Life

Happy New Year From The Museum of Food And Drink! MOFAD Chow!

What better way to celebrate Lunar New Year than to take my half Chinese daughter to an edible exhibit all about Chinese food at the Museum of Food and Drink!  I’ve never been to a museum that offered a sniff and taste test so I was excited to trek to Brooklyn and check it out.   .

Juliet is always game for a mommy and me adventure and is no stranger to museums.  And she liked the sound of getting to eat her way through this one!

The most spectacular sight there was an interactive curtain of Chinese take out boxes.  Each box symbolized 7 of the 50,000 Chinese restaurants in the US!

It was impossible to resist walking through the curtains.

Juliet did this at least 100 times!

At this limited-time-only exhibit, we were reminded of Chinese immigration history, learned about the secrets behind “velveting,” (a cooking technique I’m going to have to incorporate now) and tested our senses.  Apparently Juliet is not a fan of the smell of coffee!

The most scent-sational exhibit for us however, was the tantalizing fortune-cookie-making machine which continuously offered treats to all the visiting guests and filled the entire museum with its sweet, baked scent.

Each colorful fortune was thoughtfully created by the public who were invited to invent their own fortunes via social media or through the interactive station found at the museum.  How cool is this??

Another tasty treat was found at the cooking demonstration where we watched as a friendly chef replicated Chef Irene Li from Mei Mei Restaurant / Mei Mei Street Kitchen’s Kung Pao chicken.

Too bad he in full performance mode, flipped the chicken so high in the air that it splattered and fell all over my Chanel purse haha!

I learned so much about the evolution of the Chinese American restaurant’s 170 year history in the form of menu timelines, first dish originations, ingredient and sauce formations and secret cooking techniques i.e. “velveting.”

As “New York City’s first food museum, MOFAD seeks to advance the public understanding of the culture, history, science, production, and commerce of food and drink. Our exhibition allow(s) students to see, smell, touch, and explore while learning about different cuisines. Our multi-sensory approach to learning uses food as a lens to understand our world.”  It was such a fun, educational, and memorable way to celebrate Lunar New Year!

Check it out before the end of February.  (tofu and crab sauce is served at their culinary studio in February).

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• review the hours, they are not the usual museum hours and start at 12noon on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays!
• same-day tickets cannot be bought after 4pm.
• Use code Groups10 at checkout for groups of 10 or more to receive $1 off each entry.
• Lyft, Via and Uber can all take Manhattanites there (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
• If you want to subway it there, MOFAD is still 8blocks away from the nearest (L) train.
• There is a complimentary (unsecured) coat and stroller storage area

MOFAD Lab
62 Bayard Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 387-2845
mofad.org 

 

Pip’s Island, an Immersive, Theatrical Performance Like No Other!

Love theater but afraid your kids won’t sit still long enough to make the ticket purchase worthwhile?  Or have you been there done that and are now looking for something new?  Even the most jaded New Yorker is sure to find Pip’s Island, a new interactive, theatrical production playing in Chelsea for a limited time only, exciting and new.  Forget the traditional stage and seating.  No, think total immersion and exploration!  It’s an hour-long adventure led by  Pip and his pals, Pebble and Finn.  And it’s a NY performance that your kids won’t want to miss!

It all starts with the invitation to try on special explorer vests.  Getting costumed up is something all kids seem to enjoy and this helps build anticipation for what awaits.

I tried to explain to my 3.5 year old that these safari – like jackets were going to help us get in the mood for our little adventure.  But I honestly had very little idea of what to expect.  Their whimsical website was certainly intriguing though and knew I was in for an experience like no other.   “Incorporating the latest curriculum guidelines and play trends, Pip’s Island is guaranteed to empower its audience through sheer wonder.”

We were given a brief overview of our mission which was basically to to help solve a mystery and fight off the villain.  The story line without going into full detail will bring out the inner superhero in kids of all ages.  By walking through a fantastical tree, you enter Pip’s Island, a magical, faraway world.  And with the help of fellow adventurers, you move through 5 rooms all filled with wonderous objects and themes that invite touch, lure childhood play, and excite curiosity.  Children are encouraged to help find, make, build, and carry items.  They practice power moves, tackle puzzles and celebrate with bubbles. We weren’t allowed to take photos or videos once inside but suffice it to say this was Disney – level: set, costume and production!

It was such a treat to be able to enjoy something so special, so unique, so kid-centric, yet fun for adults too!

We sincerely thank Pip’s Island for graciously asking us to partake and review their show.  It made for a fun-filled family memory.  And we thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

Pip’s Island is at Skylight Modern. (537 West 27th Street)

performances through Sunday, January 8, 2017.

Tickets are $50 per person discounted tickets on BroadwayBox.com