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Asian Food Markets presents ‘Asian Food Celebration’ to Mark Fourth Anniversary
Nearly 20 vendors to offer free food samples July 17-18
STATEN ISLAND n Jonathan Chan wants to say “thank you” and help you explore something new.
That’s why on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, the Asian Food Markets of Staten Island (1801 South Avenue, Staten Island) will present “An Asian Food Celebration n a Summer Asian Food Festival.”
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days, nearly 20 vendors will offer free food samples throughout the store. (Contact the store at 718-698-8898. Find them on the web at AsianFoodMarkets.com.)
“We want to show our appreciation to our customers and friends for four years of success in our Staten Island supermarket,” said Chan, president of the Asian Food Markets supermarket chain. “So we’re creating a special Asian food festival just for them.”
“An Asian Food Celebration” will give shoppers an opportunity to taste new foods from the wide variety of Asian cuisines from all over China, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.
“Most shoppers are creatures of habit,” said Chan. “They find something they like and they keep on buying it. If they see something new, they might be afraid they won’t like it and won’t eat it. In this economy, they are afraid of spending money on a new food.
“Our Summer Asian Food Festival makes trying new foods risk free,” he explained. “If something looks interesting, try it. If you like it, buy it. It will be on sale. If you don’t like it. Now, you know. And move on to the next sampling table. This is our way of saying thank you n by sharing traditional Asian tastes with people who might be unfamiliar with our food.”
Some of the items expected to be offered for sampling at tables around the store include: Soy milk, several kinds of fresh tofu from a local manufacturer, several kinds of curry served with tofu, special Japanese unsweetened green ice tea, Lee Kum Kee sauces, aloe vera drink, Vietnamese Yeo’s drink, Gold Chicken rice noodles, Nongshin rice noodle soup, and Korean cold noodles. There will also be bubble milk tea, organic tea drinks and fresh cold fruit plus fresh authentic Asian buns made in the store’s bakery.
“An Asian Food Celebration” is another effort by the Asian Food Markets supermarkets to reach beyond its traditional Asian customers. Earlier this year, the Piscataway store offered an Asian Food Fair and a Chinese New Year’s Education Campaign. Nine posters explained culinary traditions and rituals of the New Year and Spring Festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar. From long noodles, dumplings and red envelopes to fish, oranges and sticky cake, shoppers had the opportunity to learn about the celebration of the holiday. Other food festivals have been held recently in North Plainfield, Cherry Hill and Plainsboro.
The Asian Food Markets, founded in 1992, has full service supermarkets in Piscataway, North Plainfield, Middletown, Plainsboro, Cherry Hill and Staten Island. The chain is known for its wide selection of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, live and fresh fish, fresh meat, fresh poultry, fresh baked goods and Asian specialty products from many regions of China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and India. The stores also offer authentic fresh, hot Chinese dishes, ready for takeout.
“For nearly two decades, we have been popular with the Asian communities, but a well kept secret for everybody else,” Chan said. “That’s why we’re reaching out to the community at large. We’re not just a good Asian supermarket. We’re a quality supermarket that specializes in Asian products. That’s why we are offering our “Asian Food Celebration.”
Photo caption: A shopper learns about bubble milk tea during a food tasting at a branch of The Asian Food Markets. The supermarket at 1801 South Avenue, Staten Island (718-698-8898, AsianFoodMarkets.com) will offer “An Asian Food Celebration n a Summer Asian Food Festival” Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nearly 20 vendors will offer free food samples.
