1. Research background

In the context of globalization, international immigrant communities face cultural adaptation challenges. The Bulgarian Chinese community, as a part of the overseas Chinese community, has been formed since the early 1990s, mainly engaged in international trade and Chinese restaurant operations. Compared to other European Chinese communities, the Bulgarian Chinese community is small in size, highly mobile, relatively closed, and marginalized. At present, research on the Chinese community in Europe is mostly focused on Western Europe, and research on the Chinese community in Eastern Europe, especially in Bulgaria, is still blank. Chinese scholars conduct research on overseas Chinese based on practical concerns, reflecting cultural consciousness and subjectivity. Food, as an important carrier of social and cultural characteristics and their changes, provides a unique perspective for studying group culture. The Bulgarian Chinese community has a strong demand for Chinese cuisine, which is widely popular in the local area but has low taste evaluations, known as "Bulgarian style Chinese cuisine". This article takes the Chinese food business and daily dietary practices as the starting point to examine the cultural adaptation of Chinese people in Bulgaria.

2 Research Methods and Objectives

This chapter introduces the qualitative research methods used in the paper, including participant observation, semi-structured interviews, questionnaire surveys, and social media observations. The study was conducted in Sofia and Bertrici, Bulgaria, involving Chinese restaurants, supermarkets, and other Chinese shops, and interviewed 12 Chinese people from different backgrounds. In 2022, 24 valid questionnaires were collected through the Wenjuanxing platform. The research aims to explore the cultural adaptation process of the Bulgarian Chinese community, the development of Chinese cuisine in Bulgaria, the emergence of "Bulgarian style Chinese cuisine", and how Chinese people adapt to local social culture from the perspective of food anthropology. Through on-site observation, interviews, and questionnaires, comprehensively collect information, and use diet as a starting point to deeply analyze the overall picture of the Bulgarian Chinese community.

3. Chinese style cuisine: The changes of the Chinese community and the construction of Chinese culture

The Bulgarian Chinese community has been formed since the 1990s for business purposes, with Chinese restaurants becoming its main source of income. The development of the Chinese food industry is closely related to the changes in the Chinese community, from the initial experience of exotic cultures to the later localization and improvement, reflecting the survival strategy and cultural adaptation of Chinese people in Bulgaria. In the late 1990s to early 21st century, with the opening of the Bulgarian market and relaxed immigration policies, the number of Chinese restaurants surged, but subsequently faced market saturation and operational challenges. In order to adapt to the local market, Chinese restaurants have simplified their production processes and improved the taste of their dishes, forming a "preserved Chinese cuisine". This improvement not only satisfies the taste of Bulgarians, but also reflects the construction and identification of Chinese culture by the Chinese people. Chinese restaurants have become a place for Chinese people to interact with local society, promoting cultural exchange and expression of cultural identity by providing "food travel experiences". Although there are differences in the concept of "authentic" Chinese cuisine between Chinese and locals, the development and localization of Chinese restaurants in Bulgaria have demonstrated the complex attitude of the Chinese community towards cultural inheritance and adaptation.

4 Dietary and Cultural Adaptation of Chinese People

The Chinese community in Bulgaria exhibits complexity in terms of diet and cultural adaptation. Despite facing the challenges of limited supply and high costs in the Chinese food market, they meet the demand for ethnic food through various means such as Chinese supermarkets, Chinese restaurants, online ordering, large chain supermarkets, and internal circulation within social circles. Chinese people have made adjustments in their dietary choices, using local ingredients and consuming local food. At the same time, in terms of dietary concepts, they still maintain the habit of eating regularly and hold a reserved attitude towards Bulgaria's simplified dietary habits. Home cooking has become the mainstream way of eating for Chinese people in Bao, not only to save expenses, but also as a means of social and emotional attachment.

5 Conclusion

The formation of the Bulgarian Chinese community in the 1990s was a result of globalization and labor mobility, and the localization of Chinese restaurants reflected the survival and changes of Chinese people in Bulgaria. 'Bulgarian style Chinese cuisine' has become a part of cultural construction, allowing Bulgarians to experience Chinese culture while also reflecting the Chinese people's longing for their hometown flavors and emphasis on cultural identity. The Bulgarian Chinese community is relatively small, with limited living needs and development, but Chinese cuisine and Chinese food are important components of their living practices, identity recognition, and emotional connections. Chinese people adjust their diet through local ingredients, cultural impact and integration of food, and cooking for themselves. Most Chinese people do not actively integrate into Bulgarian society in terms of emotions and cognition, but they have some interaction with the local society in their daily lives. The two generations of Chinese have shown different cultural adaptations, with the older generation more firmly adhering to their own values and way of life, while the younger generation is more open to accepting Bulgarian culture. The cultural adaptation of Chinese people is the process of maintaining a balance between their own culture and the external environment. Studying the overseas Chinese community should start with practical life experiences and daily concerns in order to gain a deeper understanding of their lives. This article attempts to study overseas Chinese from the perspective of diet, providing a new perspective for the development of the "Overseas Ethnography" industry.