About
ACAI
Welcome to the Asian Culinary
Arts Institutes . . .
dedicated to the preservation, understanding and enjoyment of
the culinary arts of the Asia Pacific Rim
The Asian Culinary Arts Institutes was founded in 1994 to offer food professionals and cooking enthusiasts a source for learning more about the extraordinary cooking of the Asia Pacific Rim. Assembling a group of food and business professionals ACAI began its operation with its first Chef's Exchange Program bringing in two master chefs from Shaanxi, China, to the Twin Cities for special cooking seminars featuring classic Chinese cuisine. It continued its work with Asian food consulting assignments for national food producers, associations and schools. It serves as a resource for Asian food information to national and local publications and its founder continues to write a semimonthly food column for a regional Asian newspaper. Its co-founder has written two major cookbooks on the cooking of India and is currently working on a third book.
ACAI operates in the heart of Minneapolis where food professionals and serious home chefs can participate in special seminars on Asian cooking. Limited to four participants, each class explores the cooking of a particular country by learning more about its culinary history and classic flavors. Hands-on practice helps participants understand how to achieve the special textures, blends and balance so important to classic Asian cooking.
ACAI specializes in the classic
cuisines of the Asia Pacific Rim . . .
Chinese
Indian
Indonesian
Japanese
Korean
Thai
Vietnamese
. . . and the dozens of other Pacific Rim cuisines.
Meet the people behind the Asian Culinary Arts Institutes . . .
Phyllis Louise Harris
CEO and Founder, ACAI
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mrs. Harris completed
13 years of cooking classes at the China Institute in America,
New York City (NYC), holds a certificate from the Institute's
chefs' classes in China in 1986 and certificates from the Culinary
Institute of Hyde Park, New York, and the California Culinary
Institute in San Francisco. She is a cookbook author, has taught
Chinese cooking, has written food articles for national magazines,
was a contributor to Grolier's Americana Encyclopedia Year Book
and is food editor of Asian Pages, reaching 150,000 Midwest
readers each month with her column on Asian cooking. Mrs. Harris
served as executive director of the Midwest Asia Center where
she created the Asia Pacific Wings Festival involving six countries
with 21 events reaching more than 1.2 million people. She has
served on the board of directors and/or chaired committees for
more than 20 community organizations including WAMSO, Sister
Kenny Institute, Children's Home Society, Minneapolis Chamber
of Commerce, Women's Advertising Club of NYC and Cooper Hewitt
Museum, NYC. An entrepreneur with 40 years experience in advertising,
marketing and public relations, Mrs. Harris holds a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of
Minnesota. Her work earned top national and international advertising
awards and its client list included local, national and international
clients such as Pillsbury, 3M, J. C. Penney, Macy's, etc. Read more about Mrs. Harris
Raghavan Iyer, CCP
ACAI Co-founder and
Vice President of Education
Minneapolis, Minnesota
A native of Bombay, India,
Mr. Iyer earned a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with a minor
in Physics and Math from Bombay University. He also holds a Diplome
de Langue from L'Alliance Francaise de Bombay and taught French.
In addition, he is a graduate of Michigan State University with
a Bachelor's Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He is
also certified in Property Management and Maintenance and in
Engineering by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel
and Motel Association. He is an experienced restaurant owner
and manager, and caterer. He has taught Indian cooking in culinary
schools throughout the U.S and was named Outstanding Cooking
Teacher 2004 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals
(IACP). Iyer is consultant in Indian cuisine to national food
companies and organizations. He is also an IACP Certified Food
Professional (CCP). Iyer wrote Betty Crocker's Indian Home
Cooking in 2001 and The Turmeric Trail: Recipes and Memories
from an Indian Childhood in 2002. He is currently working
on his third cookbook. Read more about
Mr. Iyer.
When ACAI was formed in 1994 its founders turned to a group of outstanding Asian cooking specialists and business leaders for assistance and guidance. That advisory council included...
Florence Lin
Nationally-known cookbook author, cooking teacher and consultant
on Chinese cuisine
Originally from Ningpo,
China, Mrs. Lin is a nationally known lecturer and consultant
on Chinese cooking and a well-known cooking instructor at the
China Institute in America in New York City for more than 30
years. She is the author of Florence Lin's Regional Cookbook,
Florence Lin's Chinese Vegetarian Cookbook, Florence Lin's Chinese
One-Dish Meal Cookbook, Florence Lin's Cooking with Fire Pots
and Florence Lin's Complete Book of Chinese Noodles, Dumplings
and Breads. She served as principal consultant for Time-Life's
Cooking of China, Foods of the World and was a contributor
to the New York Time's Sunday Magazine, The Pleasures of Cooking,
Bon Appetit, Gourmet and other national magazines. In 1992
she received the Honor's Award from the New York Association
of Cooking Teachers for her outstanding contribution to culinary
arts and is a charter member of the La Dames d'Escoffier in New
York City. In 1996 she received ACAI's Lifetime Achievement Award
for her outstanding contribution to the understanding and enjoyment
of Chinese cuisine. In 2004 she was a featured contributor to
The Breath of a Wok by Grace Young.
Miyoko Omori
Founder of Sakura Japanese Restaurant
Saint Paul, Minnesota
A native of Saitama, Japan, Mrs. Omori founded Sakura in
1990 after more than 15 years in the restaurant business. In
addition to being an experienced chef and manager, she embodies
the spirit of the entrepreneur. Her restaurant offers not only
dishes for the traditionalist looking for authentic Japanese
cuisine but also selections for the less experienced diner. Her
personal attention, gentle encouragement and ever-changing menu
have persuaded thousands of Twin Citians to experience the full
scope of Japanese cuisine.
Supenn Harrison
Founder, Sawatdee Thai Restaurants
Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Maple Grove, and St. Cloud,
Minnesota
A biology teacher from
Thailand, Mrs. Harrison began her professional cooking career
in 1976 with the first Thai food booth at the Minnesota State
Fair. She opened the first Thai restaurant in Minneapolis in
1979 and the first Sawatdee restaurant in Saint Paul in 1983.
Today Mrs. Harrison along with her husband Bruce operates or
advises eight Sawatdee restaurants in Minnesota. She holds a
Master's Degree from the University of Minnesota, is active in
community affairs, hosts the annual Sawatdee Run benefiting the
Epilepsy Foundation and helps raise funds for the Page Education
Foundation.
Le Tran
Founder, Lotus Restaurants
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington,
Minnesota and Lotus Frozen Foods
An elementary school
teacher from Saigon, Vietnam, Mrs. Tran, along with her husband
Hiew, built a multi-faceted food business in the Twin Cities
consisting of five Vietnamese restaurants and a line of frozen
foods including egg rolls, fried rice and wontons.
Donald Wood
Cook/Chef Lead Instructor
Hennepin Technical College
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
In collaboration with
ACAI, Chef Wood helped create and manage ACAI's first Chef's
Exchange Program offering cooking students and chefs' special
seminars with two chefs from Shaanxi, China.
Lou Burdick
CEO, Lou Burdick & Associates
Edina, Minnesota
Drawing on more than
30 years experience in professional public relations, community
service and business, Mrs. Burdick has played an active role
in the structure of ACAI. Co-founder of Brum & Anderson Public
Relations, Inc. she helped build the company to a major position
in the industry. In 1984, Inc. Magazine ranked the firm
in its "500 Fastest Growing Privately-held Companies"
in the U.S. In 1986, she merged the firm with Padilla & Speer
and served as president and chief operating officer of the new
firm Padilla, Speer, Burdick & Beardsley, Inc.. In 1987 she
founded her present firm, has served on several company boards,
held leadership positions with industry organizations, received
a number of outstanding leadership awards and currently serves
on several non-profit boards including Courage Center. She is
an alumnus of the University of Minnesota and the College of
St. Catherine where she studied journalism, business administration
and sociology.
Jolie Bleeker Klapmeier
President, Klapmeier & Associates International
Minneapolis, Minnesota
A graduate of American
University, Washington, D.C., Ms. Klapmeier holds a Master of
Arts Degree in International Affairs from the School of International
Service and a JD from Washington College of Law. She also earned
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Carleton
College, Northfield, Minnesota. She is currently in private practice
specializing in international business with a focus on Western
Europe and Southeast Asia. She was honored by the OCA with their
Honorary Chinese Award, received a Certificate of Commendation
from Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson in recognition of outstanding
service and contributions to the Asian community in Minnesota,
and was awarded the National Service Award by the National US-China
Peoples Friendship Association.
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