1997: A Flag is Lowered, Another Raised

Silk, Drawn by Lucey Bowen from Photograph of Silk at Jim Thompson Thai Silk, Bangkok, in 1997 Gourmet.

    

     In Gourmet's cast of characters Fred Ferretti is synonymous with Hong Kong, which he'd written about for decades.  It's natural that he write the feature "Hong Kong 1997," where he detailed the changes anticipated when Hong Kong reverted from Crown Colony status to that of a special administrative region of China in June of that year.  The consensus seemed to be that outside of the removal of "all overtones of British sovereignty," the important things, food and free market economics ("One country, two systems.") would remain paramount.
     William Warren's "Shopping for Thai Crafts" describes a market of a very different sort, that for locally made handicrafts.  It seems that the west still has an insatiable desire for the silks and ceramics of the Orient.

   

New York:
Joe's Shanghai at 9 Pell Street is still Joe's Shanghai.
Seryna at 11 East 53rd Street is closed.
Korea Palace at 127 East 54th Street is still Korea Palace.
Wu Liang Ye at 36 West 48th Street at 46 East 29th Street is still Wu Liang Ye.
Sushi Zen at 57 West 46th Street is still Sushi Zen.

Los Angeles:
Le Colonial at 8783 Beverly Boulevard is closed, but note San Francisco and Chicago locations.
Seoul Jung at the Omni Los Angeles, 930 Wiltshire Boulevard is closed.
Jozu at 8360 Melrose Avenue is closed.
Yujean Kang's at 8826 Melrose Avenue is Yujean Kang's at 67 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena.
All India Cafe at 39 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena is All India Cafe with other locations in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
Obachine at 242 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills is closed.