Cooks teach about Japanese food

For those who've grown sick of Gresham Food Court's take on Asian cuisine or are looking to expand their recipe repertoire, wander down to the Asian Culture Center this Friday for a crash course in Japanese cooking. Not only will tasty tucker be provided free of charge, but attendees can also learn about Japanese culture.\nThe ACC is sponsoring a Japanese cooking demonstration at 5 p.m. Friday at the ACC, located at 807 E. 10th St. It is free to those interested in discovering the art of Asian cuisine beyond their nightly bowl of ramen noodles. \nKeiko Nolan and her sister, Noriko Aranaki, will teach attendees how to cook a "typical" Japanese feast of sushi, nithuke (seven seasoned vegetables served with Thai chicken), Chinese cabbage with baby shrimp and pickled radish. \nNolan, who recently retired from owning her own interior design business in Indianapolis, is hosting her first cooking demonstration at the ACC. She experienced cooking many different culinary creations after living in North Korea and Japan but isn't certain how she picked up this talent.\n"You'll pick up cooking if you have to eat," she said.\nIn addition to creating dishes by Nolan and Aranaki, you can also bring your own Asian-influenced recipes to share, providing opportunities for participants of different backgrounds to reveal their diverse upbringings.\n"Food shows culture, no matter whether it is from the West or the East," said Babita Upadhyay, program and administrative assistant at the ACC. "Through Asian cuisine we show Asian diversity."\nEach month, the ACC offers mouth-watering lessons from all over Asia. In the coming months, the ACC will feature demonstrations on traditional Korean and Indian fares, expanding Hoosiers' appreciation for traditional Eastern sustenance. \nThe class is not only open to IU students and faculty, but also to the Bloomington community and anyone else who is interested. \n"(It's for) people who want to know more about other cultures, know more about other countries and the reasons behind their celebrations," said Upadhyay.\nTo test your flair for fodder, register by calling 856-5361 or e-mailing acc@indiana.edu.