A special dish I have chosen that brings me comfort is my Mom's Cháo Bo. Often known as Vietnamese beef Congee, is a traditional rice porridge made with minced beef and topped with green onions. Cháo Bo Isn't just a simple porridge, it represents more than food, it carries the history of my Vietnamese heritage, culture, and the memories that have shaped me who I am today. I grew up eating Cháo throughout my childhood, and it became one of my favorite comfort foods. As for my family, Cháo reflects the hardships and challenges my family has faced immigrating from Vietnam to Seattle. My mom is one of many first generation immigrants that moved to America for a better life. Growing up in Vietnam in poverty, where they struggled to make ends meet, Cháo was a food she had grown to love because it was cheap, and filling, and delicious. What may have started as a "struggle meal" had become a dish that connected my mom to her childhood roots and eventually connected me to hers. Whenever I eat Cháo Bo, I am reminded of the warmth and love of my Mom's cooking, and the importance of family. Reminiscing about the happiest moments of my childhood when my grandma would take me out to eat Cháo on the streets of Saigon on rainy days. Those memories show me how food can bring together family, and how we cherish the experiences we make. To me, Cháo Bo is not simply a bowl of porridge-- it's a constant reminder of home, family, and my Vietnamese heritage that I take pride in proudly representing; Vietnam. Which will always hold a special place for me in my heart. 

– N.D

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant