I grew up in Malaysia, located on the peninsula between Thailand and Singapore. Our family built their home in the jungles of Malaysia on a rubber tree plantation. We didn't have running water or electricity- meaning, we had no fridge to store food, no microwave or cooking gadgets. We just used a wood burning stove to cook food. We had chickens, foraged, and went to the fresh market for food. I never even tried packaged or canned food- actually any processed or preserved food, until I came to the United States when I was 28 years old. 

​

You can imagine what a change I've experienced! 

​

Knowing how to cook was required for survival for me. I learned to use spices and create flavors from watching my mother cook, foraging for fresh herbs, and training my nose and tastebuds to identify spices. 

​

Food has always been my passion. It is the comfort that can bring me back to people or places I miss, and something I love talking about with my friends. 

​