Comfort Food

Cooking aromas hitting the nostrils and a cacophony of frying and chopping mixed with random chatter of those preparing the food… these are the ingredients of life in a narrow street right next to Jiangxi Cancer Hospital in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. With dozens of small stoves lining either side, this alleyway is where patients’ relatives gather to prepare a bite of home for their loved ones.

People bring their desired ingredients—either bought at a nearby farmers market or delivered from their hometown, and for just 1 yuan ($0.16) they can get access to the “kitchen” stoves, utensils, oil and seasonings. Most of the “chefs”