Feng Feng Yeh wasn’t always closely connected to her Chinese-American heritage while growing up. However, the New York-based chef and founder of the Chinese Chorizo Project felt a pull back to her roots when she returned to Tucson shortly after the pandemic.
This shift in her journey came with a new sense of purpose – and, like many of us during that time, more time for self-reflection. “I decided to explore my ethnic background and stumbled upon the history of Chinese grocery stores,” Yeh says. Her exploration of Chinese-American heritage and its ties to Mexican culture began when she learned that, in the early to mid-1900s, both Chinese and Mexican immigrants faced severe racism due to American legislation. This discrimination forced the two communities to conduct business primarily with one another, fostering a unique cultural connection as they worked together to maintain economic stability.
In Tucson, Chinese grocery stores became cultural hubs, blending diverse influences that ignited Yeh’s culinary imagination. “This fusion ultimately inspired the creation of the Chinese Chorizo Project, marking a new chapter in culinary innovation.”
Today, the Chinese Chorizo Festival stands as a testament to this exploration. Now an annual statewide celebration, it takes place from October 4 to November 10, uniting communities and cuisines.
“The festival is a symbol of community resilience and solidarity,” Yeh explains. This unique event features nearly 2,000 pounds of chorizo — a traditional Spanish pork sausage often served for breakfast with beans and eggs. Yeh and her team prepare and donate the chorizo, inviting local restaurants to create distinctive Chinese chorizo dishes. These creations celebrate the shared cultural heritage between Arizona’s Chinese and Mexican communities. The chorizo made for the festival is not just food; it’s a medium through which stories, history and cultural exchanges unfold.
“In the 1960s, Chinese immigrants migrated through Mexico, exchanging cultural values with Mexican immigrants here in Arizona,” Yeh explains. “For survival, they built communities with Mexican BIPOC by sharing ideas, running businesses, and establishing grocery stores within Mexican neighborhoods.”
Chorizo itself, originally a traditional Spanish dish, has long been a staple in Mexican cuisine, representing adaptability and creative resilience. “Chinese chorizo was historically crafted from leftover meat scraps and end-cuts, constantly evolving as an adaptable recipe,” Yeh says. This year, the Chinese Chorizo Project introduced a new chorizo paste, offering restaurants fresh ways to experiment with this fusion. The paste has become a canvas for culinary creativity, allowing chefs to reinterpret classic dishes with a unique twist.
For this year’s festival, several Phoenix restaurants are highlighting the versatile nature of Chinese chorizo. AZ Wilderness DTPHX presents an innovative Chinese Chorizo Sour cocktail, a drink featuring bourbon infused with Chinese chorizo, blending bold flavors with inventive flair. Chilte is showcasing a Chinese-inspired chorizo and prawn tapas dish, putting a modern twist on a Spanish classic. Lom Wong has crafted an unexpected take on the traditional Thai dish Pad Krapow by incorporating Chinese chorizo. This range of unique offerings reflects the festival’s mission to celebrate the convergence of flavors that emerges from cultural blending. “Chinese chorizo is a beautiful metaphor for the immigrant experience – transforming meager resources into something highly sought after,” Yeh adds.
The Chinese Chorizo Project symbolizes resilience, preservation and the building of cross-cultural bonds. The values forged between Chinese and Mexican communities reflect a deep commitment to family, culture and belonging. “The Chinese Chorizo Project is about uplifting and preserving the stories of those who haven’t been heard,” Yeh says, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the diverse histories that contribute to Arizona’s cultural landscape.
Yeh warmly invites everyone to support the cause by visiting participating restaurants in Phoenix and Tucson. “The Chinese Chorizo spirit is one of solidarity, bringing us all together in the beauty of shared heritage.” Through its culinary outreach and cultural engagement, the Chinese Chorizo Project is a reminder of the strength and vibrancy of Arizona’s multicultural community.
