Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy: Stories of Chinese Food and Identity in America

The Museum of Chinese in America presents a multi-media exhibition exploring Chinese identity through the personal stories of over 30 Chinese and Asian-American chefs.

Join us for conversations around a dinner table with 30 Chinese and Asian-American chefs. Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy will weave together a grand, complex story of Chinese food in America through the oral histories of home cooks; pioneering chefs such as  Martin Yan, Ken Hom  and Cecilia Chiang; and new restauranteurs like  Peter  and Lisa Chang, Jason Wang, Vivian Ku, and Danny Bowien.  

In Chinese the saying Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy refers not only to the delicate balance of flavors that defines Chinese cooking but also the ups and downs of life. Set in an immersive video installation, the tapestry of tales that emerges will be rich with immigration experiences, food memories, favorite dishes and cooking inspirations that define the culinary—and personal—identities of these chefs, drawing visitors into the middle of a conversation about how food defines Chinese in America. In the center of the gallery will be a monumental dinner table, with each chef represented by personally selected artifacts from their kitchens and place settings featuring unique ceramic vessels that will link cooking styles to regional culinary traditions.

Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy is an imaginary banquet in which featured guests represent diverse histories, cuisines, and geographic regions. By understanding these elements, we can start to identify what Annie Hauck-Lawson and Jonathan Deutsch might call a “food voice” for Chinese in America. They write: “The concept of the food voice means that what people choose to procure, prepare, and eat—and what they do not eat—can reveal much about their identity and culture. Often, the food voice expresses what the spoken voice struggles to articulate.”

What does Chinese food in America, in its dizzying variety, say about who we are—or are not— today?

Featured Chefs:
Danny Bowien, New York
Anito Lo, New York
Jason Wang, New York
Peter and Lisa Chang, Rockville MD
Leonard Liao, Jackson Heights NY
Deron Wong, New York
Chris Cheung, Brooklyn
 Ni Biying , New York
 Tommy Wong , Mandeville LA
 Phillip Chiang , Los Angeles
 Cara Stadler , Portland
 Jonathan Wu , New York
 Susanna Foo , Radnor PA
 Wilson Tang , New York
 Cori Xiong and Heng Chen , Houston
 Jeff "Tao" Gao , Boulder CO
 Mike and Yvonne Thompson , Pounding Mill VA
 M artin Yan,  San Mateo CA
Ken Hom OBE, Bangkok, Paris, Rio de Janeiro
Kimmie Lee Tie, Raleigh NC
Ho-Chin and Ellen Yang, Everson WA
Eddie Huang, New York
Michael Tong, New York
Chris Yeo, San Jose CA
Vivian Ku, Los Angeles
Ming Tsai, Wellesley MA
Grace Young, New York

Featuring Ceramics by  Heidi Lau  and Lu Zhang. 

Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy: Stories of Chinese Food and Identity in America is curated by Audra Ang, Kian Lam Kho, and Herb Tam.

Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy: Stories of Chinese Food and Identity in America and related programs are made possible from public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York Legislature. Additional support for the exhibition is provided by The Starr Foundation.