A Midday Feast to Mark the Dragon Boat Festival
At Fortune East Stone, we believe that great work begins with great connections. And what better way to strengthen those connections than to gather around a table filled with good food, good stories, and good company? That is exactly what we did this past week as we came together for a special team lunch to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.
The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu as it is known in Chinese, is one of the most cherished traditional holidays in our calendar. It falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and for many of us, it brings back fond memories of sticky rice dumplings, racing boats, and time spent with family. But this year, instead of heading home early or exchanging packaged gifts, we decided to do something a little different. We stayed local, walked over to a beloved Fujianese restaurant just a few blocks from our office, and spent a leisurely afternoon enjoying the rich and diverse flavors of southern Chinese cuisine. For us at Fortune East Stone, the Dragon Boat Festival is not just a holiday — it is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and strengthen the bonds that make our team truly special.
Now, if you have never tried Fujianese cooking before, you are in for a treat. It is known for its delicate balance of sweet, savory, and umami notes, with a heavy emphasis on fresh seafood and careful preparation. The meal we shared was nothing short of spectacular, and it gave every one of us a chance to step away from our screens, loosen our collars, and simply enjoy being together as a team. At Fortune East Stone, we spend most of our days focused on precision, quality, and delivering excellence to our customers. But days like this remind us that the foundation of any great company is not just the work we do, but the people we do it with. And the Dragon Boat Festival gave us the perfect excuse to celebrate that truth.
We started with a dish that quickly became the crowd favorite — crispy golden shrimp cooked in the Typhoon Shelter style. For those unfamiliar with this preparation, Typhoon Shelter shrimp is a classic Hong Kong–inspired dish that has found a warm home in Fujianese kitchens. The shrimp are lightly coated and deep-fried until their shells turn paper-thin and crackling crisp, then tossed with a generous amount of fried garlic, chili flakes, and a touch of salt. Each bite delivers a satisfying crunch followed by the natural sweetness of the shrimp meat. It is the kind of dish that makes you reach for another piece before you have even finished chewing the first one. Around our table, chopsticks were flying, and we could not help but laugh at how quickly the platter was emptied. It was the perfect start to our Dragon Boat Festival feast.
Next came a bright and refreshing seafood salad. This was a lovely contrast to the bold flavors of the fried shrimp. Fresh prawns, tender squid rings, and bits of white fish were tossed together with crisp lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and a light citrus dressing that tied everything together beautifully. It was light without being bland, and it gave our palates a nice reset before the heavier dishes arrived. One of our colleagues mentioned that this was exactly the kind of dish she would love to have on a warm summer afternoon, and we all agreed. As we passed the salad around, someone noted that the Dragon Boat Festival often falls during the hottest days of early summer, making light and refreshing dishes like this one a wonderful addition to any holiday table.
Then came the dish that brought a bit of heat to the table — poached fish fillets in a silky, peppery broth. The fish was incredibly tender, almost melting on the tongue, and the broth carried a gentle warmth that spread through your chest without being overpowering. Thin slices of pickled mustard greens and a handful of dried chilies floated on top, adding layers of tang and spice that kept each spoonful interesting. We passed the big bowl around family-style, and everyone made sure to get an extra ladle of that aromatic soup. It was hearty, comforting, and exactly the kind of dish that makes you feel at home even when you are miles away from your own kitchen. For many of us at Fortune East Stone, working in an industry that values durability and resilience, this dish reminded us of something important — the best things, whether in food or in business, are those that have been carefully and patiently prepared over time.
Now, we would be remiss if we did not mention one of the more adventurous items on our table — braised pork intestines. We know this one might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those of us who grew up eating it, it is pure nostalgia. The intestines were cleaned thoroughly and braised for hours in a dark, savory soy-based sauce until they became incredibly tender and rich in flavor. The dish had a wonderful chewiness to it, and the sauce was so good that a few of us quietly spooned it over our rice. It is one of those dishes that sparks conversation — some of our younger colleagues tried it for the first time and were pleasantly surprised, while our more seasoned team members nodded in approval and shared stories of how their grandparents used to make it during festival gatherings. It was a fitting reminder that the Dragon Boat Festival, much like our work at Fortune East Stone, is rooted in tradition, craftsmanship, and the passing down of skills from one generation to the next.
To round out the meal, we had a humble but utterly satisfying clam and tofu soup. This is a classic Fujianese comfort food that never fails to soothe the soul. The clams were fresh and plump, and they released their briny essence into a clear, gentle broth that was perfectly complemented by silken cubes of tofu and a sprinkle of chopped spring onions. It was simple, honest, and deeply flavorful. We each had a small bowl toward the end of the meal, and it felt like a warm hug after all the spices and frying. One of our senior team members joked that this soup was the true test of a good restaurant — if they can get this right, everything else will follow. And this place certainly did. As we enjoyed our soup, we reflected on how the Dragon Boat Festival has always been about balance — the balance between work and rest, between tradition and modernity, and between the individual and the community. At Fortune East Stone, we strive for that same balance in everything we do.
But as wonderful as the food was, the real highlight of the afternoon was the company. We sat around a large round table with a lazy Susan in the middle, which made sharing dishes effortless and fun. Plates spun back and forth as everyone reached for their favorite bites, and in between mouthfuls, the conversation flowed just as freely. We talked about everything under the sun — upcoming projects, funny office moments, travel plans, childhood memories of the Dragon Boat Festival, and even a heated but friendly debate about which dipping sauce goes best with fried shrimp. For the record, the mayonnaise camp and the sweet chili camp are still not in full agreement. But that is the beauty of working at Fortune East Stone — we may not always see eye to eye on the small things, but we are always united by our shared commitment to quality, integrity, and mutual respect.
What struck us most during that lunch was how easy it was to forget about deadlines, emails, and production schedules for a couple of hours. We were not just colleagues sitting together out of obligation. We were friends sharing a meal, trading laughs, and learning new things about each other. Someone discovered that two of our team members grew up in the same small town. Another person found out that their desk neighbor shares the same unusual hobby of collecting vintage tea tins. Stories were told, jokes were made, and at one point, the entire table erupted in laughter over a failed attempt to pick up a slippery piece of tofu with chopsticks. It was the kind of easy, genuine connection that the Dragon Boat Festival is supposed to inspire — and it reminded us that at Fortune East Stone, our greatest strength has always been our people.
These are the moments that do not show up in quarterly reports or project briefs, but they matter just as much — if not more. They remind us that we are not just a team on paper. We are a group of individuals with different backgrounds, tastes, and personalities, yet we come together every day with a shared purpose. And days like this one — a Dragon Boat Festival lunch filled with laughter and good food — make that purpose feel even more meaningful.
As we walked back to the office that afternoon, full and happy, there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. The usual post-lunch drowsiness was there, yes, but so was a quiet sense of warmth and belonging. People were smiling more, chatting across departments, and offering to grab coffee for one another. It was as if the meal had done more than fill our stomachs — it had recharged our spirits. At Fortune East Stone, we know that a company is only as strong as the relationships within it. And this Dragon Boat Festival gathering was a beautiful reminder of exactly that.
The Dragon Boat Festival is traditionally a time to remember the past, honor our roots, and spend time with loved ones. This year, we were lucky enough to spend it with our work family. And while we may not have been racing dragon boats or making our own rice dumplings, we did something just as valuable. We slowed down, looked each other in the eye, and appreciated the simple joy of eating well together. For us at Fortune East Stone, every Dragon Boat Festival brings a new chance to appreciate the traditions that shape us and the people who stand beside us.
At Fortune East Stone, we take pride in our craft, our attention to detail, and our commitment to excellence. But we also take pride in our culture — a culture that values people just as much as products. This lunch was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about who we are and what we stand for. We are a team that celebrates together, eats together, and grows together. And whether it is the Dragon Boat Festival or any other day of the year, we always find reasons to come together and celebrate the spirit of community that defines Fortune East Stone.
So here is to many more shared meals, many more stories, and many more moments of connection. Whether it is a festival, a birthday, or just a regular Tuesday, we will always find a reason to gather around the table. Because at the end of the day, the best projects are built by people who know how to enjoy life's simple pleasures — and maybe steal one last piece of Typhoon Shelter shrimp before the plate is cleared. At Fortune East Stone, we believe that the strongest foundations are laid not just in stone and mortar, but in trust, friendship, and shared experiences. And this Dragon Boat Festival lunch was yet another stone laid in that foundation.
From all of us at Fortune East Stone, we wish you a joyful Dragon Boat Festival. May your days be filled with good food, good company, and good cheer. And if you ever find yourself in our corner of the world, do stop by — we would love to save you a seat at our table. After all, at Fortune East Stone, every meal is a chance to build something lasting.
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Silvia | Fortune East Stone
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