Alhambra Source Podcast

Dominic Tovar

Alhambra Source is a non-profit, independent publication that serves the city of Alhambra, the gateway to the San Gabriel Valley. Follow us for updates and in-depth coverage for and from the #626.

Episodes

  1. The Indonesian immigrant who brought Borneo food to Los Angeles

    01/07/2019

    The Indonesian immigrant who brought Borneo food to Los Angeles

    Borneo is a large island in southeast Asia's Malaysian archipelago. It's divided between the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. In 2001, Peter Then left the Indonesian side of Borneo, also known as Kalimantan, for a safer life in the United States. When he arrived in Alhambra, the only Indonesian food he could find was from the main island of Java. So he took over a small fish and chips restaurant on Garfield Avenue and transformed it into Borneo Kalimantan. It's now known throughout the Los Angeles area for its rice and noodle dishes like nasi campur and laksa mee Singapore. Then sits down with the Alhambra Source during the lunch rush at Borneo Kalimantan to talk about his long, serendipitous journey from Borneo to Alhambra. He also introduces his new venture, Uncle Fung Borneo Eatery in Long Beach and Buena Park, and talks about mentoring his Uncle Fung business partner, who used to work at Borneo Kalimantan. 0:54 Peter Then explains why he started a Borneo food restaurant 1:19 Then explains the history, geography and culture of Borneo 2:10 Then's immigrant journey from Borneo to the United States 3:10 How Then seized the opportunity to open a restaurant and to feature Borneo Kalimantan cuisine there 4:50 How spiciness distinguishes Borneo food 5:54 The genesis of Uncle Fung Borneo Eatery This episode was produced and edited by Phoenix Tso and Bastian Mendez. Music by @_M_U_D_A_. Support comes from the Tow Center for Journalism at Columbia University. Listen on Soundcloud or Apple Podcasts. If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the Alhambra Source Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

    9 min
  2. A Conversation with Dreamers: Yunuen Bonaparte

    03/22/2018

    A Conversation with Dreamers: Yunuen Bonaparte

    In the early 2000s, Yunuen Bonaparte and her family had no choice but to leave Mexico for the United States. “There were times when we had to eat — how do you say it — old tortillas, like they get hard,” she said. “You just had to like warm them up, like eating tostadas and my mom would have a garden in the backyard, because there was times that there wasn’t enough for us to have meals,” she said of trying to survive in her home country. Bonaparte arrived in Los Angeles when she was 12 and grappled with the trauma and hardship of living in the United States as an undocumented immigrant. Becoming a DACA recipient enabled her to get an education and now she’s a photojournalist who recently exhibited a series of photos about other Dreamers and their stories. Bonaparte talks with Erica Mu for the Alhambra Source’s inaugural podcast about her immigration journey, paying her way through school, the untold stories of undocumented immigration and what others can do to help. Listen along, and let us know what you would like to see in future installments of the Alhambra Source podcast! Highlights: Crossing the border 2:00 Mental health effects 13:33 Getting DACA 20:04 The photo exhibit 24:16 Q&A 30:57 Resources for DACA recipients and those who want to help: ICE out of LA UndocuMedia Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA National Day Laborer Organizing Network This episode was produced by Dominic Tovar and Phoenix Tso. Music by Ralph Chavez. Facilitated by Erica Mu. Special thanks to the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University and the American Hungarian Baptist Church for your support.

    43 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Alhambra Source is a non-profit, independent publication that serves the city of Alhambra, the gateway to the San Gabriel Valley. Follow us for updates and in-depth coverage for and from the #626.