Heritage: Asian & Pacific Islander

Sacramento

They called California Gum San, "Gold Mountain," and like many Forty-Niners, hundreds of Chinese came to the Sacramento area in the mid-1800s in search of riches. After the gold ran out, many stayed to work as merchants, cooks, farmers or laborers, helping to build the Transcontinental Railroad and reclaiming delta land. In spite of prejudice and restrictive regulations, Chinese thrived. Learn about the early Chinese at the Discover Museum History Center, which unveils its newest exhibit, "The Chinese in the Gold Rush," this fall. Locke, built in 1915 just south of Sacramento, is the only town in America built exclusively by the Chinese. Today the town is a living historical monument. A walking tour takes you though Locke's historic main street, lined with quaint wood-framed buildings, to the Dai Loy Museum.

Sacramento's small but vital Japantown in the west end never recovered following World War II, when Californians of Japanese decent were forced out of their homes and businesses. While about half of the residents returned, redevelopment by the city made it impossible to rebuild. However, a strong sense of Japanese American heritage survives here, in the annual Japanese Food and Cultural Bazaar on August 14-15, which has been sponsored by the Sacramento Buddhist Church since 1947.

With approximately 19 percent of Sacramento residents of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage, you're sure to find festivities celebrating just about every Asian culture throughout the year, from Chinese New Year to the Hmong New Year, an annual festival that marks the end of harvest and beginning of the new year. The Asian Pacific Rim Street Fest on May 23 is a lively cultural collaboration of many Asian organizations: Hmong, Korean, Chinese and Philippine.

For an enriching nightlife treat, catch a play written by such prominent Asian playwrights as David Henry Hwang at InterACT, a local theater company that enlightens the community with performances exploring issues and stories about Asian Americans.

Try an authentic traditional or Asian Fusion meat at one of Sacramento's many Asian restaurants. The Fat Family has been in the resturant business for over 50 years, and its Sacramento restaurants, including the original, Frank Fat's, owe their popularity as much to their distinctive décor as to their traditional and contemporary Chinese cooking.

If it's Japanese food you crave, Mikuni Japanese Resturant & Sushi Bar boasts the region's largest sushi bar. Nishiki Sushi offers live seafood and an elegant setting; Taka's Sushi specializes in California style; and Zen Torro, traditional dishes with regional influences. Specializing in Thai cuisine, Amarin Thai Cuisine offers tasty and healthy vegetarian meals and Thai Basil is known for its fresh mint, spice and lime flavors. For East Indian cuisine, visit Mother India. And for Vietnamese food, try Andy Nguyen's vegetarian dishes or trendy Lemon Grass, whose chef, Mai Pham has also published Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table.

Highlights