About
Herban Omnivore is my love letter to all the sensesâan intimate space shaped by food, music, writing, and storytelling. Together, we explore how traditional art forms (i.e. fine dining, classical music) can be reimagined as accessible, interdisciplinary, and multi-sensory experiences that foster community dialougue and personal introspection. As a classical musician, I am particularly inspired by a new generation that seeks meaning beyond performance and prestige, embracing creativity, curiosity, and connection.
What began as a student-run pop-up kitchen has grown into an creative platform that celebrates sensory-driven art that encourages slow and intentional experiential thinking--whether it's an interactive tasting menu, a concert, or a multisensory pairing.
âš Philosophy
Herban Omnivore's culinary vision is globally inspired yet rooted in my Taiwanese cultural heritage--with humble local and seasonal produce under the spotlight. Plant-centrism is not a declaration of veganism, but rather a quiet rebellion against the notion that brilliance in fine dining must be rooted in capitalistic extravagance and materialism. Instead of exclusive ingredients, indulgence can come from creative stimuli, sensory curiosity, community gathering, and spiritual nourishment. I have also done 100% plant-based and zero-waste centered events! You can check them out in my Event Gallery.
Every event is also paired with a zine I design myselfâsharing the intentions and rationale behind each creation, stories and memories that shaped the dishes, and sometimes stylistic writing or drawings. For pure food events, these zines offer space for deeper reflection and often spark conversations around our food system and the role of artists in shaping cultural, ecological, and emotional sustainability. For food & art immersive events, these zines encourage a moment of pauseâa gentle invitation to observe, reflect, and attune to our senses. They serve as quiet companions to the experience, advocating for slow thinking in a world of rapid distractions. Through them, we reclaim space for introspection, acknowledge how perception shapes identity and place, and resist the flattening effects of anti-intellectualism by celebrating emotional depth, curioisty, and embodied knowledge.
2024 Highlights
This reel offers a glimpse into the dishes and tasting menu experiences I curated in 2024! Whether it was an interactive, memory-driven tasting experience built around themes of identity and transition, or a reimagination of traditional Taiwanese street food through a plant-based lens, we invite you join us on the journey of sustainable, sensory dining.
Savoring the Score: Recital Meets Tasting Menu
***Special thanks to the Women's Faculty Club at UC Berkeley for the making this event come true via the Arts in the Afternoon Program.***
Muisc x Food. This event is a very experimental exploration of something Iâve been thinking about for a whileâthe relationship between our senses, especially in a slow, artistic, and emotionally-driven setting. Traditionally, classical concert halls have long been spaces of quiet etiquette and reverent listenimg. Meanwhile, food traditionally occupies spaces like restaurants and marketsâareas often filled with ambient sounds, but not typically designed for intentional listening. At Savoring the Score, we blur these boundaries by creating an immersive environment where the music and food are experienced as interwoven parts of a holistic sensory journey. .
The programming and menu design reflect our dedication to artistic storytelling and sensory molding. Together with pianist Vanness Yu, we performed six violin & piano pieces alongside guided commentary. Each piece was thoughtfully selected then inidvidually paired with an originally crafted dish. Each pairing is designed to not only make statements about complementary rhythms, textures, and harmonic essences, but also to evoke memories and emotions that build into a thematic narrative.
The pilot event was themed upon seasonality and transformation. Just as the seasons shape our world, changes define our journeys. Whether you are a college student navigating identity and aspirations or someone in any stage of life facing conflict and yearning, this evening is meant to inspire introspectionâa moment to pause, listen, taste, and engage in a conversation with your senses and intuition.
Swipe for mini photo gallery!
2024 Spring - Night Market x Dining Table
Night Market x Dining Table featured a fully plant-based menu capturing the whimsical marriage of bold street food flavors and humble gastronomical traditions in Taiwan. The menu reconciles traditions with new experiences, spotlighting nostalgic Taiwanese flavors--from street food to banquet delights--with an emphasis on local Californian seasonal produce. Vegan versions of traditional condiments (shacha, oyster sauce, XO sauce, dobanjiang, etc.) were made from scratch. Techniques like fermentation and ingredients like soy were spotlighted as an origin of discourses regarding how culture plays a role in what constitutes as sustainable cuisine.
View the full menu and zine!
Winter 2023 - Contemplate
"Contemplate" featured a gallery of winter Californian produce through a plant-forward approach. The menu was crafted in a way that encourages guests to engage in contemplation from the natural, material, then spiritual realm. The zine features food systems related artwork along with a perspective piece about the conundrum between individual, food ethics, cultural pillars, and normative definitions of sustainble food choices.
