Light Seeker | 找到你的光

When I first saw this question, I honestly felt it was difficult to answer. In my family, meals are not just “one dish.” They are many plates on the table. There are vegetables, meat, soup, and rice all together. That’s how Chinese families usually eat, so choosing only three favorites feels almost impossible. But as I thought about it, a few memories came naturally to my mind.

1. Hotpot — definitely number one.
   Hotpot is probably our whole family’s favorite meal. It has everything we love: warm soup, lots of vegetables, sliced meat, mushrooms, tofu, seafood—you can put anything in it. It’s cozy, flexible, and feels like home. Whenever we cook hotpot, the bubbling broth creates this wonderful aroma. We sit around the table longer and talk more. We enjoy the warmth of the food and each other. It’s a simple meal. Somehow, it carries a lot of love. I realize now, it becomes an anchor for so many happy memories.
2. Rice — especially because of my dad.
   This might sound funny, but rice has to be on the list because my dad simply cannot live without it. He says he “won’t eat” if there is no rice. One time, my mom didn’t cook rice because the children had already eaten and she thought it wasn’t necessary anymore. But my dad got upset—he said a meal without rice wasn’t a meal at all. So because of him, rice is always essential in our house. Even just the fragrance of fresh rice steaming in the kitchen is enough to make the whole home feel complete.
3. Cake — especially ancient-style cakes.
   The third one surprised even me when I thought about it: cake. My mom adores cake—cheesecake, traditional cakes, soft cakes… almost anything. She doesn’t eat a lot, but she enjoys the taste and the small happiness it brings. Maybe that’s why cakes have become a quiet little tradition in our home. Whenever we have something to celebrate—or even when we don’t—there’s often a cake somewhere. The softness and sweetness of cake feel like a gentle celebration, even on ordinary days.

Thinking about these foods, I realize they are much more than favorites—they are emotional anchors in our family story. Psychologists say that tastes and smells can connect us instantly to our strongest emotions and memories.

For my family, the bubbling hotpot, the aroma of steamed rice, and the sweetness of cake bring us right back to laughter, comfort, and the sense of belonging. Food is not just food—it’s memory, warmth, and the unique taste of home.