On May 22nd, from 12 – 2.30 p.m., hosted in the Quiet Dining Room. Shoreline Community College’s WAVES for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders had invited Dr. Mark Padoongpatt to showcase his book Flavors of empire: Food and the making of Thai America. While Dr. Mark was showcasing his book, students and staff got the opportunity to enjoy complimentary Thai food that was provided. Students and staff got an opportunity to join in a free giveaway of said book with it signed from Dr. Mark himself.

Dr Mark Padoongpatt said, “I was really excited to come because Shoreline’s a community college and I didn’t graduate from a community college, but I took community college courses, and I know how important a community college is for just intellectual development.”

Dr. Mark explained the history of how Thai food evolved in America over the years dating way back, specifically starting from the cold war and the 1980s.

“I hope that everyone leaves asking more questions and being more curious about the people behind the dishes that arrive on our tables. Arrive on our restaurant table. So, to really think not just about the food and the dishes themselves that we eat at restaurants, but the communities and the people and the labor that goes into making all of that happen,” Dr. Mark said.

“I think this event was a really good experience. We learned about Thai history and how Thai immigrants used food as a source of, you know medium, I guess to really be visible to the American society,” Abi, a student who is majoring in food business management said.

“I think this event was enjoyable and I learned a lot about Thai culture and all the foods. And I also understand the cost of neutralizing the food in some kind of way to make it comfortable for the US citizens to enjoy because the spices are very different from time to year. So many people don’t like spices but make a hybrid so that everyone can enjoy the food,” Atanu Baishnab said.