The kitchen is the heart of the home
Food has played such a large role shaping civilization, it has been baked into the human experience. In fact, cooked food was a marked turning point in human evolution because our brains increased in size—so it’s kind of a big deal.
As people, we have always been impacted by our relationship with the environment and our surroundings. Food changes depending on where we live in the world; yet it still remains a unique reflection of us. The poetic nature of food is that it’s the rich common thread uniting all cultures, no matter how vastly different they may seem.
We are what we eat
Eating is more than basic sustenance to stop our stomachs from growling—it is imbued with symbolism, connection and comfort. In any culture, cooking something familiar and well-loved is a cloak of safety and feeling cared for. Across the world, food is a tool to convey love, and sharing a meal is key to socializing. Food is much more than simply fuel. It’s an everyday indulgence that brings families together and creates memories.
Good health and fortune
Food has a joyful and magical quality. Savouring a steaming bowl of comfort on a chilly, damp evening (luckily Vancouver never has any of those!) instantly makes the world feel like a safer place. The transformative power of food is monumental, and that’s something Chinese food culture appreciates. Making up the second largest demographic in Vancouver, the Chinese community has had a long and profound influence on our local culinary delights.
Food has deep meaning in Chinese culture. While there is a central social component, food represents luck, prosperity and longevity. Holidays and celebrations are filled with fresh delights and special tasty treats. What better way to ring in the new year than with a stomach full of happiness and good fortune?
Sharing is caring
There’s a reason we don’t find solitary meals particularly memorable, but we can recall feasts and celebrations filled with friends, delicious food, laughter and merriment for a lifetime. Hospitality is the hallmark of Filipino culture, and this is wonderfully captured in their culinary customs.
Breaking bread to welcome new friends has long been a Filipino tradition because it’s a lens from which to explore the customs and feel the warmth and homeliness. This culture truly personifies home is where you hang your hat. Social and centered around food, eating is about generosity and openness.
Community and connection
South Asian food culture is reflective of family identity, along with the passing and sharing of traditional habits. These social traditions are present in the rich and delicate flavours Vancouverites have come to enjoy, thanks to the strong South Asian roots in the community.
Family meals are a large part of these cultural roots, which means how food is prepared and shared speaks volumes about where we’re from. Large celebrations bring everyone together and food is a core part of any festival—maybe that’s because eating makes us feel just a bit more alive. Carrying on family food traditions by honoring them with our own twists is how we can maintain a connection across generations and timezones.
Equitable sustainability
The universal experience of food culture is family, socialization, and celebration. For us, it’s important our shoppe fulfills and honours these shared values, on top of our commitment to sustainability. Why? Because of the role food waste plays in the circular economy and it has a profound influence across cultures. We all have a stake in sustainable food that provides nourishment and continuity in our communities.
We love how food connects us to our individual culture, each other and the planet. For Fulfill Shoppe, it’s our role to support the community through inclusion, quality goods and practical sustainability. We’re passionate about sowing seeds so we can all enjoy a bountiful harvest.
