My Bao Place
March 2025
16” x 12" paper print, $40
11” x 8.5” paper print, $25
Available for purchase at Toronto local markets and for free pick up in Downtown Toronto. Contact the artists for times and dates.
Custom Order Canvas:
16” x 12” canvas print, $110
Other larger sizes, available for custom order.
Available for free pick up in Downtown Toronto. Contact the artist for orders and details.
Prices do not include tax.
My Bao Place is inspired by the local Chinese bakery Hong Island Dim Sum House. The owner Simon Chow immigrated from Guangzhou and opened up the bakery back in 2011. All of the food served is authentic Hong Kong style buns, dim sum, pastries and cakes, made by his head baker and his staff who all came from Hong Kong. Simon’s bakery is always filled with local residents, many of whom sit their daily to spend time with their friends and neighbours. It’s since become a hub in Spadina’s Chinatown, especially for the Chinese elderly who don’t work.
Hong Island Dim Sum House became my go to bun spot when I moved to the area. Growing up I ate so many Cheung Zai Bao (腸仔包) for breakfast and as snacks. The taste was exactly like what I ate growing up in Hong Kong. Simple things like the delicious smells and how the tongs are hung next to the clear cases of buns, bring fond memories back to me when I eat there.
My Bao Place is a part of my SIK JOR FAHN MEI AH Series where I consider my connection to Chinese food by showcasing some of my favourite dishes from local Toronto restaurants. The series title in English means “have you eaten yet?”. It is a meant as a phrase of love and care.
The BIG FOOD series was developed after the artist painted a mural for a local business called Simple Burger in 2021. The people behind this family-owned spot inspired them to develop a larger series about small businesses, immigrant culture and the love language of food.
Small businesses work above and beyond to operate their shops and produce meals. Behind all of them are people working tirelessly devoting themselves to their businesses. Food feels a lot more precious when we see all the work that has gone into it.
Food is also a love language. It falls under “Acts of Service” and yet it could be entirely its own. Many cultures use food as a form of care and to develop stronger bonds with loved ones. It is what builds our cultures and gives us space to belong to, especially for folks away from their homes. Food paves the way for our communities and often defines what home feels like.
The BIG FOOD series is an unlimited illustration series and will continue to speak to these themes and represent a vast array of cultures and people. As of 2023, the series is comprised of eight illustrations, each inspired by a specific small business or story.