Growing up was something I was forced to do
Growing up meant I was translating for my parents after preschool
My life before culinary school
I lived in my room
A room I created inside my head
Locked inside alone
A place I found out called depression
Now I carry a scar called trauma
The place I was physically living in was emotionally challenging
Forced to eat my Mom’s cooking
It was complete garbage
I did not know what I was eating
My dad only cared if I went to university of Washington
Senior year of high school and
I’m writing applications to colleges
Not even knowing what I was doing
2019 was the year of growing up
2019 was the year I
First began culinary school
First began college
First understood the world
First lived a life that felt like mine
As my first steps out of my room comes to end here at culinary school,
I have learned many things in order for food to taste good
But the most important thing was that I found who Zhu was
To not only disconnect myself from Zhushen
But to still be connected to my past as a step forward into the future
The food Zhu presents here is the pieces of my puzzle
That I picked up from
Guangdong Dong Guan
Which is known as the place of where I was born
Growing up in America
I don’t have much knowledge and connection to China
The house I live with my parents I can’t call home
The only home I have is Zhu
Food photography may be where Zhu ends up but who knows?
It’s not time to talk about the future but instead
It’s time to enjoy the moment and
As introverted as Zhu can be
The pleasure is his
Please enjoy the food!
