While we’re coping with the pandemic, we long for a sunny walk outside. A picnic ultimately became our best choice♡ We laid down on the summer green grass and felt our sweat streaming down our smiley faces. Unlike a conventional picnic, there was no white wine nor sandwiches; what there was were these colorful steamed pork dumplings and chawanmushi. Uning’s unique characteristic began with the bean paste steamed dumplings… 

Everyone calls me Uning. I’m a Pisces from Kaohsiung and am an advocate of INFJ personality type. Sometimes I feel conflicted describing my personality.

I really enjoy integrating vintage and modern elements and it’s indescribable. I have a hobby of collecting betelnut packaging, and I would create an exhibition once I’ve collected enough packaging waste. I would think about the history of the particular betelnut box that I collected that has an alluring lady image on it. Looking at the workers tossing the same box on the floor gives me a tingling feeling, I wonder why? 

I am not really a foodie but my mom has a big impact on me, she is a person who loves to experience new things. She once told me happily that the curry she was cooking was made with rat meat. I remember thinking: “Wow! Didn’t know that rats are super meaty.” Little did I know, rat meat was a name for pork shoulder in Mandarin. I liked going grocery and kitchenware shopping and with mom and grandma, and I loved helping out at the dining table. Compared to eating, what attracted me more was the visual connections.

While I was a student, I wanted to study F&B-related majors. My mom said something that woke me up, she said that I didn’t have to study F&B Management to do related work in the future. So I ended up studying fashion design because I love beauty and fashion. 

There was another phase while I was in college and I was lost and confused. One day I came across Laila Gohar’s artwork. She was active in the fashion and jewelry scene as a culinary artist. I thought: “Oh my god! That’s what I want!”

My favorite menu! Well, I must recommend the book “Afrodita. Cue toys, Recetas y Otros Afrodisiacos” by Isabel Allende. A principle of this book is that “All Spring Meals must be intended with authenticity, otherwise it wouldn’t produce its results.” A reminder here, whether it is heaven or hell, the only thing that matters is having a bona fide heart. 

I collaborated with photographer Manbo Key and Lin Jian-Wen for The End Lingerie brand; it was also my first time working with MW Studio. We used fruit carving as its base topped with a fish-shaped jelly paired with metal accessories that echoe the lingerie brand’s design. The jellies are wet, sticky, and gooey; so after a while exposing at room temperature they have a rotten smell which makes them even sexier. These photographs were later released in i-D Magazine, too. Haha! 

My feet are bigger than average, it’s difficult for me to find pretty shoes that carry my size. I would even purchase pretty shoes that aren’t even comfy. This time, I have a really pleasant experience with inooknit’s crochet knitted flats, they’re soft with algae foam insole. 

Dancing to “Makes You Fly” by Nice Guys Dumbo Gets Mad elevated the whole FUN for me! 

Photographer/ Toby Hsu @presstheshutter99

Texts/ Lin Chin @chih_____lin

Model/ Uning @uningkuo

Fu Cake/ @fu_food_cake