Many Chinese families celebrate first birthdays by placing a variety of household objects in front of the birthday child. The first item that the child grabs predicts who they’ll become when they grow up.  

On my first birthday, I chose between a toy gun, model airplane, book, and spoon. 

Grandpa, Yeye, was a retired soldier. He clapped and sang near the toy gun. 

Baba, a travel agent, made funny faces at me above the model airplane. 

Mama, the former high school valedictorian, blew kisses at me while pointing at the book.  

I ignored them. I crawled towards the spoon and shoved it into my mouth. My grandma, Nainai, who fed me mashed Chinese delicacies ever since I was born, beamed with pride. 

I was destined to become a foodie. Over the years, I volunteered at soup kitchens, took cooking classes with Buddhist monks, made advertisements for Frito-Lay, became the Chester Cheetah mascot, and briefly became a food micro-influencer.

My first love was Chinese food. I’ve always been fascinated by the rich flavors and cultures of the eight great Chinese cuisines. While living in San Francisco and New York City, I visited Chinatown every week. That’s where I felt safe, surrounded by people who looked (and cooked) like me. 

However, I recognize that not all people have the same appreciation for Chinatowns. 

On one side of the spectrum, there are people who avoid Chinatowns because they’re intimidated by the language and cultural barriers. On the other side of the spectrum are people who buy into Chinatown’s tourist facade and overlook its history.

I became a food tour guide in Manhattan’s Chinatown so that I could teach other people about the family-owned businesses, community groups, and stories that make Chinatown what it is today. I’m honored to be the first and only male member of the women-owned Mott Street Girls (MSG) tour group. 

You can book one of my 90-minute food tours for your next family outing, birthday party, corporate event, or casual lunch break. If you can’t find a public tour that works with your schedule, please email mottstreetgirls@gmail.com for more availability or to schedule a private event.