Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A 35-year-old man in Chongqing who plans to invite 10,000 strangers to his home for dinner within 10 years has grabbed attention recently.
Hao Shuai launched the project in January and has hosted free dinners in his downtown apartment in Chongqing's Yubei district.
Each month, Hao holds four to six dinners in his 30-square-meter kitchen, accommodating 10 to 12 people each time. So far, he has invited more than 1,600 people, spending more than 10,000 yuan ($1,554).
He said the food cost for each meal is less than 200 yuan, and the real cost is time. "But if you consider cooking a relaxation and enjoyment, it is not a burden at all," he said.
Born in a village in the district in 1986, Hao was raised with a natural love for food — his father was a chef, and his mother ran a food stall for more than 30 years.
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Hao said he felt depressed in the city, where people seem to be moving fast and have lost the link with each other.
"I decided a dinner table would do," Hao said, adding that any stranger willing to participate can sign up for dinner via the official WeChat account "Hao Shuai's Kitchen".
To make it fun and interactive, he requires the participants to bring a dish, buy groceries, cook, wash dishes. He will cook three to five dishes, mostly Sichuan cuisines.
"Thanks to a chef rotation mechanism, authentic Shaanxi, Taiwan and Greece cuisines have come out of my kitchen, cooked by friends from all over the world, " he said.
"Whenever I'm unhappy, I plunge myself into the kitchen," said Hao, adding that he came up with the idea when he was at his lowest.
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. Provided to chinadaily.com.cn
In 2020, Hao's failure at business resulted in a loss of more than 1 million yuan.
"My kitchen has seen many people crying," Hao said, adding that he realized that he was not the most unfortunate.
"Nothing feels better than sharing stories and eating delicious food," said Hao. "And if possible, we get like-minded friends."
"I felt the kindness of strangers and the beauty of life when a group of interesting souls gathered," said Liu Jian, a hotpot restaurant chef, who joined Hao Shuai's Kitchen in April.
Hao hopes to link participants from all walks of life in a mutual-aid community, to offer help and warmth, and is considering to host a story-sharing event. "Those touching, inspiring stories could heal a lot of people," he said.
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Hao Shuai has so far invited more than 1,600 people for dinner since January. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
