On "In Epicurean Hong Kong, a Humble $4 Lunchbox Is Now All the Rage"

 

 

I used to love the fried tofu from a local “hot pot” restaurant in my neighborhood. The tofu was covered with a creamy salted egg yolk sauce, and it was an absolute delight, satisfying my taste buds every time I bit through the silken yet crispy tofu. But as the pandemic worsened in Hong Kong, the restaurant struggled to survive, and I sighed with sadness when one day I walked past and saw it had closed down. But recently, the restaurant’s bright flashing neon sign caught my eye and I gasped when I saw a long queue of customers out front. And the next time I came back, there was a large stack of white takeaway bags, piling up on top of each other. The restaurant had transformed itself and I was still able to get my fried tofu! 

 

I thought a lot about this local restaurant as I read “In Epicurean Hong Kong, a Humble $4 Lunchbox Is Now All the Rage.” I am very proud of this restaurant and so many others in Hong Kong, as they kept on seeking solutions and moving forward with optimism and perseverance. The “2 dishes and rice” restaurants are a perfect example of this. Despite the pandemic and stringent government restrictions, they never gave up. In fact, the article helped me realize when I eat at these restaurants, I’m not just having a plain meal of rice, meat, and vegetables. I’m part of the “public good,” struggling with everyone in Hong Kong to overcome so much we have all lost, and all together, as we stand in the queue, enjoying and appreciating a simple yet common meal.