“Just as A-má made me a promise, I make a promise to myself that she will come for her birthday.”

Cici introduces her central motivation for entering the cooking completion, a motivation that propels the plot forward. She sees how much her grandmother values promises; to her, it would be a failure if she did not help her get to Seattle for her birthday.

“I discover a whole new world of tastes. But I am leaving my old world.”

Cici’s interest in food began with A-má, and she loves the many different tastes she has encountered in Taiwan. They are comfortable and homey, and she will find similar comfort in them once she’s in Seattle. It will be a reminder of home, one that she learns to share with her friends.

“Will the food taste the same in Seattle? I try to memorize how it all tastes here.”

Food is an anchor for Cici. Food is also how she learns more about American culture, as through potato pancakes and cheese puffs. She eventually realizes that she can bring Taiwanese food into American culture, rather than keeping the two worlds separate.