家: Family!

Taiwan Roots. 

Before launching into more food journeys: a few family introductions. On Dad's side of the family, there are deep roots in Taiwan.  

These are my Ah-ma or Grandmother (Yu Jiaojiao e) and Ah-gong or Grandfather (Yu Qingdong). The family is considered 本省人, benshengren or a longtime Taiwanese family. 

My grandfather was a rice scientist in the 1930s-50s and very well regarded by local farmers, whom he helped with cross-pollinating to improve local strains. Dad has childhood memories of farmers bringing so many gifts at holiday time the family didn't know where to put them!  

The above photos of Ah-Gong and Ah-ma are from the early 1960s when Dad immigrated to the US; he carefully kept these photos in a little red leatherette notebook.  

Dad (Jiunn Shang Yu) and his siblings and friends grew up in Taichung, in a time when agriculture was a major way of life. He is in the middle of this group photo from around 1954. Note the man planting rice in a paddy in the background.

Bridging to the USA.

Mom (Terry Yu) and Dad met in New York City and were married in 1963 in Memphis, Tennessee. Interracial marriage was illegal in most southern states back then...let alone half Asian kids like us...

Dad in Ohio, c. 1964, carving up a Christmas chicken. He and Mom swapped cooking styles and it was normal in our house for Taiwanese, Japanese, and American recipes to alternate on the dinner table. 

 

A blended household.

Mom, my little sister San, our Ah-ma, and myself holding Goggles. This photo was taken in 1973, our sister Bea Hsiao is technically in the picture as Mom was pregnant with her at the time! Ah-ma brought a huge battle-scarred wok in its own suitcase, and whipped up wonderful Taiwanese dishes. Three Cup Chicken, which I'll talk about later, was one of her go-to's.

Mom and Bea-Hsiao, around 1994.

Bea was raised part-time by Ah-ma during her first year, while Mom was in law school. Ah-ma used to hold her on her lap while powdering her nose and otherwise making herself beautiful, and Bea tried to imitate her. Ah-ma returned to Taiwan in 1974 and sadly, we never saw her again.  

Jiao-Jiao e's food knowledge and skill set the stage for my hungry appreciation of Asian food for years to come!