Fold dumplings, share stories. Join us for an afternoon of making, tasting & connecting—from domestic ritual into collective art experience.

About the Event

Pinch of Us is more than a cooking class—it’s a participatory workshop series led by multidisciplinary artist LuLu Meng and collaborators. The project transforms the Essex Market Kitchen into a communal studio, exploring how we connect through shared labor and sensory experience.

Rooted in LuLu’s family history and drawing from the Lunar New Year traditions of her Taiwanese upbringing, LuLu treats the dumpling not just as a symbol of prosperity, but as a vessel for the quiet intimacy and storytelling that can emerge when generations gather together to cook.

The Experience

The heart of the workshop lies in the exchange between different cultures. LuLu will be joined by Bang Geul Han (South Korea) and Juan Pablo Caicedo Torres (Colombia), who will guide participants through the culinary traditions of their home countries. While the fillings and dough will be prepared in advance, the "art" begins when we work together:

• Cultural Exchange: Bang Geul and Juan Pablo will introduce traditional techniques and flavors from South Korea and Colombia, offering a window into their own heritage and family rituals.

• Creative Fusion: While honoring tradition, we also embrace the hybrid. Participants are encouraged to experiment, combining folding techniques and pairing unexpected folds with different fillings.

• Fluid Roles: Every participant is invited to shift between the roles of maker, server, guest, and host, becoming equal co-creators of the meal.

• A Family Tradition: In honor of LuLu’s grandfather, a penny will be hidden within one of the dumplings. Whoever finds it receives good luck for the year ahead!