Flap over 'Roundeye Noodle Bar'
The name is racist, says an Asian American group.
Flap over 'Roundeye Noodle Bar'
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Roundeye Noodle Bar - for now, a "pop-up" restaurant as it awaits a permanent home - has drawn the ire of Asian Americans United, an advocacy group.
Organizer Helen Gym says the name is racist. "In the owners' words, they are 'two white boys from the suburbs' ... creating a 'hip noodle spot,'" she wrote in an email advisory to the media over the weekend, on the eve of Roundeye's second pop-up. Roundeye is the creation of friends (and Anglos) Shawn Darragh and Matyson chef Ben Puchowitz.
"But if these self-named 'white boys' are the 'roundeye' noodle makers what does that make the Asian noodle places they're modeling their place after? As a city notoriously home to Chink's Steaks, it's really a shame that a well-regarded spot like Matysons [sic] would lower their reputation to a legacy of petty, derogatory names in an effort to be 'hip.'"
She continued: "I don't think the owners of 'Roundeye' had specific intent, but that's exactly the problem with racial stereotypes - they're so deeply ingrained people don't even question it.
I also heard from AAU executive director Ellen Somekowa, who wrote: "If you grow up Asian in America, there is no more common put down than ridicule of the shape of our eyes. There is no way to hear the name, 'Roundeye,' without at the same time hearing what it is being contrasted to. .. A very hurtful racist slur -- SLANTEYES."
Darragh said he heard from an AAU representative Saturday. "We're not really sure what to do with this," he told me. "She was very nice,. We intended it as a play on words, making fun of ourselves - not trying to be offensive to anyone. We're not racist, but this is making us out to be racist. The weird thing is that the majority of our customers are Asian. Some of the them think it's a funny name. Some people get offended and some don't."
He said they might consider changing the name once a permanent home was found for the noodle restaurant.
The idea of a restaurant is progressing. Darragh said they now have an investor, and they're beginning to scour Center City for a location.
Sunday's pop-up, held at Matyson, drew about 250 people, he said.
Read Drew Lazor's commentary: An Asian-American take on the Roundeye Noodle name
read the article greekpicnic before commenting, it says that "white boys from the suburbs" is the term self-coined by the owners to describe themselves. hence the use of single quotes within gym's quote.— jodya2- Every Irish Pub should be banned simply for pairing the words, "Irish" and "Pub". Talk about stereotyping.— rgray58
- I love the name and the only racist comments I read are from the Asian American United group.— phillydaveaml
- Utterly ridiculous!— phillysmart
- Eye shapes are petty and derogatory? Stereotypes that are true are not stereotypes. When we start avoiding gender, skin color, eye shape, etc to describe a person we stop being able to describe them. Hey, you know that person? Uhhhhhh no— jmichman
- why is this person saying "two white boys" I'm not white I'm caucasion— RichH
- Well there goes my idea for a Ritz and Saltines eatery called "Cracker's Crackers".— Burbanite
- This story is dumb because no one asks the guys what the name means. Then Helen Gym assumes it's racist because it's the opposite of being racist. If it was called slanted eye, it would be racist. I guess people need to be outraged about something. It's our look at me, I'm a victim society. What's next a Facebook page so the victims can be even bigger victims and maybe get some media attention?— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Free speech - case closed.— manyhats
- How about changing the name to Rolling Eyes, which is what I'm doing right now.— msmame
- As an activist myself, I'm usually pretty sensitive to these things, but... honestly? While I think a lot of the Jeremy Lin stuff WAS racist, and while I've read Ms. Gym's comments over and over, I just disagree with her/her group here. It would be one thing if "roundeye" were ever actually a positive word that we used to 'contrast' with the slur "slanteye" but, well, we haven't. Roundeye is a derogatory word directed at caucasians by asians. When a caucasian self-deprecatingly calls herself a "gringo," is she being racist as well? I understand the owners of Roundeye Noodle Bar to be using a pun while also trying to humble themselves by saying, "we think you might enjoy our food, even if it is put out by a couple of white boys."
As someone who has also had some experience in the restaurant industry and even just as a traveler and lover of food, I've been called things like "roundeye" and "gringa" a thousand times. It's always been meant lightly and often sort of lovingly. While I understand wanting to acknowledge ugliness, I also think it's important to acknowledge that sometimes, things like this are not borne of any ugliness, and they often come from living and working and learning with people of different cultures or backgrounds.— Pam M - I wouldn't get to upset about it. Only 30 to 40 percent of new openings survive anyway..probably be gone in a year or two.— MilesLong1
- it is racist. It's describing the eye shape as a distinguishing characteristic. It implies the other noodle shops are not "round eye."
Also the steak they use is called eye round not round eye.
— palmyra21 
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