Dishes that Remind me of Home
Wow. It feels like I haven’t written an article in the longest time, which is partially true. Ever since I got back from my East-Asian country crawl (only 2 countries lol!), I went to explore the stunning scenery of Banff and pack my bags for university. As a freshman in university, the transition from high school to university isn’t simple at all. There’s such a drastic difference whether it’d be socially or academically, but I’ve begun to ease into a routine I enjoy. Although I go to university close to home and have the blessing of going back every week, I still feel homesick and crave the warmth of the dinner table at home. For any university student reading and experiencing this, I’ve found that one of the best things you can do is eat food that reminds you of home. I'm here today to share some of my favourite dishes.
#1. Any type of noodle dish.
Any noodle dish that has roots in Chinese cuisine simply reminds me of home. Noodles are a constant in my household and my parents never fail to whip up a delicious and warming dish. While I wouldn’t dare put myself on the same level as them, I’m able to manage with what I have. Fortunately, I have my own kitchen, thus, I can experiment with and cook all the meals I want. One of my favourite meals to have now is soup noodles – anything with broth. This dish is more than simple, all I do is boil some Bok choy and rice noodles, prepare a soy sauce-based broth, poach an egg, and grab whatever protein I have in the fridge. To garnish, I use green onion and pickled mustard greens to create a tasty meal in less than 10 minutes. The egg yolk adds a smooth and rich flavour to the broth while the green onions provide a hint of freshness. With noodles that are coated in the broth and slightly bouncy, this dish feels like a warm, comforting hug.
#2. Wontons and dumplings.
These have been a staple in my household literally ever since I was born. I would gladly die on the hill that my mother’s wontons and dumplings are the best in the world. I don’t really know what she puts in there (I do), but whatever she does, it’s more than amazing. In the present, I’m grateful to have a fridge fully stocked with them to devour any time I want to. Preparing wontons is even simpler than cooking noodles. All I do is bring water to a boil, drop the wontons in, wait for the water to come to another boil, add a cup of cold water, and by the time the water boils again, the wontons are perfectly cooked. The skin is chewy, not thick or floppy, and the filling is plentiful, with a harmonious blend of meat and vegetables. Combined with any type of soup, each bite of these wontons just tastes and feels good.
#3. Who am I kidding. Any type of Asian cuisine.
I’ve grown up eating Asian cuisine, so it’ll always have a special place in my heart, no matter where or when I have it. Take this Jian Bing, which is an extremely popular Chinese street food. Instead of having it in the streets of Shanghai, I’m munching on it at College and Spadina. Jian Bing is a Chinese breakfast crepe; with everything you’d need for a healthy and tasty meal. A few weeks ago, I went to this actual hole in the wall restaurant run by the cutest old couple ever. They serve Jian Bing and a few other dishes, but with every order, they give you free soybean milk. These were huge and filled to the brim with sausage, cilantro, and lots of other goodies. Most importantly, you can simply tell that each one was made with care. The name of this restaurant is Corner Crepe Co. and I’m so glad I managed to find this hidden gem.
Food goes the mile, and no matter how far you are from home, there’s always a dish in your heart to remind you of it. Take my advice and treat yourself to something that reminds you of home, your stomach will thank me endlessly. If you’re stuck with dining hall food, book a train ride back immediately. While being away from home is hard, and even harder for others in a different city, you still eat food no matter what, so make the best out of it and eat something to remind you of home.
Thanks for reading and I’ll catch everyone on the next episode!