Marie Pascual, a resident of Toronto, celebrated her 26th birthday at Congee Queen, a simple yet cozy restaurant reminiscent of her parents’ dining choices. Wanting her diverse group of friends, including immigrants and international students, to feel at home, she took charge of ordering a variety of dishes like black pepper squid, beef with noodles, Super Bowl congee, turnip cakes, and seafood vermicelli.
Growing up in the Philippines, Marie inherited a strong tradition of communal meals from her family, where sharing food was a fundamental value. Even now, her mother’s generosity extends to packing containers of food for Marie and her partner without them having to ask. This tradition of abundance and sharing, deeply ingrained in Filipino culture, was a way of ensuring no one left the table hungry.
Despite her cultural background emphasizing sharing and abundance, Marie sometimes feels out of place in more individualistic settings. However, she acknowledges the merits of individual ordering, which respects personal preferences and dietary restrictions. One evening, she relished a deep-fried soft-shell crab sandwich ordered solely for herself, experiencing a newfound sense of self-indulgence and autonomy.
While navigating the balance between communal sharing and individual choice, Marie finds comfort in her small acts of rebellion against societal norms, ensuring that her generosity does not overshadow her individuality. Embracing her cultural roots while learning to assert her own preferences, she reflects on the significance of both communal and individual dining experiences in shaping her identity.
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