HOU MEI = DELICIOUS
Bringing homemade experiences to you!
Hou Mei 好味 means delicious in Cantonese. What is the most delicious and unforgettable food? It is homemade food. Still remember the taste of food that parents cooked in your childhood? That is the homemade flavour, food cooked with love. This is the spirit of Hou Mei that we hope to deliver.
Heart in Every Experience
That feeling of warmth and care has driven Hou Mei Homemade since we launched in 2020. What began as crafting artisanal delectables and private dining menus evolved into a broader mission: stepping out of the kitchen to cook with people, not just for them.
Combining her background in fine art and design with culinary expertise, Chef Carmen transforms cooking into an engaging visual and tactile experience. Every workshop is designed around laughter, practical technique, and the simple joy of sharing a table.
Experience Across Melbourne
Since 2020, Chef Carmen has facilitated interactive culinary experiences across a wide range of settings:
Council & Community Programs: Leading multi-week cooking series for local councils, as well as featured sessions for local learning festivals.
Large-Scale Activation Events: Managing high-energy, walk-up cooking workshops for up to 100 participants at community garden launches and community centre grand openings.
Corporate Team Building: Guiding corporate teams of 20+ out of the meeting room to foster genuine teamwork and share the reward of preparing their own lunch together, as an energizing highlight of full-day meetings.
Youth Workshops: Hosting hands-on after-school cooking series and school holiday sessions focused on building culinary confidence and creativity in young cooks.
Our Evolving Identity
Our brand identity is deeply personal. The original Hou Mei Homemade logo was hand-drawn by Summer when she was just 10 years old.
As our focus shifts toward interactive experiences, Summer redesigned the logo to capture this new chapter while honoring our roots, with every element reflecting the core of what Hou Mei Homemade aims to serve.
The Pan: Represents the modern, western aspect of our fusion culinary style.
The Fire (or the Sauce): Captures the traditional Chinese concept of wok hei and rich flavors, bringing Hou Mei ”deliciousness" to life in a dynamic wok toss.
Watercolor Texture: Highlights Chef Carmen's artistic background and passion in painting, and her dedication to presentation, making every dish a work of art.
Handwritten Script: Preserves the personal, authentic human touch behind every experience we create.