Food that Connects Us

For Victoria, the kitchen is more than a place to cook—it’s a bridge to her roots and a way to express love. As she navigates life far from home, recreating these recipes has become her way of honoring family and sharing their love with others.

by: Victoria Wang, Advisor + Researcher

Food has always been a connector in my family, a conduit through which we express our love for one another. Nothing says “I care for you” more than preparing a loved one’s favorite dish. My mother’s specialty has always been her Shanghai-style braised pork belly, which she cooks for me every time I come home to visit. It is my ultimate comfort food, and each bite with fresh rice feels like getting a hug from my mom.

Victoria’s recent attempt at Shanghai-style braised pork belly.

Now thousands of miles away from my family, learning recipes of my favorite childhood dishes has been my way of staying connected to home. I recently tried a new recipe for my mom’s signature pork belly dish, and the aromas that filled my kitchen immediately brought back memories of my childhood, with my mother running back and forth between her full-time job, taking care of my sister and me, and tending to her cooking.

Victoria and her mom enjoying a Thanksgiving hike a few years ago.

Nothing will ever taste as good as the pork belly with the extra seasoning of a mother's love, but this recipe came pretty close. Better yet, I got to eat this dish with my partner, where each bite felt like sharing a little bit of my mother’s love and care with him.

As I’m about to see my family for the holidays, I’m inspired to feel more connected with my family through these recipes. So much tradition and love is passed down in the kitchen, and I hope one day I’ll learn to cook well enough to express just how much I care for my loved ones through my cooking.