A photography series by Sophia Hsin

Food is often the first thing we carry with us when we move across borders.
Scents in the kitchen, the sounds from the wet market, and a favourite dish cooked by a loved one. Food holds memory. It holds loss. It holds love.

The Immigrant Table is an ongoing series of photographs and stories celebrating chefs, cooks, and restaurant owners whose dishes are shaped by migration — the food that connects them to where they come from, and the food that roots them where they are now.

Through portraits, quiet (or chaotic) moments in kitchens, and the recipes that carry family histories, this project explores how culture travels, how identity evolves, and how food becomes a bridge between worlds.

Each story is photographed in collaboration with the chef — in their kitchen, their home, or their restaurant — pairing visuals with a narrative that honours the people, memories, and traditions behind the dish.

This project begins in Vancouver, a city shaped by countless immigrant stories, and will grow to include voices across Canada and beyond.

This project is completely self-initiated and ongoing.
It’s built through conversation, trust, and the shared belief that the food we grow up with tells a story worth remembering.

If you’re a chef, restaurateur, or food maker who’d like to take part, I’d love to hear from you.

Photo direction, photography, and writing by Sophia Hsin.