Eat Your Book Club: Chop Suey Nation

Eat Your Book Club — Devour the Stories Behind Every Bite

Eat Your Book Club is a monthly gathering for curious minds and adventurous readers who love to lose themselves in the delicious world of food literature and fiction. Curated by chef, food designer, and culinary storyteller Abraham Wong, this club explores the stories, characters, and cultural histories that unfold wherever food is at the heart of the page, with a special focus on female and BIPOC authors and food writers.

Each session spotlights a hand-picked book—from novels steeped in family recipes to memoirs flavored by culinary travels, discoveries and traditions. With Chef Abraham as your guide, together we’ll dive into rich narratives, discuss mouthwatering moments, and share personal reflections sparked by the text. The goal isn’t just to analyze literature, but to savour the way stories about food reveal who we are, where we come from, and how food connects us across time and place.

Enhancing the experience, Eat Your Book Club hosts a dinner every quarter in the year, culminating with dishes inspired by the food books we read together, as prepared by Chef Abraham.

Eat Your Book Club is about building a community where everyone has a voice—whether you’re a passionate reader, a closet foodie, or simply someone who loves a good story. Expect lively conversation, new perspectives, and plenty of inspiration to take home to your own kitchen and bookshelf.

Join us as we read, share, and celebrate the magic where stories and food meet. No cooking required—just bring your appetite for great books and great company.

Interested in joining? Our first session of “Eat your books” will be on September 12, 2025, Friday evening, 6:30 PM at Enabling Arts, 343 Railway Street, Vancouver. Sign up at [email protected]

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Why “Chop Suey Nation”?

This is a book that’s all about the author’s quest to answer two questions: “Why is there a Chinese Restaurant in every small town? And who are the families who run them?” From there on out, Hui is not just answering these two culinary questions by driving across Canada from West to East, but in the process, unveils another set of questions that ask what is the quintessential identity of herself, when family stories unravel a hidden past.

A quest for answering culinary questions leads to deep understanding and reconciliation of her own growing up experience, and how all these crystallize in the vast history of Canadian Chinese Cuisine.

The experience of reading it is a perfect meal, showing the huge variety of deliciousness in Canadian Chinese dishes. If you want a tasty history that is with the warmth of a family memoir, this will be your best choice.

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Abraham Wong is a chef, culinary instructor, food designer, violinist, and curator whose work explores the intersections of culture, history, food, music, creativity, and connection. Born and raised in Hong Kong and now based in Vancouver, Abraham draws from both cities’ rich culinary and artistic traditions, crafting experiences that go beyond what’s on the plate.

His approach to food is rooted in tradition, curiosity, and creativity, yet grounded deeply in seasonality and often features local ingredients. Abraham is known for designing healthier, modern interpretations of classic dim sum, reviving long-lost recipes in Hong Kong and Cantonese cuisine, and creating new iterations of classical dishes, as well as teaching hands-on cooking workshops that welcome everyone from curious home cooks to seasoned professionals.

His mooncake-making classes and private dinners span Vancouver, Toronto, and Seattle, reflecting his commitment to sharing food and culture across communities.

For Abraham, cooking and eating together is about more than recipes—it’s a way to build genuine connection, share stories, and create moments of clarity in a noisy world. His events are intentionally intimate, often blending music, food history, and sensory exploration.

As a violinist, he loves bringing live performance into the dining room, believing that both music and food can open people to new experiences and deeper conversations.

Featured by CBC Vancouver and active in the local food and arts scene, Abraham is dedicated to making every gathering meaningful, inclusive, and memorable. He sees himself as a connector—someone who creates spaces for real conversation, shared joy, and lasting inspiration. For him, the table is more than a place to eat; it’s where community begins and where we rediscover ourselves and each other.

Host or Publisher Enabling Arts