Local Legend: Singer Hsing-Lih Chou Says Flushing Is A Food Town

FLUSHING, QUEENS — Venture to the very end of the 7 line and you'll emerge from underground to find the bustling heart of Downtown Flushing. It's a neighborhood commonly known as New York City's Chinatown, but Chinese folk singer and professor Dr. Hsing-lih Chou wants New Yorkers to know that Flushing is much, much more.

On any given day, Chou could be teaching foodies how to make Vietnamese egg rolls or Korean ginseng chicken soup, performing a standing-room-only concert of Taiwanese folk songs at Flushing Town Hall or teaching CUNY students about Chinese cultural heritage.

Born in Taiwan, Chou received his doctorate in education from Columbia University and is considered a specialist in Chinese culture.

He is also a celebrated Taiwanese and Chinese folk singer who has performed everywhere from the Rubin Museum of Art to Lincoln Center's Out of Doors festival, and a pioneer of Campus Folk Songs, a new style of music combining folk and country melodies.

Here's what Dr. Chou had to say about his Queens neighborhood:

Describe Flushing in three words:

Diversity, culture, excitement.

What food does Flushing do best, and where do you find it?

As soon as you step out from the subway into Flushing, you can immediately smell food and realize this is a food town.

The majority is Chinese, which includes different flavors from Canton and Taiwan to Hunan and Szechuan, but this barely touches the surface. There is fantastic Korean barbecue, Asian baked goods and delicious Malaysian cuisine. I couldn't possibly recommend any one market or restaurant in Flushing. People should go and discover for themselves.

For those who want to learn how to cook authentic Asian food, I recommend signing up for the workshops at Flushing Town Hall. I have taught many of them myself over the years, including how to prepare pan-fried dumplings, Taiwanese tonic soup, Chinese and Vietnamese egg rolls, different styles of Japanese sushi, Korean ginseng chicken soup and steamed egg custard.

How does Flushing influence your work?

As the advisor and Asian art specialist for Flushing Town Hall, I have helped create various activities, including concerts, lectures, educational workshops, and celebrations. It's a beloved cultural center for the community. Working at Flushing Town Hall has deepened my appreciation for the neighborhood. Because it's so diverse, Flushing has helped me learn about people and make connections with them.

What do people get wrong or misunderstand about Flushing?

Some say Flushing is the second Chinatown of New York City, but actually Flushing is not just Chinese but a very mixed, ethnic community. The diversity of culture in Flushing is what makes the neighborhood so interesting. You just need to discover it!