How We Meet:
    The Chinese Food Confessional

    What does Chinese food mean to you?

    Food holds stories far beyond the plate. It is not just flavor, it’s memory. It might be your grandma’s jiaozi, a holiday family banquet, a midnight lo mein run with friends, or the bold new dish that changed everything.

    Chinese food is one of the most beloved and widely consumed cuisines in the U.S., yet its deeper stories are rarely told. Behind every dish is a journey: of migration, resilience, creativity, and belonging.

    As part of China Institute of America’s 100-year celebration, we invite you to contribute to our digital storytelling project—How We Meet: The Chinese Food Confessional.

    We’re collecting 100 stories that reveal how Chinese food—whether authentic Chinese or American Chinese—has influenced lives and bridged cultures in America. This project honors those stories and recognizes Chinese cuisine as a powerful lens to understand identity, culture, and community in America today.

    Tell us your memories, traditions, and moments of connection sparked by Chinese cuisine. Your story belongs at the table!

    Tell us how Chinese food shaped your story.

    We want to hear your story – funny, tender, nostalgic, or surprising – about Chinese food and what it means to you. Stories will be shared anonymously unless you choose otherwise.
    Leave blank if you’d prefer to stay anonymous. Stories will be presented without names by default.
    A short title that captures the essence of your story. It can be poetic, literal, or playful, anything from “The Last Dumpling” to “Mom’s Fried Rice.”
    Tell us your story - 100 words is perfect. What was the dish? Where were you? Who were you with? Why does it matter? We’ve shared some samples below to help get the creative juices flowing. 
    From the stories we receive, we will select 100 to feature on a dedicated digital microsite launching in 2026. If your story is selected, we will display the story title and story body only. All stories will be published anonymously unless you indicate otherwise. Not all submissions will be featured, but all stories will be read with care. Selected stories may also be used in social media posts or promotional materials for the project. 

    Not sure where to start?

     

    These are just glimpses – little moments that became full stories.
    Use them as inspiration, and remember: your story doesn’t have to
    be perfect, just honest. We want to hear it.

    How We Meet:
    The Chinese Food Confessional

    What does Chinese food mean to you?

    Food holds stories far beyond the plate. It is not just flavor, it’s memory. It might be your grandma’s jiaozi, a holiday family banquet, a midnight lo mein run with friends, or the bold new dish that changed everything.

    Chinese food is one of the most beloved and widely consumed cuisines in the U.S., yet its deeper stories are rarely told. Behind every dish is a journey: of migration, resilience, creativity, and belonging.

    As part of China Institute of America’s 100-year celebration, we invite you to contribute to our digital storytelling project—How We Meet: The Chinese Food Confessional.

    We’re collecting 100 stories that reveal how Chinese food—whether authentic Chinese or American Chinese—has influenced lives and bridged cultures in America. This project honors those stories and recognizes Chinese cuisine as a powerful lens to understand identity, culture, and community in America today.

    Tell us your memories, traditions, and moments of connection sparked by Chinese cuisine. Your story belongs at the table!

    Tell us how Chinese food shaped your story.

    We want to hear your story – funny, tender, nostalgic, or surprising – about Chinese food and what it means to you. Stories will be shared anonymously unless you choose otherwise.

    Leave blank if you’d prefer to stay anonymous. Stories will be presented without names by default.
    A short title that captures the essence of your story. It can be poetic, literal, or playful, anything from “The Last Dumpling” to “Mom’s Fried Rice.”
    Tell us your story - 100 words is perfect. What was the dish? Where were you? Who were you with? Why does it matter? We’ve shared some samples below to help get the creative juices flowing. 
    From the stories we receive, we will select 100 to feature on a dedicated digital microsite launching in 2026. If your story is selected, we will display the story title and story body only. All stories will be published anonymously unless you indicate otherwise. Not all submissions will be featured, but all stories will be read with care. Selected stories may also be used in social media posts or promotional materials for the project. 

    Not sure where to start?

     

    These are just glimpses – little moments that became full stories.
    Use them as inspiration, and remember: your story doesn’t have to
    be perfect, just honest. We want to hear it.