Shane Duo’s mouth-watering narrative about his childhood order of Kung Pao Chicken reveals an intense, embodied, and vigorously moving portrait of his family life. Memories are diced, seasoned, sauteed, and fried through his words. Details of his past come together to form a delicious dish that frames his Chinese American experience in unique and flavorful curiosity.  

Lego and Kung Pao Chicken – Shane Duo 

The box creaked open, blasting a blinding light from within, revealing a culinary masterpiece. I had eaten this dish so many times that I had become a connoisseur, and I knew the first step to enjoying this delicacy was removing all the peanuts. Their sharp presence in every bite ruined the textural experience of this delicate cuisine. After ridding the pest, I took my first proper bite. Bam! Garlic, peppercorns, cucumbers, chicken, and countless other flavors exploded on my tongue. At this moment, I closed my eyes, soaked in the warmth of the summer sun, and prepared myself for the next bite. Unfortunately, without fail, a piece of chicken would escape from the boundaries of my spoon and invade my pristine white t-shirt. I scrambled to pick up the chicken before being scolded by my mother, quickly grabbing it with my fingers and hiding the evidence in my mouth.