Travel. Eat. Cook.
When I first came across banana flowers at a market, I had no idea what they were. They were large, purplish-red in color and kind of heavy. Fast forward a few months later, I was invited to a potluck at my friends’ home and one of the …
A few days ago, the World Cup hoopla was at a fever pitch. Mind you, I’m not a sports fan but everyone else around me seems to be one. All I heard for days was about Argentina and Germany, and who’s going to win. I …
Rendang is a type of thick curry that originated in Indonesia but variations of it has become popular throughout Malaysia and Singapore. Typically, rendang uses coconut milk to bring together the sauce but this special family recipe uses lime juice instead. It freshens up the …
I used to have lunch at a deli in California that serves excellent sandwiches and side dishes. The food is organic and really fresh, and it was and still is very packed during lunchtime. I used to order this angel hair pasta dish all …
When your friends are awesome home cooks, you end up having restaurant-quality food whenever you get invited to their dinners. Fifteen years ago, my friend Nancy Mayerson cooked Mexican brisket for her Christmas dinner party. The memory of the sweet, spicy and savory flavors was …
When I visited Copenhagen, I made a new friend from Oman who made us the yummiest roast chicken for dinner. This dish is so easy to put together and is bursting with flavor from the turmeric, onions and lemon juice.
When my friend came back from her Italian trip, she invited me over to cook using the amazing dried spices she brought back. We decided to bake two different types of fish using the same core method and ingredients but with different spice rubs. As …
Kueh bengka is one of the most popular desserts in Southeast Asia. Made from grated tapioca and coconut, it’s not too sweet, has a lovely semi-firm texture and is a perfect bite-sized dessert for parties and afternoon tea. Kueh Bengka Recipe Ingredients: 2 pounds grated …
When I was in the Yunnan province, I went to a restaurant that specializes in cuisine from northeast China (Dongbei region). Amidst the heavy meat dishes, the vegetarian sweet potato glass noodle salad really stood out to me. Every bite had the perfect balance of sweet, salty …
When you walk along streets with picturesque heritage buildings in Singapore, Indonesia or Malaysia, you’ll come across stores selling kuehs, bite-sized steamed savory snacks or desserts typically made of glutinous rice or rice flour. Many variations of kuehs were created by the Peranakans, a unique culture that was born …