Vishal Vellody enjoys bringing a community together to celebrate culture.
Looking to highlight Asian culture with its authentic street food, cultural performances and live music in Lake County, Vellody co-organized the three-day Leesburg Asian Night Market from Friday through Sunday outside the Lake Square Mall.
“We felt that it is a good opportunity to help support the growing community over there just to have a free event and they get out and see their neighbors and have a good time, and just try new food, try new things and meet new people,” he said.
With people flocking to the mall to attend the market on Friday afternoon, Vellody said the goal of bringing the traveling market hosted by Saigon Night Market to Leesburg was to celebrate Asian culture authentically — with fresh food, entertainment and community.
The market brought out a handful of the flavors found across Asia, including Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai and Laos.
Authentic Chinese BBQ Party, Japanese Yuzu Juice Bar, Gangnam Sticks Seoul Street Grill, Fresh Pressed Sugar Cane Juice and Kabukisoba were a few of the food vendors that filled the mall’s parking lot.
Vellody said he thought the public would enjoy the vendors and the variety in styles, adding it reflected the night life that can be found in street markets across Asia.
“Asians love lots of noodles, rice and have lots of different styles of barbecuing,” Vellody said. “We also have chocolate desserts and other very unique desserts that you probably won’t find at a lot of brick and mortars. Participating vendors are usually from throughout the state and they are sharing their food and culture.”
Jing Yin, owner of Authentic Chinese BBQ Party based in Miami, served beef, lamb, shrimp, chicken, squid and pork with sweet and savory aromas wafting through the air.
“The flavors are my own recipe,” he said. “I use seasonings straight from China — spice is optional. I also use beef tallow to cook everything so it’s as authentic as possible.”
Diana Moyano said Gangnam Sticks offers authentic Seoul street food and is rooted in the owner’s Korean culture.
During the event, Moyano sold chicken, pork belly, beef bulgogi, tako octopus or shrimp paired with rice, spring salad, or japchae, made from sweet potato noodles.
“We have a sweet sauce and that particular flavor is why people love our food. You won’t find a sauce like this in any other place,” Moyano said.
Reno Escarment, of Orlando, knows a thing or two about unique sauces. He is the owner of Reno’s Jewels of the Antilles, which sells Asian and Caribbean-style hot sauces. Escarment offers more than 30 flavors of hot sauce, including Spicey Soy Sauce, Wasabi Soy and Spicey Teri-Yabi.
Travis Khounvongsa, of Tampa, used piles of sugar cane and a presser to sell refreshing fresh-pressed sugar cane juice during the festival. He said the perennial grass has bonded cultures since it was introduced to the Americas in the late 15th century.
“Sugar cane relates to every culture,” he said. “The Europeans introduced it. I think people enjoy the way it looks.”
Robin Reynolds, Lake Square Mall events and marketing coordinator, said the event aligns with the mall’s mission of being a space where community can come together.
“When they contacted me, they said there wasn’t really anything like this here in Lake County dedicated to serving the Asian community, and they wanted to bring one here,” Reynolds said. “Since we are a community mall, we try to provide the community with a wide range of activities and events.”
For more information about events held at the Lake Square Mall, visit lakesquaremall.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
