When it comes to exploring new culinary horizons, Carla never backs down. Her latest adventure took her to Chengdu, the vibrant heart of Sichuan cuisine, where spices tell stories and the steam rising from bamboo baskets is a language all its own.
As soon as she stepped into one of the city's liveliest food markets, Carla was swept away by a symphony of sounds and aromas. Bamboo baskets overflowing with steamed dumplings, grills sizzling with skewers, the vibrant colors of fresh vegetables — everything moved in perfect harmony. Vendors greeted her with warm smiles, calling out their daily specials beneath a shower of red and gold lanterns swaying gently above their stalls.
Holding a small bamboo plate filled with freshly made baozi, Carla paused to savor the moment. As the morning sun filtered through the market stalls, casting golden highlights on her first hours in the city, she realized she wasn’t just there to taste — she was there to learn.
Between heartfelt chats with a local cook and the discovery of new ingredients — fresh ginger, crunchy bok choy, and fragrant red chilies — Carla collected flavors and inspiration to bring back to her kitchen and her future cookbooks.
“This isn’t just street food,” she said with a smile. “This is poetry you eat with your hands.”
Her journey through China wasn’t just a culinary experience — it was a deep connection with a culture that speaks through food. And Carla, as always, was ready to listen.
