From Taiwan to Newcastle: How Kenny Chuang Stumbled Into African Food Just Looking for Some Cooked Veggies

Kenny Chuang moved to the UK expecting the typical student experience: meeting new people, exploring new places, and weathering a bit of culture shock. What he did not anticipate was the profound longing he would develop for something as simple as cooked vegetables.

He is studying at the University of Edinburgh and was desperately craving the kind of stewed, hot vegetables he used to enjoy back home in Taiwan. Since arriving in the UK, he felt like he was only eating raw salad.

When he visited Newcastle, he was after a change of scenery. That is how he found himself in an unexpected place: an African restaurant called Dining Oasis Restaurant. There, he sat down to his very first plate of pounded yam, beef, and vegetable soup.

It was his first time ever trying that kind of food.

“The reason is, just like I mentioned, I really want to eat cooked vegetable, stewed vegetable,” he said. “Because when I arrived in UK, all I ate is salad.”

He was a little nervous at first, looking at the soup and bracing himself for the spice. He thought, “This soup is going to be way too spicy,” but figured mixing it with the pounded yam would balance it out.

Then he realised just how huge the portion was.

“It is too big for me to finish it,” he said, laughing.

It was a funny moment, but it turned out to be a pretty cool experience. He had basically stumbled into a whole new world of food.

He had never seen African cuisine in Taiwan before. Ahead of his trip to Newcastle, he ran a quick online search and discovered that pounded yam is a significant staple in many African countries. But reading about it on a screen is nothing compared to sitting down and savouring it.

“I haven’t eaten this in Taiwan,” he said. “So, it’s very special to me. It’s an unforgettable experience to me.”

Kenny wasn’t dragged out by an African friend to try the food. He had an old English tutor from Africa, and his curiosity about the food, coupled with his desire for those vegetables, led him to explore something entirely new. Simply wanting a taste of home opened the door to an unexpected adventure.

“Few of Taiwanese have heard of African food, not mentioning trying it.”

To him, the best part about food is that it lets you experience a whole culture without any prior knowledge. Taiwan, he said, is incredibly food-obsessed, and people there are usually open to trying almost anything.

“Taiwanese love to eat so much. We are crazy about food,” he said. “We are really willing to try any kind of food.”

People back home are used to American, Italian, Japanese, or Korean food, he said. African food just isn’t on their radar yet.

“Few of Taiwanese have heard of African food, not mentioning trying it,” he said.

Which means it could be a really fresh experience for people from Taiwan.

“I think it will be a fresh experience not only to me, but also to so many Taiwanese people,” he said.

By the end of the meal, he got his cooked veggies and a great story out of it.

“If I have a chance, I would tell my friends about the special restaurant in Newcastle,” he said.

And the spice clearly didn’t scare him off. When asked if he’d do it again, he didn’t even hesitate.

“Yes! Yes, I will.”

Though he might switch up one thing next time. He almost ordered Jollof rice instead of the pounded yam. Now that he has tackled the yam, he thinks he will try the rice.

“Next time if I go to an African restaurant, rice will be my choice,” he said.

It is amusing how a student thousands of miles from home embarked on this culinary adventure solely to satisfy a craving for hot vegetables. He not only savoured a good meal but gained an unforgettable experience. Sometimes learning about a culture doesn’t require a textbook or a guided tour; sometimes all it takes is sitting down to a plate of food.

From the night