Sarah’s Dumps Honors AAPI With Special Culinary Event in Charleston
Collaborative celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
On May 29, a collaborative celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage will take place at the Counter Culture Training Center. Encompassing a range of AAPI heritage chefs, designers, and artists, the event spotlights Korean and Filipino cuisine by distinguished Charleston-based culinary ventures Sarah’s Dumps and Bok Choy Boy.
This special experience blending education and enjoyment includes a class and dinner from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event permit only 14 seats, priced at $150 each, envisaging an intimate setting for participants to relish in the rich culture and services of AAPI heritage.
Building Community through Collaboration
“It’s important to collaborate and do something together where multiple people can be involved and garner the attention, follow and really showcase their stories and art — whatever form that comes in,” articulated Sarah Williams-Scalise, co-founder of Sarah’s Dumps.
Williams-Scalise, adopted from South Korea in 1988, initiated Sarah’s Dumps with husband Nate in 2019 to share their love of Korean dumplings, or ‘mandu’ in Korean. By holding monthly classes and pop-ups, they have been successful in engaging the Charleston community in a unique way and presenting a slice of Korean culture.
Event Highlights
Entering through the bar area, guests prepare their own beverages and unwind over snacks. Subsequently, the participants, which include Sarah’s Dumps, Bok Choy Boy’s owner Setrini Sinson, and the founder of Studio Sontosis & Floral Studies Sonny Sontosis, will narrate their personal heritage stories and discuss how they have influenced their businesses.
In the precisely arranged and elegantly lit dining area, attendees will delve into the art of hand-wrapping pork and beef mandu under Williams-Scalise’s guidance, and discover the intricacies of rolling and pinching Filipino sweet bun ‘siopao’ with Sinson. Supplementing the primary courses will be additional sides and a surprise ice cream treat from Life Raft by Cynthia Wong.
Emphasizing the aim of the event, Sarah Williams-Scalise stated, “We want to foster conversation within more of an intimate setting. Hopefully, people that come have stories they’re willing to share, are open to connecting with everyone in the room and come face to face with AAPI Heritage whether that’s their personal experience or questions they have for us.”
What’s Included with the Tickets?
Tickets for the event include a pair of stainless steel chopsticks, a small rolling pin, a handmade cup, and follow-up email containing recipes from the class. Those interested in experiencing this special tribute to AAPI heritage can find more information and purchase tickets at Sarah’s Dumps’ online portal.
