February’s editorial theme is Community, and our Julia Child Writing Fellow Loan Nguyen created this month’s illustration. Loan says:

“Canh khổ qua is a traditional soup dish the Vietnamese prepared during the Lunar New Year that uses bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, karela. In Vietnamese, ‘khổ qua’ means to surpass difficulties. A comfort food for many and a symbol that we are resilient despite the bitterness. Growing up, we sat down at the table to eat it together, sharing each stuffed bittermelon with a morsel of rice. It’s packed with lots of nutrients and fun to prepare. You remove the seeds and stuff it with a protein filling of your choice, like stuffed peppers or cabbage.”

For more of Loan’s work, follow her at Dragontell and on social media @save_the_lastbite.

To check out more HRN content related to Community, check out our newsletter.

Background on this project:

As HRN deepens our commitment to food justice and expands our understanding of what that really means in practice, we are putting out the call for artists to adorn the HRN logo throughout 2024. Each month, we will feature the work of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ visual artists and graphic designers to explore and interpret our monthly editorial theme. Their work will be featured on HRN channels from our newsletter, website, social media, and beyond.

To apply, please send a brief, one-page cover letter and portfolio or work sample to  with the subject line “Editorial Theme Graphic Design” + your name. If selected, you will receive $250 for each final illustration. HRN is accepting applications on a rolling basis.