providing us the safe space to make mistakes and become the most confident versions of ourselves
26 school year, an exploration of all the quiet moments, hidden thoughts and intricate systems that are often overlooked. Welcome to a reflection of our inner workings.
With the new school year, ASB—UPA’s Associated Student Body—has undergone many major changes,
er Miles Hines dives into the effects of coaches on athletes, discovering how the relationship makes or
Our internal behaviors are also often shaped by the rise and fall of trends and microtrends. On page 9, reporter Jayden Tran examines the peak of the “performative male” stereotype and dissects the ins and outs of today’s Labubu and matcha lovers beyond their surface-level impressions. Find out where the
Beyond each individual is the home they grow up in. On page 17, reporter Kara Luayon details
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CANVA, OLIVE LUONG & SNEHA MADAN • DESIGN BY LENA NGUYEN
AQUILA STaff
ABOUT AQUILA
MISSIoN STaTEMENT
Aquila is a student-produced high school newsmagazine. It serves as a designated public forum for student expression. We aim to reflect the diversity of our community and build unity through accurate reporting, in hopes that each of our readers will find an article they connect with.
oN THE CoVER
The front cover, shot by Haania Anwar, Miles Hines and Samira Madden, features reporter Jayden Tran modeling the “performative male” stereotype. Read “#underground” on page 9.
“SoaRINg To NEW HEIgHTS”
From the shift of a newspaper to a vibrant newsmagazine, a broadcast channel and an active Instagram presence, we continue to innovate the way we tell stories. We do this not just because we are student journalists but because this is what it means to be a member of Aquila.
SHaRE aN IDEa
Have a story to share? Scan the QR Code to submit your suggestions or email us at aquila@upatoday.com.
Samira Madden Publicity Manager
Lena Nguyen Managing Editor
Sneha Madan Editor-in-Chief
Juliann Jaison Design Editor
Kara Luayon Design Editor
Olive Luong Editor-in-Chief
Haania Anwar Team Editor
CeCe Le Messurier Copy Editor
Nadia Hamilton Team Editor
Miles Hines Multimedia Manager
Jayden Tran Copy Editor
Kathryn Beary Advisor
THE MajoR CHaNgES IN aSb foR THE 202526 SCHooL YEaR
ing, rehearsing,” ASB advisor Esther said. “Now that it’s a class, all that working time is embedded into the
More time in school being directed towards ASB can lead to an increase in both quantity and quality of schoolwide events. Additionally, students don’t have to worry about waking up
“[Last year], we just figured it out as we went,” junior and co-Vice President said. “It wasn’t pre-planned. But now we plan for events, and planning has to stop two weeks before an
According to long-term ASB members—those on the board for three years or longer—time was incredibly
limited in the past, with meetings occurring only twice a week. Even with this, some members were often unable to attend these meetings, making productivity limited.
In the past, some common complaints revolved around the fact that some of ASB’s members felt underrepresented.
“[Committees] have a larger say this year as well,” Vong said. ”Last year, if our committee wasn’t in charge of an event, then we wouldn’t have any input on it.”
This year, events and fundraising have multiple positions to confirm different ideas before being brought to life by the variety of social teams, ensuring everyone has an input in de cision-making. Notable teams of this variety include the spirit, dance and rally teams.
“I have to bring [an idea] up to ev eryone, then we vote on it, and it has to get two-thirds majority in order to be approved,” senior and Chief of Staff Lorenzo Almario
ASB’s new constitution confirms this, stating, “a quorum shall consist of two-thirds of those present from the voting Executive Council (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Chief of Staff).” The constitution is ratified by a two-thirds vote of ASB members every year. Any revisions of the amendments must pass by a threefourths majority vote.
The committees this year are middle school, spirit, dances, public relations and technology, community and clubs and rallies. In addition to those teams, the class representatives and executive board make up the rest of ASB.
With substantial change and expansion of bureaucracy, some red tape has been introduced. Some inconveniences to people’s time and workload have been noticed due to the many new processes that events
inconveniences, Holm sees the greater allocated period of time towards ASB as a positive.
“My goal is to teach them how to be an effective leader… things they can carry on with them when they leave high school,” Holm said. “It’s easy to come up with ideas, it’s not easy to actually execute.”
An insider look into new teacher Xuanyu Duan’s background, hobbies and passion for education
ARTICLE BY NADIA HAMILTON • PHOTOS COURTESY OF XUANYU DUAN • ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN BY JULIANN JAISON
said. “In the United States, I have more courage to advocate for myself.”
Although Duan finds living away from her family can be lonely, after seven years in the United States, she has learned to get along with herself, make new friends and keep herself busy.
“I’m very close to my family mentally, but physically we’re very far away. They’re all in China,” said Duan. “We have a phone call every day, and we travel a lot.”
As an international student, Duan faced a language barrier when she first moved to the United States. She used to be afraid to talk to people because of her accent but has grown to like making friends and learning about their cultures. She has fond memories from college of going on skiing trips with her friends on the weekends in Lake Tahoe. At the beginning of a semester, when their workloads were light, they would have game nights where they played Mahjong, and close to finals, they would have “study parties” where they would help each other with homework and
Initially, Duan attended UC Berkeley as an undeclared major. After joining many clubs and discovering her interest in finance, she decided to be a data science major. While getting her degree, she was able to follow a business analyst track and tutor other students, opportunities that paved the way for her career today. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she received an offer from Stanford, where she earned a graduate degree in mathematics teaching.
After graduating, Duan worked at an educational company as a product manager and financial analyst. While working there, the company offered her a position as a substitute teacher where she fell in love with teaching and eventually became a long-term substitute for all grade levels.
“Teaching students gives me a different experience and the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment,” Duan said. “The sense of actually helping people is different than when I was working in finance.”
Jeronimo.
Duan feels her teaching goals align with UPA’s mission of sending students to college, believing a higher education can open a lot of doors career-wise. She learned about the school through the California Mathematics Council, where UPA’s former math and computer science teacher Nicole Sebek was vice president. Many of her classmates from Stanford also got
“She recommended it to me because they said they were hiring a teacher for both computer science and math,” Duan said. “That’s a perfect combination for me.”
Duan’s personal struggle in math class when she was a student inspired her to become a math teacher. She hopes to use her experience to involve activities and break down large concepts into smaller pieces that students can actually learn from, so they don’t have to suffer in the same way she did. Duan wants to encourage her students to see math in a positive way, and she wants to build a strong foundation so her students won’t struggle in future classes.
In addition to teaching math, she hopes her AP Computer Science students will have a general idea of how to write a program and be able to make their own games and projects by the end of the year. In addition to what’s required for the AP test, she also wants students to be able to use AI responsibly, as she believes it can be a useful tool and can help students develop computational thinking skills.
As a teacher, Duan values the mo ments she shares with her students she’s able to help them through their struggles. Her passion for the intricacies of teaching has brought her to the tight-knit UPA community, where she’s excited to support students in their current and future endeavors.
Duan skiing in Lake Tahoe
Exploring coaches impact on student athletes’ mentalities
"In life, discipline can be a blessing But it comes with its own set of emotional trauma. You will be pushed to your limits but there is a breaking point” - CHARLIE DIZON
#underground
being interested in unpopular hobbies, I personally believe it becomes a problem once the sole motivation for your interest is to be perceived as niche as possible. At that point, you’re losing who you really are
what should’ve been forever
It was no longer second nature to attend practice, and what used to be my escape from stressful reality became a chore in itself
CHRONIC STATE OF MIND
The physical and emotional toll of living with chronic illness
ARTICLE BY HAANIA ANWAR & CECE LE MESSURIER
• PHOTOS COURTESY OF PIXABAY • ILLUSTRATIONS &
Haania’s Life Lens:
Running had been a new escape that I discovered, a way to feel strong and unstoppable. But last year, every thing spiraled when I tore my MCL and fractured my patella. What followed was IBS, relentless fatigue and worst of all, chronic migraines. Sometimes my head hurts so much it feels like my face might explode, as if the migraines control my life instead of me. Even when I have things to do, the pain is still there, constantly re shaping my mood, my actions and even my
Those countless hours of physical ther apy, MRIs, CT scans and X-rays led to me being diagnosed with a new “syndrome.” It feels that emotionally, physically and financially, I’ve drained my parents with endless doctor visits—going to neurolo gists, physicians and specialists. I hate dragging them from appointment
ing like I’m wearing them out more than I’m wearing myself out. Each week brings a new doctor, and with them a new relentless symptom that seems less like a concern and more like disap pointment that they don’t want to deal with again. I try to push through each day, but too often the weight is unbearable, and I find myself crushed beneath the boulder instead of moving it forward. It hurts to watch others thrive, reaching their goals while I’m held back, my physical health eroding my mental health piece by piece. And when as a result of my frustration, I lash out at my parents, guilt consumes me even when I don’t say it directly. I don’t mean to be upset or rude to those whom I love most, but the ing–especially when I face
me give up. As my knee issues became a catalyst for other under lying health issues that took over my whole life, I pushed myself to keep go ing and strained my body beyond capacity to prove everyone wrong. My overbelief in myself and my unwillingness to listen to others is what truly destroyed me.
As a simple knee inju ry turned to suspected arthri tis, which turned into my entire body shutting down, I was told to give up and quit swimming, even by my mentors, who I thought were meant to be encouraging. It wasn’t until much later that I re alized that they were trying to save me from myself and my avoidance of the truth that I would never be the same as before my body broke. Procrastinating quitting the team because of some hope in the back of my head that I would get better just made my feelings worse; I forced myself into an environment where I was witness to all my teammates’ exponential improvements and goals coming to fruition while I was stuck in eighth grade, crying and wondering why it had to be me. Participating in my last swim meet for the rest of my life with my team looking at me with sympathy as I left because I’m too broken to continue was something I had never expected to go through when I first joined the
But even so, I don’t think I’m entirely alone. My family’s support, the care from friends and small moments of encouragement helped me face days that otherwise felt and still
ress isn’t linear. I have setbacks—days where despair feels heavier than anything I can bear—but I also have moments of strength and love that keep
sion of me is all that’s left.
CeCe’s Life Lens:
I’d always possessed a strong passion for swimming from the moment I took my first lesson. The feeling when you’re gliding through the water, when you get the best time and everything you’ve worked for comes together, is irreplaceable. I would practice for two hours every day, six days per week, hoping to further my goals, to achieve my dreams. One training in particular set in stone a future I had never expected: the day I injured my knee.
My injury concerned my family, friends and doctors, who told me to stop and let myself rest, to take it easy. My own stubborn personality, however, would not let
The pain, the fatigue and the loneliness had consumed my entire being, and I had felt like a burden to everyone around me. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me; they kept sending me home from appointments without answers, with me getting more and more upset knowing that they didn’t know what to do with me. Attending numerous appointments and physical therapy twice a week, seeing my family have to pay for treatments that weren’t working and lashing out at those who were just trying to help me made me realize how dependent I had to be on others because I couldn’t handle it all myself. The guilt that consumed me built rapidly, knowing that I’d done nothing but complain and not help myself for the past few years because I’d lost all hope for the future. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered this is a common experience.
UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC ILLNESS:
According to UCLA Health, nearly 1 in 3 young people suffer from some sort of pediatric chronic condition that affects their life significantly. To continue, a 2014 study found that the mean annual cost for adolescents with chronic pain is $11,787, five times more money for medical purposes than someone without a chronic disease. These experiences are one of the most common feelings that people like us have when diagnosed with a chronic illness. Doctors can’t find a cure for it, yet we have to live on with the suffering and find ways to cope ourselves. Living with chronic illness isn’t just about the symptoms or the diagnoses; it’s about the invisible weight that settles into every part of your life. It’s waking up tired after a full night’s sleep. It’s about canceling plans with a friend that you have been waiting all week for. It’s the emotional exhaustion—on top of the physical pain—of always explaining yourself, or feeling misunderstood by those who love you the most.
A new symptom appearing just makes everything worse. You’ve already given up, and you find something new that you learn you’ll have to deal with for the rest
of your life. Finding out that your illness is incurable and only manageable with significant lifestyle changes (and aren’t even guaranteed to work if implemented) changes your perspective on what it’s like to live. Everybody tries giving tips: “Have you tried this method?” “Try eating these foods.” “Have you considered looking for this kind of therapy?” “Hope you feel better soon!” These unsolicited suggestions make the ill feel worse rather than better. Why do we have to rest for days after seeing our friends out of routine? Why do I have to have an hour-long routine that I pretend not to have in the morning, so when I get up, I can walk? Why is it that I have to pretend like everything is fine every day when underneath my skin, everything is slowly crumbling apart? You begin to wonder if people would still love you if you never did “get better”. If you stayed broken, tired, less involved than the person they used to know. Change seemed impossible. That was until we decided we could no longer stay swamped in our own struggles.
LIVING FORWARD:
Haania:
Even though my body and my life have changed in ways I never expected, I’m learning that my story isn’t over. I may not be able to control the pain, the fatigue or the uncertainty, but I can control how I respond to it, how I show up for myself each day, even in small ways. I’m discovering strength in the moments that keep me going, in the love and support of my family and friends, and in the hope that things can still get better, even if slowly. My life may look different than I imagined, but it just means I have the chance to find new ways to live, to grow and to keep moving that boulder of despair forward.
Some days are still overwhelmingly hard, and I don’t pretend otherwise. There are mornings when the pain and exhaustion feel heavier than anything I can bear, and nights when the “what ifs” echo endlessly. But by focusing on what I can control instead of what I can’t, I’m slowly starting to notice small victories too—getting through a day without
giving up, finding moments of joy in un expected places and learning to celebrate the little progress I make. My journey to my mental recovery has had many ups and downs, but healing is never a straight path, and setbacks are a natural part of the pro cess. However, these moments of turning the page to a new chapter of acceptance in my book of life do not erase the struggles that I still face every day, but they remind me that even in the darkest times, there is space for growth, resilience and hope.
The most important part is to understand that even in times where it seems impos sible, there’s never need for isolation in a world filled with people of similar ex periences.
CeCe:
There’s a theory regarding chronic ill ness called the spoon theory. While healthy people have an unlimited amount of en ergy per day, people with chronic illness have a set number of ‘spoons’ they can take from their energy bank each day. Sometimes, this means making sacrifices because certain activities take too many spoons. But to me, the most important part of this theory is that it provides an opportunity for me to understand my ca pabilities rather than my setbacks. I am aware that there are some things I can’t do, but there are also so many things I still can do.
I am still broken. The is sues that haunted my past still linger to this day. How ever, the turning point in my experiences with chronic illness was the change in my perspective. I was forced to confront the idea that I will be living with these struggles for the rest of my life, but in no way should I let that stop me from achieving my goals and dreams. I can’t expect the world to accommodate my health, I need to accommodate myself and understand my abili ties–my spoons–and how I can still make an impact despite challenges. It is important to never let struggles become consuming and to have re silience even in the hardest of times. While I am still broken physically, the determination to keep moving forward and let myself heal inside is what truly saved me.
House slippers, dress shoes and Twinkle Toes:
just a few residents of
multi-generational households
KARA LUAYON
For many people, it is common to travel hundreds of miles to visit their grandparents. But what happens when hundreds of miles turn into just a few steps down the hall of your house? Multi-generational households are defined as living with three or more generations under one roof. According to a Pew Research Center study in 2021, 18% of American households identified as multi-generational, with multi-generationality being on an upward trend since then. This style of living is most commonly seen in Asian, Hispanic and Black cultures, most likely stemming from the culture’s large emphasis on family values and caring for them at all stages of life. Junior Annica Seril’s maternal grandparents began living with her to help take care of Seril when she was born, and she currently lives with both of her grandmothers.
In Asian cultures, placing elders in nursing homes is generally frowned upon, stemming back hundreds of generations to filial piety, a traditional confucian idea branching from China. According to ThoughtCo., filial piety requires children to love, respect and support elders in their family like their grandparents and older siblings. The idea is
that if the parents provide for their children well in their developing years, then they are obligated to return that favor for the rest of their lives.
Sophomore Cinta Aju’s paternal grandparents live with her six to twelve months out of the year every one to two years when they visit from India.
“In our culture, [grandparents] don’t really live outside [of our house],” Aju said. “We usually just stay with family.”
The importance of family and caring for others that both Seril’s and Aju’s grandparents preach can be explained by the more collectivist society that is common in countries in the Global South. According to a study done by the NIH, those raised in countries in the Global South are brought up in a more collectivist society. They are raised to pay closer attention to others’ needs and put less emphasis on their own. This is in contrast to being raised in a more individualistic society, such as America, where independence is more important.
Among their relatives, Seril and Aju consider it a big part of their culture to host and care for their families. In both of their cultures, it is typical to keep tight bonds with both your immediate and extended
family. The idea that family is one of the most important things in your life is common. However, in today’s ever progressing age, how have the younger generations carried on or neglected this tradition?
Seril sometimes feels like there is a double standard for respect when it comes to older generations. It is stressed that younger generations give respect to older generations and it is frowned upon when they don’t, however if the older generations do not respect the younger, it is ignored.
Going through school, both Aju and Seril find that it is rare for their classmates to live with both their parents and grandparents because of the differing cultures and ideologies of their peers’ families. However, Aju finds that her friends that do live with their grandparents are those of immigrant households. This is commonly caused by either their parents immigrating and bringing their parents with them, or their grandparents migrating when their parents were young and continuing living with them after they became adults. Regardless of what situation, immigrating to a new place from a foreign country can be terrifying.
“There is oppression towards them,”
ARTiCLE, iLLUSTRATiONS & DESigN BY
• PHOTOS COURTESY Of ANNiCA SERiL
Aju said. “This could cause them to feel detached from society and build a stronger connection with their families.”
Family is something that people find security in, especially if the new place they are moving to requires them to learn a new language, new manners and new routines to live comfortably.
Since Seril lives with her grandparents full time, she feels as though her daily routine differs from her peers in many ways.
“[My peers] can just worry about themselves, and move on with their day,” Seril said.
Unlike those who do not live in multi-generational households, Seril puts in extra time into caring for her grandparents as she gets older. Since her grandmother is getting to an age where she needs assistance more often, Seril frequently has to care for her by helping clean her or get around. However, Seril has found this experience to be eye-opening.
“Me taking care of her is like showing how I appreciate her,” Seril said.
At first, it took Seril some time to adjust to caring daily for her grandmother. Now, Seril enjoys it and feels as though she is returning the favor for taking care of her when Seril was young. While some may feel a certain obligation to do so, Seril has also gotten to deepen her connection with her grandmother.
“She understands me more right now than when I was little,” Seril said.
She enjoys the benefit of being able to talk to her grandma whenever she wants since she’s always there for her. Seril has also found joy in asking her grandmother about her life and family. It is common to forget that one’s grandparents
great amount of time she spends with her grandmother, Seril has been able to gain a heightened understanding of her grandmother as a person. She always hears her friends talk about having to go out of state or find time to visit their grandparents when she could just talk down the hall to see hers. However, her grandma’s aging poses some challenges as well.
“She’s obviously slower and she can’t do all this stuff at my speed,” Seril said. “So it took a lot of patience for me.”
Her age presents itself as mostly physical, where Seril has to be louder, or talk slower, but she believes that through this it has also strengthened that special bond she and her grandmother have. Seril also notices similarities between her and her parents such as her occasion al stubbornness which she observes in the relationship between her mother and ma ternal grandmother. Aju’s patience with her grandparents, however, stems more from differing generational and cultural views. Aju feels that their patience has grown on both sides.
“Their mindset isn’t the same as mine so it’s kind of difficult,” Aju said. “But they
“I think it’s just good to grow up with a lot of family around you, it’s a good support system and I think it’s a better environment.”
-Cinta Aju
that her grandparents and parents have had to take time to understand the value that she puts on her friendships. Aju also sometimes finds it irritating that her parents’ attitude changes when her grandparents are around by making her spend more time with them even when she is busy. They have, however, begun to understand that Aju has grown up in a different environment than them.
“As long as I’m getting good grades and being a good kid, it wouldn’t matter that much,” Aju said.
However, Aju doesn’t consider her time a complete sacrifice because of her grandparents’ presence. For both Aju and Seril, spending more time around their family has altered their mindsets positively.
There are important lessons that each generation can share and learn from one another, so it is important to foster that relationship. Seril has taught her grandmother how to make phone calls and use technology, skills that became indispensable during the pandemic so that her grandmother could still connect with her family back in the Philippines. Aju feels she has learned from her grandparents’ values of kindness. Both Seril and Aju have become more empathetic and open minded.
“You don’t know what health issues they have so it’s good to be kind,” Aju said.
Seril and Aju are able to acknowledge that everyone has different strengths and
Seril and her younger sister with their paternal grandmother in front of the Golden Gate Bridge
Seril with her paternal grandparents
Seril poses for a family photo with her immediate family, maternal grandparents, aunt and uncle
struggles and that patience is the key to un derstanding their situations. According to a study done by the University of Virginia, teens who have a well connected and secure relationship with their caregivers are more empathetic to those in their life. Aju’s mother has said that along with an increase in patience, the presence of her in-laws makes her feel more connected to home. Similarly, Seril believes that people living in such households have changes in their beliefs because of this.
“I’m not going to have the same morals as someone else,” Seril said. “They’re not going to do the same things I do.”
The permanence of relatives is something that can be hard to come to terms with and is an unfortunate reality when living in a multi-generational household. With new responsibilities as one gets older, one might fail to realize that the people in their life are also getting older. When someone is always around, the transition to them suddenly not being there can be harsh.
“I never fully got that with my grandpa, because I was just like, ‘oh, he’s just there,’” said Seril.
Seril’s grandfather passed away in 2016 and since she was so young, she was not able to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. Looking back now, she mourns the relationship she could have had with him. She realizes now just how much the situation affected her parents and the negative toll it had. She does not consider it necessarily a downside, but something that could greatly negatively affect the others living in the household. Because of this, as Seril’s grandmother gets older, she has
made more of an effort to get to know her on a deeper level.
“Now I know what my grandma’s family was like because I’ve asked her about it,” Seril said. “I just never knew that stuff about my grandpa.”
Since Aju herself does not have to dedi cate much time to taking care of her grand parents, the responsibilities fall on her par ents. Aju’s mother gets worried about their health and it takes a negative toll on her mental health. When Aju’s grandparents are around, her mother has to worry about giving them their medicine to make sure they stay healthy.
“[Taking care of my parents] takes time away from my own necessities,” Aju’s mother said.
With all the positives and negatives in mind, both Aju and Seril said that they would like to continue this tradition if they were to have a family in the future. Aju hopes that it would have the same effect on them as it had with her. She thinks that there are beneficial things that her future kids could learn from her parents like morals and things about India.
“I think it’s just good to grow up with a lot of family around you,” Aju said. “ It’s a good support system and I think it’s a better environment.”
ly about the special connection that living in a multi-generational house fosters. Seril would want her kids to understand the way she grew up.
“I want my children to take care of me when I’m old and gross,” Seril said.
While both Aju and Seril have had good experiences, they think the decision on whether a family decides to partake in this living situation is dependent on their initial relationship.
“If you don’t have a good relationship with your parents,” Seril said, “I don’t think you should be forced to have them live with you,” Seril said.
Aju agrees that a more cohesive and connected family would be better suited for living together in the type of proximity required in multi-generational households. However, Aju expresses the idea that if one’s relationship is not the best with their parents, their grandparents can create a buffer or a person to confide in.
Both Seril and Aju would describe their experience living in multi-generational houses to have an overall positive effect on them. Seril specifically had found her
Seril also always assumed she would take that position when she was older because of Filipino traditions. She would like to continue to teach her future fami-
“Me taking care of her is like showing how I appreciate her”
-Annica Seril
passion for caregiving and nursing. Aju has found many positive takeaways that dictate her daily interaction with others as a result.
“It’s made me more appreciative that I get to live with my grandparents,” Seril said.
Panda-monium
The rise of global panda popularity and their impacts on markets and societies around the world
ARTICLE, ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN BY JULIANN JAISON • PHOTOS COURTESY OF @PANDAHEHUA, @PANDAMENGLAN & @PIECHAN808 ON INSTAGRAM
many. But how did these gentle giants be- come a landmark of Chinese culture, and who exactly are the pandas taking the world by storm?
According to CNN, pandas were not always as revered as they are now. In fact, for much of history, the panda was overlooked in favor of the tigers, cranes and dragons famous in East Asian culture. Considering climate change and human interaction dwindling their population as well, the revival of the panda species—both in popularity and population-wise—is nothing short of a miracle.
In an article from CNN, panda ecologist Liu Xuehua recalls never knowing about the bears growing up, despite dedicating her career to preserving their habitats now.
“The media wasn’t so developed,” Xuehua said. “We spent a lot of time studying at school and there weren’t that many zoos in the provinces.”
However, as China looked for an unproblematic and friendly creature as its national treasure, combined with the emergence of social media, no animal was better suited than the
to
Indy Pine (@ indipine on TikTok), Hua Hua was born on July 4, 2020 in Chengdu. Although any panda’s birth is a historic milestone for their small population, Hua Hua was especially notable due to her “onigiri-like” shape. Because of certain developmental disabilities, Hua Hua is much smaller and weaker than other pandas her age. She even holds the record for spending the most time in panda kindergarten, an education system where younger pandas grow and develop with exercise, naps and tons of snacks.
In addition to her shape, Hua Hua’s calm demeanor and smaller size evoked sympathy in many netizens (online citizens) across the world.
Hua Hua, also known as He Hua, is one of the most notable figures in the panda-monium spreading around the world.
In fact,
Hua Hua, courtesy of @pandahehua
Meng Lan, courtesy of @panda_menglan
Mei Lan, courtesy of @piechan808
Comparing and contrasting the modern live action of “How to Train Your Dragon” against its nostalgic animation
ARTICLE BY SAMIRA MADDEN • ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN BY JULIANN JAISON
he “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, started with the release of the first movie in 2010 and ended with the release of the final movie in 2019. The trilogy consists of “How to Train Your Dragon,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.” This animated children’s series loved by many— including me—takes place in the fictional viking village, Berk.
Growing up, I was always fascinated with the beautiful, heartfelt and nostalgic soundtrack composed by a live orchestra. The angelic calm melodies of the song “Romantic Flight”, paired with Hiccup and Toothless flying through the clouds, made me look up at the TV with hopeful eyes, that I too would be able to fly and experience that freedom. Other songs like “Test Drive” bring back memories of feeling empowered
and mesmerized with its intense and powerful rhythm. Even now as I have gotten older, the songs still bring tears to my eyes, and I’m brought back to a time when I was naive enough to believe that dragons were real.
The movies follow the main character, Hiccup Haddock, voiced by Jay Baruchel, as he navigates his adolescence. Each movie focuses on a different stage of his life, with the first movie exploring Hiccup’s yearning for acceptance from his village of dragon hunting warriors. Hiccup’s empathetic personality and inability to kill dragons in a society where dragons are not welcome causes his isolation. While trying to prove himself to his chief father, Stoick, Hiccup attempts to kill his first dragon, Toothless, but ultimately can’t bring himself to. Hiccup instead decides to make the injured dragon a prosthetic to help him fly on his own, eventually gaining Toothless’s trust. The movie follows the pair as they try to get Hiccup’s village to accept dragons.
view, Mason Thames revealed he studied the original films to try to embody the same character that voice actor Jay Baruchel had created. Thames wanted to keep Hiccup’s wittiness and sarcasm while also adding a lonelier and darker side to the character.
Thame’s dedication to the role was demonstrated when recreating the iconic fish scene. In said scene, Toothless offers Hiccup a piece of a half eaten fish to demonstrate his trust and Hiccup eats it. While being interviewed by Theweekjunior, Thames revealed that in order to replicate the fish, the directors put crab in a real fish head and put it outside for days. I loved this attention to detail as it really brought the scene to life and evoked an authentic reaction. Mason Thames’ commitment to the role really elevated the film’s ability to capture the original elements of the animated movie.
In Feb. 2023, Universal Pictures announced the creation of the live action “How to Train your Dragon,” finally being released in June 2025. The live action was also directed by co-director Dean DeBlois and starred Mason Thames as Hiccup Haddock. Following the same plot as the original animated film, the live action film received much love and some critiques of course, receiving 76% on Rotten Tomatoes where the original received 99%. Some of the positive reviews of the live action commend the casting choices, loving Mason Thames’ performance as Hiccup.
I think Thames embodied Hiccup perfectly. Not only did the directors alter his appearance slightly to look more like the original character, but in an inter-
Being originally intended for a younger audience, the animated film expresses a heartfelt and endearing mood. The art style steers away from depicting the dragons as menacing or frightening through keeping the cartoon-like appearance, and I appreciate that it manages to relay the movie’s meaning in a way that isn’t intimidating to kids. The general intended lesson of the film is to empower children to embrace their unique differences and practice compassion while also challenging traditional beliefs by understanding different perspectives. The purpose influenced me heavily as a child and still does now as I have gotten older, expanding my compassion and ability to have unique beliefs.
However, in the live action, some scenes that were vital to the storyline were not included. In the animated film, Hiccup complains to his mentor, Gobber, about an argu-
ment he and his father got into revolving around Stoick’s disappointment in Hiccup for being different. He imitates his father’s disappointment in him saying, “Excuse me, barmaid! I’m afraid you brought me the wrong offspring. I ordered an extra large boy with beefy arms. Extra guts and glory on the side. This here [referring to himself] is a talking fishbone!”
What I love about this scene is that it showcases the real life complexities of parent-child dynamics. It also helps establish Hiccup’s character, showcasing his witty and sarcastic personality. This was one of the scenes that made me fall in love with Hiccup’s character and is a scene I wish they included in the live action.
Overall, the original animated film was and still is my favorite movie of all time. I would rate it a 9.5/10, missing only 0.5 points due to having some physical inconsistencies with the animation style.
Although the live-action movie follows the same plot, it has a different tone. It explores a darker side and was also advertised to an older audience, showcasing Hiccup’s loneliness and isolation in addition to his familial conflicts. Though it focused on more mature concepts, I don’t think it is limited to an older audience.
mated film, also allows for more in-depth scenes to elaborate on parts of the film that were kind of rushed over in the original. In the original, the mentioning of Hiccup’s moms’ death was only briefly mentioned. In the live action, Gerard Butler as Stoick demonstrates intense grief about Hiccup’s mom’s death throughout the film. He associates his trauma with losing her with dragons, which is why he has so much hatred for them and is so angry when Hiccup befriends one.
Toward the end of the movie—after Hiccup and Toothless defeat the main antagonist, The Red Death—there is a moment where it appears as though Hiccup has died in the action. In the live action, the grief of Stoick is more apparent and raw as demonstrated through his acting.
Moreover, I would rate this movie an 8.5/10, missing 1.5 points for missing some key scenes that shape the overall film. The live action still has a high score though since it dives deeper into the darker themes it did have, making the characters more realistic and relatable.
The live action, 27 minutes longer than the ani-
The photorealism also really captivates the audience, putting them into this fictional world. Without the colorful softness from animation, the fictional world looks rougher and the dragons and fight scenes seem more dangerous, although not scary. Many of the same scenes from before now feel more heavy and mature. For example, the scenes where Hiccup argues with his dad have a lot more raw emotion coming from real life people.
Though I loved the human acting, I wish the casting for the other characters were a little more accurate in terms of appearance. As someone who watched the original animated films over and over again, I have become accustomed to the characters looking a certain way. Although it may not impact new viewers, I wish the characters stayed a little more true to the appearance of the original.
In conclusion, I personally like the animated version better as it embodied a more magical feel and kept the overall intended purpose without making the film intimidating. Despite this, I could see how someone who did not grow upwatching the originals would prefer the live action as it is more mature and geared towards an older audience. Overall, I think both films are spectacular and would recommend both.
From shadows to spotlight: “KPop Demon Hunters” shows the movie industry “How It’s Done”
ARTiCLE BY CECE LE MESSURiER • iLLUSTRATiONS & DESigN BY KARA LUAYON
for as long as possible. Additionally, the main colors of the three members of Huntrix (white for Rumi, turquoise for Zoey and black for Mira) represent the Four Guardians from Sino-Korean mythology. The motif of Korean culture being used throughout, as well as the subtle hinting in the characters’ names and designs, I think just emphasizes the well thought-out creation of the film and the creators’ efforts to make the characters fully representative.
In my opinion, this film presents a really good balance between showing modern K-pop culture—through the performances themselves and the symbolism from the Saja Boys—and traditional mythology through the overarching themes and settings.
The director of the film, Maggie Kang, desired to put numerous elements of her Korean culture into the film, and I feel as though she really succeeded in doing that, whether that was through the subtle motifs throughout, the overall themes and plot or the characters themselves. I think it grew my admiration of the movie, and I found that the accurate representation of the K-pop industry (positives and negatives), combined with general aspects of Korean culture being included, made the story so much more meaningful. I think that the more raw, unbiased depictions of such industries should be more normalized and understood, as it is commonly falsely represented and glorified due to fans idolizing their favorite celebrities and ignoring the celebrities’ actual lives and experiences.
I thought the visuals were just as well thought out as the actual contents of the film. I found the animation to be a lot more advanced and intricate than I had originally thought. The emotions of the characters were exaggerated at times for the sake of humor or dramatization, and I feel it added to the plot rather than making it cringey. The film also used elements typically used for 2D animation, such as comical expressions and hyper distortion in a 3D animation setting, making it appear more captivating and authentic.
The soundtrack, for the most part, also gave me very positive feelings. I really enjoyed the first song of the movie, “How It’s Done”, where the vibe of the song, being upbeat but also serious and intense, gave a good exposition to the characters and their roles as K-pop idols and demon hunters. I also was
fond of the beat and the balance between the rap and the vocals, which I saw with other KDH songs like “Takedown” and “Your Idol” that I also liked. In regards to “Soda Pop”, where the Saja Boys were introduced, I was not the biggest fan of it because I had heard it repeatedly even before I first watched the film, as it had quickly become one of the most popular songs from the film. I found the vibe of the song to be very mainstream and unintriguing, especially compared to other songs in the soundtrack. I am unable to tell whether or not this song was made annoying on purpose or if they just tried to make a great song and missed the mark, but I personally don’t appreciate this song as much as the general population.
In general, I loved the harmonization that occurred between Jinu and Rumi in “Free”, as well as the harmonization within Huntrix as a group in all of the songs they sang together. Another element I really liked was the utilization of the large vocal ranges of all of the members, especially Rumi’s character.
I believe that a movie like KDH and the fact that it has become so mainstream is really good in regard to breaking stigmas and stereotypes surrounding K-pop music and K-pop culture. It gave me a new perspective on what it is like to be in such an industry, as well as the group dynamics and how that impacts their performances. The symbolism also helped me understand the negative parts of the industry, like toxicity from within the groups and within the fans.
The film earned an approximate $1820 million in its opening weekend (Aug. 23-24), claiming the #1 box office rank (a first for Netflix). It also set the records for most-watched movie on Netflix, and its soundtrack had four songs in the Billboard Top 100 Top 10 at the same time.
There are currently early discussions regarding a sequel to KDH, and I am personally very excited about the possibilities of where the end of the first film could prog-
ress. I would love for the sequel to expand more on the side characters like Mira and Zoey, and maybe go into Huntrix in the earlier days. Also, I want to see how (and if) the Saja Boys will have a presence in the new film, and if so, how it presents a new conflict for Huntrix. I think how this movie would go would make or break the popularity of this world because a non-fan-favorable ending or underwhelming plot can change peoples’ thoughts on both films together, especially considering the openness of the ending of the first film.
Overall, I definitely think the hype this movie has received is justified, and it is good that it became so popular because not only is it enjoyable, but it also sends important messages. I really enjoyed this film and will be anxiously waiting for the sequel to see where this world will go.
Jom Makan: Let’s Eat ‘Lah!
Reviewing some of the best Malaysian and Singaporean restaurants in the
Bay Area
ARTICLE, PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN BY
NADIA HAMILTON
Before either country gained independence, Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine began to form during the time of the Malacca Sultanate, around the 15th-16th century. Malacca was a popular center of trade due to the lucrative Strait of Malacca connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. As the region became an international trading port, it also became a primary medium for cultural exchange, amalgamating the flavors of the Malay Archipelago with those of India, China and places in between. Singapore, due to its geographical position in the center of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia and their close historical ties (Singapore only gaining independence from Malaysia in 1965), shares many cultural similarities with Malaysia. Though there are unique aspects of their individual cuisines, for this review, I have grouped them together. Over the years, their cuisines have been brought to the Bay Area primarily through immigration, but which of the numerous restaurants here are able to capture the uniquely syncretic flavors of Malaysia and Singapore best?
set the bar high. The interior immerses diners with its brightly painted walls, Malaysian kite decorations and straw awning that frames the kitchen area. At 7:30 on a Saturday night, there were only a few tables occupied, creating a peaceful and welcoming environment.
Layang Layang:
Layang Layang (translated to “kite” in Malay) is a restaurant in Milpitas serving Malaysian cuisine. The appearance of a restaurant plays an important role in the perceived authenticity of its food, and Layang Layang has
For appetizers, I ordered Roti Canai, an Indian-style pancake with a curry dipping sauce, and Satay Chicken, marinated chicken grilled on sticks served with peanut sauce. These two dishes are absolute staples of Malaysian cuisine, and Layang Layang did a pretty solid job at bringing the authentic flavors of the homeland to the United States. The subtle sweetness of the roti matched harmoniously with the saltiness and spice of the curry. The satay chicken was super tender, and the combination of lemongrass and turmeric in the marinade was delicious (though I believe they could’ve gone further with these spices).
laysia and bring home. The Red Kari Chicken, however, was excellently cooked and the meat fell right off the bone. The earthy, nutty flavor of the curry spices paired perfectly with the chicken and over rice. The Sarang Seafood “is a must,” according to the restaurant’s menu, however, I can’t say that I recommend it with the same enthusiasm. The dish includes fried taro nest topped with shrimp, squid, scallop, corn snow
The main courses I ordered were Beef Rendang, Red Kari (curry) Chicken, Sarang (nest) Seafood, Chow Kueh Teow and Kangkung Belacan. Beef rendang, another staple Malaysian dish, is beef cooked with coconut-flavored dry red sauce. Layang Layang’s beef rendang was well done, with its wonderfully tender beef and warmly spiced curry. However, if you’re ever invited to my house for dinner, you’ll find that my mother does it better. Though delicious, the restaurant’s combination of spices was slightly off from the authentic flavors of the rendang sauce packets we buy in Ma-
peas, black mushroom and cashew nuts. For a seafood dish, the seafood itself was unfortunately bland. The taro nest is an interesting added element, but I don’t believe it’s enough to redeem the dish. The Chow Kueh Teow, stir-fried flat rice noodles with fresh shrimp, squid, bean sprouts, eggs, soy sauce and chili paste, had a wonderful blend of sweet and saltiness, but was missing the wok hei flavor. According to the Michelin Guide, wok hei is “that complex charred aroma that fleetingly cloaks the piping-hot stir-fries served in Cantonese restaurants.” Layang Layang’s Chow Kueh Teow was delicious without it, but the wok hei is what I believe would take it to the next level. As for the final dish, Kangkung Belacan is ong choi (water spinach) sauteed in a Malaysian spicy shrimp paste sauce. The vegetables were well cooked, and I have always been a fan of leafy, spinach-like greens. The fermented shrimp paste is somewhat of an acquired taste, but provides a very unique flavor to the dish, making it worth a try to anyone who likes testing new foods.
For dessert, I ordered two items. First, I tried their Ice Kacang: shaved ice with red bean, sweet corn, plum seeds and jelly served with red rose syrup and condensed milk. It was super refreshing, which makes it perfect for ending a meal with so much heavy food and strong flavors. The condensed milk with all the toppings was delicious, but I wish the rose flavor from the syrup was more prominent.
sphere must be on a Friday or Saturday night.
I also ordered Cendol, a dessert of green pea flour and sweet red beans topped with shaved ice and coconut milk. I enjoyed the combination of the green pea flour with the coconut milk, so I would recommend this drink to anyone, even less adventurous eaters. The meal, including five drinks and five bowls of rice not previously mentioned, came out to a total of $215.75 ($278.46 with tax and tip) and fed six people (about $36 per person), with about one meal’s worth of leftovers. The price is arguably steep, but for a nice meal on special occasions, I’ll accept it, especially because of the high quality of the food.
Straits:
Serving “the diverse flavors of Singaporean and Asian cuisine,” Straits—located on Santana Row—barely resembles a restaurant of cultural relevance based on appearance. Upon entry, customers are greeted by pink and purple LED lights reflected off the black, white and gold color scheme of the walls and light fixtures. About half of the dining area is regular tables, the other half occupied by loungelike seating and a lavish bar. At 8:00 on a Sunday night, the restaurant was fairly busy, which makes me wonder how crowded the nightclub-like atmo-
At Straits, I ordered Roti Prata and Singapore Satay Sticks as appetizers. According to Taste Atlas, “the primary difference between roti prata and roti canai is their texture. Roti canai has a softer, flaky interior with a crispy exterior, whereas roti prata has a denser, chewier texture with paper-thin layers.” The roti prata at Straits partly aligns with this description in that it is thinner than the roti canai I tried at Layang Layang. However, rather than being denser and chewier as Taste Atlas describes, I found the roti prata to be crunchier and flakier than the roti canai. Whether that stands as a criticism to the preparation of Straits’ roti, or if it is just an observation is hard to say, as I am not as familiar with roti prata as I am with roti canai. I also found the yellow coconut curry that was served with the roti to be lackluster in salt and other spices, especially compared to the curry I was served at Layang Layang. I enjoyed the Singapore Satay Sticks though, and found the flavor to be comparable to that of the Satay Chicken at Layang Layang. Although the chicken wasn’t as tender as that of Layang Layang, it came with seven sticks instead of five (for about $1.50 more).
I ordered three entrees: Hainan Chicken, Chow Kway Teow and Beef Rendang. The Hainan Chicken—poached chicken and rice served with three sauces: sweet soy sauce, ginger scallion and chili—gets a positive recommendation from me. Though nothing special, the chicken and rice were well cooked and the variety of sauces was appealing. My favorite was probably the ginger scallion sauce, as the potent sweet and spicy flavors were a great addition to the mildly-seasoned poached chicken. Straits’ Chow Kway Teow was my favorite dish I ordered there. The savory flavors from the soy sauce and oyster sauce paired perfectly with the soft rice noodles, shrimp and Chinese sausage, which was also a wonderful addition to the
dish. However, my satisfaction was short-lived due to the bizarre execution of the next dish. Straits’ beef rendang is served with kaffir lime coconut curry and candle nuts over pandan polenta. I’ll have to excuse this combination as “experimentation,” or “Singaporean-inspired,” as it is far from authentic. The citrus flavor from the kaffir lime diminished the hearty savoriness of the rendang I know and love, and serving the beef with polenta is un-
heard of and downright strange. And to top it off, the braised beef wasn’t nearly as tender as that of home cooked rendang or even the one served at Layang Layang, making this dish unfortunately disappointing. For dessert, I indulged in their Lychee Panna Cotta served with Yuzu Sorbet. I enjoyed the creaminess of the panna cotta that contrasted with the tartness of the yuzu sorbet, and anything lychee flavored gets a positive rating from me. However, this dish and the others on Straits’ dessert menu seem to be more commercially focused, rather than featuring authentic Singaporean desserts. The meal, including two drinks, came out to a total of $133.12 ($169.55 with tax and tip), and fed three people (about $44 per person) with about one meal’s worth of left-overs. As we finished our meal and received the check,
even the waiter serving us made a comment about his dislike for the restaurant and the steep prices, despite having worked there for nine years. I also believe the food was unnecessarily high-priced, since you can find the same cuisine for lower prices at other restaurants that place higher value on authenticity. To this restaurant’s credit, there are some very delicious items on its menu (though I would not consider all of them to be truly Singaporean), so if you are interested in dining on Southeast Asian “inspired” cuisine while serenaded by the beat of “Pony” by Ginuwine and other club-like hits, Straits is the destination for you.
Banana Leaf:
ing Banana Leaf’s Roti Prata a very solid and enjoyable dish. For the Satay Chicken, I found the flavor of the marinade also similar to that of Layang Layang, but the pieces of chicken served in the dish were larger and juicier. The peanut sauce, however, was somewhat unimpressive. There was little complexity beyond the basic taste of peanut, and the texture was quite runny.
leafy green vegetable of Chinese ori - gin). The noodles themselves, similar to udon, were so satisfying to eat with their soft, chewy texture, and the sauce had the perfect combination of sweet and savory to excite the tastebuds.
Banana Leaf, located in Milpitas, has been around since 1999. As one of the first Malaysian restaurants in the area, founder Kay Yim desired to serve authentic Malaysian and Singaporean food for customers. However, since its establishment 26 years ago, this mission has diminished possibly due to the restaurant’s increased popularity and the need for efficiency. The restaurant’s facade features its name spelled out in a cute font with a drawing of a leaf next to it, and the interior is a generic-looking, spacious dining room. At 7:00 on a Friday night, the establishment was very busy, with several parties waiting outside to be seated.
For appetizers, I ordered Roti Prata and Satay Chicken. The roti was similar to that of Straits, but I found it to be butterier and less flaky, which I liked. It was more similar to something I would actually eat in Malaysia compared to the Roti Prata at Straits. The curry was very similar to the one served at Layang Layang, but was a bit thicker in texture, mak-
The entrees I ordered were Rendang Beef Shank, Mango Prawns, Chow Kueh Teow, Ipoh Bean Sprouts with Salted Fish and Hokkein Char Mee. The rendang served at Banana Leaf is nothing special. Though generally untraditional, I found the braised beef shank to be a welcome addition to the dish, with its fall-apart tender texture and rich, savory taste. However, the curry is far from authentic, its flavor focused more on the curry powder than ingredients like coconut, lemongrass, turmeric and cumin that make the dish unique. The Mango Prawns, served with bell peppers, is an exciting dish due to its plating inside the shells of a mango. The prawns themselves are average sized and accompanied by a mango chili sauce that compliments the taste of the seafood well. Despite this, you are unlikely to actually find Mango Prawns in a traditional Malaysian or Singaporean restaurant. Though its inauthenticity doesn’t detract from the quality of the dish, it’s still worth noting. Their Chow Kueh Teow is similar to the one at Layang Layang, accompanied by prawns, calamari, eggs, asian chives and bean sprouts. While I enjoyed the savory sauce that was included in the dish, I found that it too was missing that “wok hei” flavor I described earlier. It’s a satisfying dish, but the taste is quite surface-level, failing to recreate a truly authentic gustatory experience. The Hokkein Char Mee, on the other hand, is a noodle dish deserving of praise. These thick wheat noodles enveloped in caramel soy sauce are served with prawns, calamari, chicken and yoy choi (a
For dessert, since we were so full from the main course, we shared a small dish of mango ice cream. The two perfectly round scoops were tasty, but nothing special, as ice cream is not a distinctly Malaysian or Singaporean dish. The meal, including four drinks and two bowls of rice not previously mentioned, came out to a total of $158.55 ($205.50 with tax and tip) and fed four people (about $40 per person), with about one meal’s worth of left-overs. Based on the quality of the food, like Layang Layang, for a nice meal on special occasions, the price is acceptable. Despite its decrease in authenticity since its opening, there is still a good meal to be had at Banana Leaf.
Damansara:
Damansara is a restaurant located in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco that serves Malaysian cuisine. Established in October of 2022, the restaurant was founded and is currently owned by one woman, chef Tracy Goh. She grew up in Damansara Utama, near Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur, hence the name of the facility. The restaurant has a minimalistic style to it, with few decorations in its quaint dining room. There is also an open kitchen layout so customers can watch Goh and her staff cook. At 6:00 on a Saturday night, the restaurant was empty. A few other parties arrived after us, but it seems as though Damansara is less popular compared to the other restaurants previously mentioned.
We ordered Grilled Otak Otak, Chicken Satay and Roti with Curry Sauce as appetizers. Otak otak is homemade mild spiced fishcakes cooked in banana leaves. This restaurant is the only one on this list that serves this dish, making it somewhat of a rare commodity. I was impressed by the
skillfully wrapped banana leaves, and the fishcakes themselves were delicious. The fish flavor was very present and clear, as well as the grassy, coconutty taste of real pandan leaves which are hard to find in restaurants, as they are usually passed up for bottled pandan flavoring. The satay was seasoned to perfection, the turmeric and lemongrass flavors blending excellently. The peanut sauce served with the satay was by far the best of all the restaurants. Rather than having a more watery texture, the sauce was dense, with peanut pieces mixed in. The roti was cooked to perfection, with
crispy outer layers and a warm, soft inner layer. The rich and savory flavor of the curry was an exquisite complement to the buttery and subtly sweet savor of the roti. What was nice about these appetizers was that I got to watch the chef make them thanks to the open layout of the kitchen; how she grilled the otak otak and satay, and how she plated the roti with curry sauce.
For entrees, I ordered Damansara Laksa, Rendang Rice Plate and Nasi Lemak. The laksa is a complex broth with rice noodles, chicken, fish, shrimp, prawns and tofu. This is one of those dishes that warms your chest with the first spoonful, not just because of its temperature, but because of the aromatic, hearty spices included in the broth. Its flavor is savory and rich with a subtle citrusy tang, but not super spicy (extra spicy available at request). The Rendang Rice Plate comes with slow cooked beef, blue coconut rice and sauce on the side. This dish is spectacular. Anything that I felt was lacking in the other restaurants’ beef rendang is present in Damansara’s version. You can taste every spice, every flavor, even the fire the beef was cooked with. The smoky, savory, spicy taste of the sauce with the tender beef cooked for six hours (according to their menu) makes a perfect meal. The Nasi Lemak comes with turmeric chicken leg, blue coconut rice, cucumber, peanuts and crispy anchovies. What first impressed
me was the sizable portion of this dish. The amount of fried chicken included is proportional to half of a live chicken. Nasi Lemak is a staple breakfast/ brunch food in Malaysia, and Damansara has captured it with the utmost accuracy; from the crunchy and juicy fried chicken to the subtle sweetness of the coconut rice to the saltiness of the crispy anchovies (which are hard to find in the U.S.).
The restaurant has a fairly small menu with no dessert options, but this is redeemed by the excellent quality of the food. The meal, including two drinks and one bowl of Keropok (deep fried garlic crackers) not previously mentioned, came out to a total of $132.50 ($167.78 with tax and tip) and fed four people (about $33 per person), with no left-overs. As the least expensive, but most authentic and highest quality restaurant on the list, Damansara is HIGHLY recommended by me. If it weren’t for its distant location in San Francisco, I would be Damansara’s new best customer.
