we need policies that eliminate these chemicals once and for all.

Manufacturers need to stop putting our most vulnerable and youngest ones at risk. It's time for them to change their ways and produce children's products free of toxic chemicals. Let's support our legislators and the organizations involved who strive to make these changes into a reality.
 

For more information:

Clean and Healthy New York, Inc. (CHNY) advances broad policy and market changes to promote safer chemicals, a sustainable economy and a healthier world. www.cleanhealthyny.org, www.facebook.com/CleanNYonFB or @Clean_bobbi

The JustGreen Partnership is a coalition of over 50 organizations working for environmental healthy and justice for New York’s people and communities.

www.just-green.org

The Washington Toxics Coalition is nonprofit organization that works to protect public health and the environment from toxic chemicals in Washington state. www.watoxics.org, www.facebook.com/watoxics or @WA_Toxics

Safer States (The State Alliance for Federal Reform (SAFER) of chemical policy) is a coalition of state-based organizations championing solutions to protect public health and communities from toxic chemicals. www.saferstates.org, www.facebook.com/saferstates or @SaferStates

Bringing Together Friends at Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor

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Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Photo: ZingermansRoadhouse.com

Over the New Year’s holiday, my family and I were able to make a quick trip to Michigan to visit my parents. One of my favorite towns is Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines (Go Blue!) as well as the location of a scrumptious eatery empire called Zingerman’s.

Zingerman’s opened its doors back in 1982 as a deli that served both traditional and contemporary sandwich creations. Its founders traveled all over the world, bringing back unique foods to add to its menu. When I had attended college in Ann Arbor many years ago, Zingerman’s was the “cool,” “hot,” and “It” place to go. That hasn’t changed.

Zingerman’s business boomed over the years with franchising opportunities abundant, but the owners made the decision to stay local to grow the community – something local residents appreciated. Today Zingerman’s runs seven food specialty businesses including the original deli, bakehouse, roadhouse, creamery, catering and events, coffee company, and candy manufactory. Zingerman’s also has a mail order and Zing Train business (consulting, seminars, and workshops).

During my stay in Michigan, friends suggested we meet at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, an eatery that opened in 2003.

One of the many outdoor whole hog BBQ grills.
Photo: Maria Adcock

The Roadhouse focuses on great American food such as grits from South Carolina, pork from Iowa family farms, local meat (beef, pork, lamb, goats), heirloom vegetables from Zingerman’s own Cornman Farms, artisan cheeses, and micro-brewed beers and wines from around the U.S. The Roadhouse also makes incredible versions of classics like macaroni and cheese, crab cakes (made with real Maryland jumbo lump blue crab), fried chicken, Carolina barbecue, and corn dogs. Bon Appétit even awarded this restaurant as one of its Top 10 New Barbeque Restaurants in its July 2009 issue.

At the Roadhouse, my two friends and their husbands joined me and my husband for lunch. We sat in the “outdoor eating area,” now enclosed and filled with heaters during the winter months. Just outside were several huge barbeque grills bellowing flavorful smoke.

Mike, my friend Kavitha’s husband, looked around our seated table and mentioned, “Hey, Maria, you write that Bicultural Mama blog. We’ve got bicultural people here. Why don’t you write about this?”

Indeed, we did have three bicultural couples. My friend Theresa was half Filipina, half Caucasian. My friend Kavitha was East Asian Indian, and I was Chinese. As such, the idea for this post – which combined my love of Zingerman’s, spending time with friends, and Bicultural Mama - was born.

Traffic Light Pork Sliders
Photo: Mike Celentino for Maria Adcock

We all tried the famous Zingerman’s macaroni and cheese, awarded Best Comfort Food in America on Alton Brown’s Food Network Show. The dish used aged Vermont cheddar, and chefs cooked each batch to order in cast iron skillets to create a nice caramelized crust. Melted cheese generously coated each piece of pasta and the crunch of the skillet crust added a nice texture against the tenderness of the noodles.

Many friends at the table also chose the Traffic Light Pulled Pork Sliders, a sampling of three mini onion rolls filled with meat from the Roadhouse’s whole hog barbeques. Sauces included the red rage tomato BBQ, South Carolina mustard BBQ, and Southwest green tomato BBQ. The sliders were served with mustard slaw and twice-cooked fries. The people who ordered these raved about the melt-in-your-mouth pork and full-flavored sauces.

After much good food and conversation, we took a group picture to remember our time together. Thanks, Mike, for suggesting I write this post, and thanks, Zingerman’s, for bringing together good friends.

Fun times with good friends at Zingerman's Roadhouse.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Zingerman’s Roadhouse

2501 Jackson Road
Ann Arbor , MI 48103

734.663.FOOD (3663)

http://www.zingermansroadhouse.com

Disclosure: Author received no compensation or gifts for this post. Author just enjoyed a great lunch with good friends. All opinions expressed are solely those of the author.