Stories at the Table with the Asians@ Pinclusion Group

In our recent blog, we kicked off Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) Heritage Month by sharing more about our theme “Stories at the Table” – a celebration of how connection is fostered around the table, and how food brings us together to share our stories, celebrate our cultures, and learn from each other’s experiences. Members from our Asians@ Employee Resource Group  join us today to share how the theme shows up for them, whether it’s a family recipe that’s passed down through generations or a simple question of “Have you eaten yet?” 

Giovanni Kyle Sabio, Apprentice Product Researcher, New York

Hi, I’m Gio, an Apprentice Product Researcher on the Merchants team and a proud Filipino American based in Brooklyn, NYC. In my family, ‘Kumain ka na ba?’ – ‘Have you eaten?’ – is another way of saying ‘I love you.’ My Ate (older sister) Justine has always been the one to make sure the answer is yes. Fresh out of culinary school, she brings our family's Filipino flavors to life with a kind of care you can taste, and she’s dreaming toward her own Filipino-inspired kitchen someday. Her food doesn’t just fill me up—it steadies me, holds our stories, and makes anywhere we are feel like home.

Meher Chand, Product Designer I, New York

Hello! I’m Meher, I’m a Product Designer on the product safety team! The dish that reminds me most of home is my mom's lamb curry and roti. Once the aromas fill the room, we suddenly find ourselves hearing unearthed stories about my parents' youth and my siblings' latest antics. Our stomachs are full and I know my loved ones a little bit better.

Cindy Chang, Sr. Manager, Business Development, San Francisco 

I’m Cindy Chang, a Sr. Manager on the Business Development team at Pinterest, and the dish that most reminds me of home is my mom’s lion’s head meatballs. This Shanghainese classic is one of my strongest food memories. I can still picture my mom in the kitchen making them—so tender, so delicious, and unlike any I’ve ever had since. I have her handwritten recipe, full of ‘a little of this, a little of that… just taste it,’ but one instruction is very clear: always stir in only one direction. That small, specific ritual captures her care and her intuition—and every time I see lion’s head meatballs on a restaurant menu, I can’t help but compare them to hers. 

(PS: The image here shows my mom’s lion’s head meatballs, made bite-sized so my toddlers could enjoy them!)

Happy Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month from our Pinterest Asians@ Pinclusion Group! This month, we hope you take the time to celebrate and embrace your community, honor the long-standing family traditions and reflect on the stories shared at your own table.