猪脚姜 Hakka braised pork

猪脚姜 Hakka braised pork (large side dish) - contains soy, dairy free

Pork braised in black vinegar and lots of ginger. A collagen rich stew to replenish 氣 qi and warm the body. Add this on for extra protein to the lei cha or congee. Alternatively it can be eaten with plain rice and steamed vegetables (not included).

Some recipes call for this dish to be prepared with equal ratios of pork to ginger when making it for postpartum purposes, my mum made this version for me in my fourth trimester and it was...hard to eat (sorry mum). My version is more balanced, but it is still quite intensely flavoured.

Preorders can be collected on Saturday 26 October, 11am-4pm from The Physics Room, The Arts Centre Registry Building (Additions), 301 Montreal St, entry from Market Square.

Other tongue 餓 ghost kitchen is a postpartum takeaway food service. A culinary honoring of birthing, menstruating bodies, and for anyone who feels like they need some inner healing.

This food has been informed by 坐月子 Zuo yue zi postpartum cuisine (specifically Hakka dishes) and Chinese medicine philosophy, as well as the food I ate during my fourth trimester. I don’t consider this to be a traditional or a modern interpretation of Chinese confinement cuisine, it is simply my way of cooking and intended to bring primordial heat and healing to you or a loved one.

When I designed this menu I was taking into consideration my own limitations as a fulltime carer of our 1 year old, and thinking about what kinds of food and services people already have access to. I wanted to make food that you wouldn’t necessarily make for yourself, especially if recovering from birth, surgery or illness. All the dishes have a medicinal quality to them.

Purchasing the full menu for a friend or family member means they have a few meal options and would make a thoughtful gift. The congee and pork can be frozen and eaten later. Though these meals are inspired by 坐月子 Zuo yue zi, they are delicious for anyone needing a comforting and nutritious meal.

$1 from every dish purchased across the two events will be donated between Refuge Victoria and Aviva (Christchurch Women’s Refuge).