Southwest China is home to stunning landscape and rich culture. But people really visit Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, for a different experience.

Chengdu is a very relaxing city. Hotpot during the day, mahjong in the afternoon, catch a movie or go on a date in the evening.

The laid back atmosphere is difficult to feel if you are there for a short time. Especially for the city’s growing number of foreign tourists. Canadian food writer and long-time Chengdu dweller Jordan Porter spotted an opportunity.

Porter runs local food tours for foreign visitors. For today’s crowd, pot helmet bread to start off the morning. Some sweet water noodle in a hidden alleyway. And a midday drink later. The group was finally ready to sit down for a proper lunch.

It is about the drinking and conversing, and the interaction it takes to eat, as much it is about the flavor.

He may look like a pro gourmand now, but six years ago when Porter came to Chengdu, he was lost, like everybody else. An adventurer, he did not want to fall into a routine—same route to school and work, same places to eat.

“I wanted to continually try and find new things in the city. And obviously food is a big part of all activity in Chengdu,” Porter said.

The food explorations opened up to Porter more than just the culinary world. And he wanted more people to experience the city’s subtle charm he has come to love. Now, years later, Porter says he still maintains a tourist’s mindset.

“Sometimes when you live in a place, you don’t want to be seen as a tourist. You go to New York City they don’t look up, or people will know you’re not from here. But I think you lose a lot of the wonder if you don’t do that,” he said.

Instead, he looks to small things, like pancakes and noodles for inspiration, one bite at a time.