About

Why “The Soycialist”?

It all starts with soy sauce.

In Chinese home cooking, soy sauce isn’t just a seasoning – it’s the foundation. It quietly holds everything together, deepens the flavor, rounds out the edges. It doesn’t shout like chili oil or tingle like Sichuan peppercorns, but without it, most dishes would feel incomplete.

The name Soycialist is really just a pun, not a political statement, a playful nod to my belief in sharing good food with good company. I’m not one for big parties, but I love having a few friends over for a homemade meal. It takes effort – from prepping ingredients to cleaning up afterward – but cooking itself is strangely calming. It’s one of the few things I can do without overthinking. Just follow the steps, keep my hands busy, and let my mind rest.

I’m usually the one hovering around the stove, and later the quiet one at the table, just listening as everyone chats. But watching friends pass dishes around, laughing and eating with chopsticks flying – that’s when I feel completely at ease and content.

Sometimes after dinner, someone will ask, “Can you send me the recipe?” And so, this blog was born.

This blog is my way of sharing the Chinese home-style dishes I know and love – recipes that actually work in American kitchens, with ingredients you can find at your local Asian grocery (or online). Some are classics. Some are shortcuts. All of them are tested, a little imperfect, and made to be shared.

My hope is that if you’re living far from home, you’ll find something here that brings that familiar comfort back to your table. And if you’re just curious about Chinese food beyond takeout menus, you might find that soy sauce has a lot more to say.

這個博客名字，還得從醬油説起。

中國人做飯，哪能沒有醬油？紅燒、煎、炒、燉，甚至清蒸魚，也要淋上一點，才算圓滿。它是中式家常菜中不可或缺的調料，是家的味道底色。幾乎每道菜都用得上它。它不像辣椒那樣囂張，也不似花椒那樣霸道，卻是廚房裡最忠誠的配角，百搭不喧賓。一點下去，整道菜就有了靈魂。

“Soycialist”這個名字，其實是個諧音梗，不是什麼主義者。我隻是個不太喜歡大型社交活動的人。人多嘈雜的場合讓我緊張，對我來説，最舒服的社交方式，是定期請三五好友來家裡吃飯。雖然這件事從備菜到收拾都挺費精力，但做菜這件事，對我反而是放鬆的，按部就班，動手不動腦，很治愈。

我常是那個圍着鍋忙碌的人，也常是飯桌上靜靜聽大家聊天的人。但隻要看到朋友們你一筷我一碗、聊得熱熱鬧鬧，我就覺得安心又滿足。

飯後他們偶爾會問：“這個菜怎麼做的？”我聽了心花怒放，那種被肯定的快樂讓我开心。這“回頭發送給你”説得多了，便真的想繫統地整理一下了。

我想把這些親自試過、在這邊也做得出的家常菜譜整理出來，分享給朋友，也分享給和我有類似飲食記憶的人。希望你能從中找到幾道順手的菜，偶爾做頓飯時，不至於太費神、不太將就，也能覺得，這頓飯是對自己認真過日子的証據。