Anthropologist in the Kitchen by Chuang Tzu-i. [Photo by Yang Ming/For China Daily]

Writer Leung Man-tao, who plans the Open Day events, says they try to turn abstract ideas to real experiences.

At this year's events that ran through March, participants enjoyed a selection of food, music, film, coffee, tea and chats with people from the creative industry.

"One (goal) is how to improve people's humanistic education, including how to think more reasonably about life, society and the world," Leung says of the events.

"The second is about how to attain a more comprehensive and compassionate sensibility to feel the other's existence, and details in ordinary life that are worth digging into so as to enrich one's life."

Liu Ruilin, the founder of Imaginist, further explains that without a solid physical life as the foundation, spiritual products will appear pale and weak.

Chuang was invited to talk about the spirit of making delicious food and enjoying it with Leung and food critic Shu Qiao, since food and restaurants are an important part of an ideal life.

"Cooking is a very personal and relaxing experience, so I don't like cooking contests that try to judge a dish by a single standard," Shu says.

Shu has an opinion on restaurants, too. She says some restaurants "make cooking a show".