#ChineseFoodiesofIG: Sissi Chen of Eating In Berlin

Sissi Chen of @eatinginberlin

This is part of an ongoing series of interviews I’m doing with my favourite Chinese foodies that I follow on Instagram. Come and follow the #ChineseFoodiesofIG hashtag on Instagram and leave a comment showing your support for these talented folk!

Where are you from? Where are you really from?

I was born in Beijing and lived between Beijing and Yunnan until I was seven. Afterwards I moved to Vienna and grew up in Austria. Currently living in Berlin, Germany.

What does home taste like?

Home tastes like all the childhood dishes I had when I was a small kid in China. I lived with my grandparents in Beijing on the campus of the Renmin University and we used to either cook at home or get food from the canteen.

My favorite dishes were fish fragrant eggplant, a whole roasted chicken, tomato egg stir fry, huge fluffy baozi and just simple mantou with any type of cooked warm dish. I also remember great signature Chinese breakfasts from living in Yunnan. We always went to one of those busy outdoor street food stalls to get youtiao and fresh sweet soy milk.

Rice or noodles?

That must be one of the most difficult questions in life!

It's definitely 50/50, but if I had to choose one, I'd probably say 49% for rice and 51% for noodles.

The secret to Chinese cooking is…

To taste as you go. One of the biggest differences between Chinese cooking and Western cooking for me is the thing about recipes. Growing up, we never had recipes for any dishes. It was more about understanding each condiment and ingredient and adding the amount you liked. All the dishes I can cook now as a grown up, I learned by watching my grandparents cook and tasting. It involves so much conversation and interaction if there's no specific written instruction and at the same time, it allows so much creativity and openness in adapting to individual taste.

A Chinese recipe everyone should learn:

Tomato egg stir fry, it's so easy, quick, satisfying and delicious.

Who’s your Chinese food legend?

I don't have a specific person. I think it's my grandparents, because I have such a big connection to them through food.

Dream dinner party guests:

Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams and Salvador Dali

Last meal on earth:

Steamed soup dumplings or pan fried soup baos.

What does Chinese food mean to you?

I could write a book about the significance of Chinese food to me. When I moved to Austria, my priorities were adapting to a new culture and learning a new language. Coming from a traumatic time in China, my parents didn't put so much value in teaching me about Chinese food and culture. I neglected learning the Chinese language, so every time I went back to visit my grandparents, it was so difficult for me to exchange with them about our lives.

The times that felt home and familiar were the moments around the dining table. I felt connected to them by simply sharing delicious food together. There wasn't a lot of talking involved and no talking was needed while we enjoyed our meals together. Despite all the language, cultural and generational barriers, I felt we were good, as long as we were bound by the love and care through sharing food.