‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

‘Savouring the Past’ is an exploratory Twine game that encourages players to slowly unveil memories of the past through various staple dim sum dishes.

This game is based on research in the archival materials of the Larry Wong Fonds, specifically drawing on Larry Wong’s 2011 novel, Dim Sum Stories: A Chinatown Childhood. The structure of the novel is reimagined and laid out on the table of a dim sum restaurant, as these traditional dishes one by one evoke hazy memories that illustrate life in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Our game highlights how archival research can be reinterpreted in different ways to allow new audiences to both interact with and preserve history at once. The segmented stories aim to echo the fragmented and sensory nature of memory, reinforcing the themes of nostalgia and cultural heritage. Tracking the player’s choices personalizes their journey, making it feel like it is their story, altogether shaping the final reflection they receive at the end.

We hope that players walk away from Savouring the Past with a deeper appreciation for how food can carry history, emotions, memory, and identity. By experiencing the past through the act of eating, the game encourages players to think about their own connections to food and the ways certain dishes tied to cultural traditions can shape personal and collective narratives.