The president of Home Life Publishing returns to his hometown in Yilan to run a small bookstore and eatery

On the second day after the first spring thunder, Chen Chao-chi, president of Shangchi Cultural Publishing House, rolled up his sleeves in the newly completed kitchen of the Book & Food Shop together with Chen Hui-wen, proprietress of Happy Farm, the faculty and staff of Shengou Elementary School, and local small farmers. They shaped steamed sweet potato mash into balls with their palms, gently hollowed out a curved groove with their thumbs, and tucked in homemade roselle jam to create an original sweet potato ball dessert. One bite, and the sweet-and-sour, velvety texture spread across the tongue. "This is what it means to live back home!"

Living back home starts with a good meal

Having interviewed more than a hundred farmers about their stories of working the land and published small-travel guides to more than a dozen townships, this year Chen Chao-chi has finally returned to his roots.

Before the Lunar New Year, he moved Shangchi Publishing House, which he founded 18 years ago, back to his hometown and opened "Come Home Studio - Book & Food Shop" across the street from Luodong Sports Park. The first floor displays the small-travel and food-and-agriculture education books his company has published, accented with environmentally friendly Kabocha squash grown by friends, tomatoes from Shengou farmers, and hand-fired ceramic pots; the second floor is an office area and open kitchen with handmade wooden tables and chairs, complemented by natural sunlight and the green space of Luodong Sports Park.

Yesterday the kitchen was officially "consecrated" for the public, with Chen Hui-wen, proprietress of Tamsui Happy Farm, invited to teach a seasonal-ingredient cooking class for the faculty and staff of Shengou Elementary School, local farmers and members of the public. Chen Hui-wen casually picked up carrots and choy sum from a bamboo basket and paired them with all kinds of homemade jams, transforming them into one creative, wholesome dish after another. The participants not only watched with their mouths agape, but also showed no restraint with their chopsticks, exclaiming all the while, "So delicious," "I never imagined you could be this full without eating meat."

For details, search Facebook https://www.facebook.com/comehomestudio?fref=ts

(This article was funded by the Jianzhen Environmental Education Foundation for personnel costs, but the foundation does not interfere at all with news topics or interview writing, ensuring journalistic independence.)