A Vegetarian Soup Dumpling Moment with a Guest from Delhi

Swetal’s final vegan soup dumpling work

Guest Journey

🥟 Visit
Vegan Xiao Long Bao Making

Today, we welcomed a guest-Swetal from Delhi, India.

She joined our Vegetarian Soup Dumpling (Xiao Long Bao) class, something she was especially happy to find during her time in Shanghai.

Rolling the wrapper for vegan soup dumpling at Yin Studio in Shanghai

As a doctor, she shared that food has always been an important part of how she understands health and daily life. She was particularly glad to experience a vegetarian version of a dish that is often meat-based, and to see how it can still carry the same warmth and comfort.

During the class, we shaped, filled, and wrapped dumplings together, while talking about food, travel, and everyday life.

One thing that stood out was how she spoke about her family. While she follows a vegetarian lifestyle, her children do not always share the same dietary choices. Still, food becomes a way for them to stay connected at home—each adapting and respecting different preferences.

She also mentioned how meaningful it was to take some personal time during her trip, away from her daily routine.

After the class, she excitedly video-called her husband to show him the finished dumplings—a small but joyful moment of sharing.

Memorable photo with Swetal

Before leaving, what remained most memorable was not only the food itself, but the simple connection built around it.

Sometimes, a bowl of dumplings is not just a dish. It becomes a small bridge between cultures, habits, and everyday lives.

Thank you for joining us.