By Corie Yu
An interview with Joan – Senior Training Officer
“How are you feeling today?”
“What kind of flavour would you like a little more of today?”
You might assume these questions come from a caring friend. In fact, they are part of the “Customer’s Choice: Pizza Blind Box” experience at “A Few Moments Community Cultural Space” in Kam Tin. You may have come simply to eat a pizza, but someone is asking about your feelings and listening to your story. What exactly is behind this unusual idea?
“The young ‘chefs’ design each pizza based on the customer’s mood and experience that day,” explained Senior Training Officer Joan. “They decide on the shape, ingredients, and flavours accordingly. As a result, every pizza that comes out of the oven is unique and full of surprises.”
What inspired such an unusual concept?
Joan explained that the idea grew out of the summer programme “I Want to Be a Shop Manager” for secondary school students. This year, “A Few Moments Community Cultural Space” moved into a new venue in Kam Tin, which prompted the team to think about how they could enrich the programme. A creative idea emerged: alongside coffee-making, why not introduce baking as well?
Pizza was chosen because the process is relatively simple. Students only need to prepare the dough base, add toppings and sauce, and bake it. By combining coffee-making and pizza baking, the programme could offer more than practical skills training. It would also create opportunities for meaningful interactions between students and customers. By learning about a customer’s mood, story, or needs, students could respond through the design, ingredients, and presentation of a personalised pizza.
On one occasion, a local resident shared that he was feeling tired and drained and hoped for a pizza with more meat. The students responded by designing a dumbbell-shaped pizza, generously topped with ham, minced meat, and sausages as a playful way of encouraging and energising him.
When the “Dumbbell Pizza” was served, the customer was pleasantly surprised. In his feedback, he wrote:
“The pizza was fragrant, crispy, and delicious. It was very creative and truly gave me a sense of strength and encouragement!”
Sometimes, simply knowing that someone cares can be a wonderful experience.
In an era of rapidly advancing digital technology and artificial intelligence, communication has become easier than ever. Yet interactions can also become increasingly superficial and rushed. Amid the fast pace of modern life, people who are willing to slow down, listen attentively, and respond sincerely to others seem increasingly rare.
For this reason, the “Customer’s Choice: Pizza Blind Box” is much more than a skills-training activity. It is a platform for building relationships. Through teamwork, conversations with customers, and the creation of personalised pizzas, students learn to observe carefully, empathise with others, and respond to individual needs.
Each interaction becomes an opportunity to connect with another person. Every pizza carries not only ingredients but also a genuine expression of care.
Joan shared that the initiative was originally designed as a summer programme. However, due to its overwhelming popularity and positive feedback from students, their families, and local residents in Kam Tin, it has now evolved into a monthly “Pop-up Pizza Blind Box” event at “A Few Moments”
Looking ahead, the team hopes to introduce this model to more groups and communities. Their vision is to create opportunities for more young people to develop practical skills while also learning how to care for others, build meaningful relationships, and become individuals who bring warmth, connection, and hope to their communities.