like all american-born chinese kids, I grew up eating grandma’s dumplings
a family tradition
Every big celebration like Chinese New Year (and sometimes just a regular Sunday) our moms and aunties would gather in the kitchen. We’d fuel the dumpling train with gossip while they folded. And before long, we’d all be filling our bellies with dozens of steaming hot dumplings.
two decades later...
After a move to San Diego, I started taking health and wellness more seriously. But when I was browsing my local frozen food aisle, every dumpling I could find was filled with low-quality meat, highly processed ingredients, GMO cornstarch, gums, emulsifiers and a ton of other nasty stuff.
I realized eating clean meant missing out on the food that shaped my childhood and filled us with happiness every holiday. So after going dumpling-free for an entire year (which, believe me, wasn’t easy), I decided to create my own.
DISCOVER OUR FLAVORSTraditional Chinese dumplings made with simple, clean, all-natural ingredients – that anyone can cook, everyone can enjoy, and are every bit as good as grandma’s
a love letter to my family
Family stamp
My Chinese name – given to me by my elders at birth. The top character is my paternal family name, and the others translate to "glory", "brightness" and "splendor". My grandmother (Po Po in Cantonese) had the stamp commissioned during one of her trips to China. It doesn't appear on any legal documents, but I believe she got it so I could always remember where I came from, and be able to leave my own mark on the world.
I like to think of ABC Dumplings as a love letter to my family – past and present. A clash of cultures, a nod to old and new, and a reminder that sometimes it’s more important to stand out than fit in.
not grandma’s recipe, but we know she’ll say they’re hou hou sik
hou hou sik
In Chinese culture, to express love and affection, we communicate in "Have you eaten yet?" and "Is the food delicious?" to which you always reply "hou sik" (really yummy in Cantonese) - especially when grandma cooks.