In 2023, my New Year's resolution was to taste dumplings from around the world as shown in the picture below. However, since this wish is too ambitious, I obviously failed to achieve it. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the opportunity to study in Leiden, I explored various cuisines from different countries and regions. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, here I look back at the various dishes I have tried to replicate in my own kitchen during the past six months in Leiden.

Naturally, the most replicated dishes came from my hometown's Chinese cuisine. ” You don't regret it until you lose it. The most painful thing in the world is this.” This saying roughly summarizes my dining experience at Chinese restaurants in the Netherlands. While Chinese cuisine was routine for me in China, attempting to replicate the memories of Chinese dishes made me realize the richness and diversity of Chinese culinary styles and ingredients. Living in Europe not only provided me with an opportunity to understand European culture but also allowed me to reexamine Chinese culture. As a representative of Chinese culture, Chinese cuisine reflects the diversity and inclusivity of Chinese culture. What struck me the most was the almost nonexistent dietary restrictions in Chinese cuisine, contrasting with many regions worldwide that have varying degrees of dietary restrictions due to religious factors. This highlighted China's secular trend throughout its history.

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With the spread of modern civilization, the European region, as the birthplace of modern civilization, has already disseminated its culinary habits worldwide: cakes, cheese, pasta, and pizza are globally renowned delicacies. So when I come to Europe, of course I have to experience and learn about the local food. Despite Leiden University's cafeteria potentially being rated as the worst in the Netherlands, Leiden city had many delightful restaurants worth exploring. When I was studying in Beijing, I always hated the homogeneity of restaurants in Beijing. Despite the multitude of restaurants, there was always a sense of ubiquitous imitations of popular chains. Although the taste was not bad, few of them made a special trip to experience it. Many restaurants in Leiden retained their unique decoration styles and signature dishes, making the dining experience in some restaurants even intriguing enough to be considered worthy of a special visit.

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Overall, desserts in the Netherlands taste better than main courses, so I also tried learning to make some desserts. Appelflappen and carrot cake have become my recommended desserts to everyone I meet.

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Although I replicated a limited number of Southeast Asian dishes in the past six months, it is still worth mentioning. As a melting pot of diverse cultures, Southeast Asia has been influenced by various immigrant populations, each contributing their own culinary traditions. Combined with the region's favorable geographic conditions, Southeast Asia has developed a unique and diverse cuisine. As a cultural carrier, I hope to explore the cuisine of Southeast Asia in the future to better understand the region's diverse culture and history. In the coming year, I also hope to try Latin American cuisine. Similar to Southeast Asia, Latin America is renowned for its diverse immigrant communities and abundant natural resources worldwide. Interestingly, the reason I didn't explore Latin American cuisine last year was because I nearly ended up in the emergency room after tasting a Surinamese pepper. Hopefully, I won't develop a fear of pepper for the next few years after this experience.

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“If the world's major problems exceed our strength, we can at least ensure that we live together peacefully in our own country and bridge differences.” Living in Leiden allowed me to appreciate the wisdom of a small country with a few people, and also allowed me to appreciate the richness and diversity of human culture. However, my previous focus on the major powers also caused me to ignore the unique history and culture of Southeast Asia and Latin America, I hope that in the new year I can appreciate the food and culture of different regions with a more open mind.