Caterpillars, Scorpions, Frogs, Oh My!

If I told you that eating insects could solve world hunger, would you do your part and eat a bug? That’s what entomophagist (a person who…

Making Tamarind Paste

Is there a particular candy that evokes childhood memories for you? My most turbulent teenage years can be conjured up by the sweet, sour…

Massaman Curry

Ever go out to a restaurant and taste the most amazing dish, only to have no idea what you just ate? Like it was an amalgamation of flavors…

Durian, The King of Fruits

When I was a teenager, weekends and holidays were dedicated to prayer and visiting the temple to do volunteer work. Our neighborhood temple…

First Encounters: Pandan, The Vanilla of Southeast Asia

Ever wonder what makes mango sticky rice so mesmerizing? It’s not the coconut milk, it’s not the glutinous rice, nor the scrumptious mango…

Northern India: Punjab

For many Americans, the thought of visiting India is exotic and a little scary. You might enjoy delicious ethnic cuisine, but you might…

Jalandhar Express

When’s the last time you took a train ride? Maybe you commute on the train like President Biden, or you haven’t sat in one since you were a…

Mounting a Solitaire Ring

While visiting my family in California, I picked up a pile of mail we accumulated while traveling the past year. In it, I found treasures —…

Documenting Work (A.I.-Powered Work)

I hate documenting work. It’s probably the most boring part of any job, yet it is so crucial to collaboration. If you don’t document your…

Pre-Vacation Checklist Powered by A.I.

Do you ever come home from vacation, exhausted, feeling like you need another vacation? I think part of that feeling stems from opening the…

Jujubes and Adventures Cooking on the Go (A.I. Powered Home Cooking)

This probably isn’t common, but do you ever itch to cook while you’re traveling? Call me weird, but I do, and that’s why I bring a minimal…

Raj Kachori

Have you ever had a dish haunt you? I can’t describe my obsession as a simple craving, because it is so much more than that. The moment I…

Hawthorn Leather and Hawthorn Fruit Chutney (A.I. Powered Home Cooking)

I was faced with a conundrum. I impulsively bought fresh hawthorn berries at the local Chinese supermarket. I had never seen them in a…

Cooking with ChatGPT: Carrot and Leek Fritters with Caramel Sauce

Here’s the prompt:

Cooking with ChatGPT: Southeast Asian-inspired Grilled Tofu Salad with Lychee

In a previous life, I worked in A.I. (artificial intelligence). I built chatbots during the stone ages (which is like 5 years ago), but…

Never Quit

What’s worse than not finishing? Giving up as you approach the finishing line. I have this tendency to give up in the final mile. As I was…

Fusion Ja Jang

I’ve always had an irrational fear of starvation. My family has a genetic tendency to hoard food, massive amounts that often end up in the…

L’École des Arts Joailliers

L’École des Arts Joailliers is an unassuming establishment in the heart of Paris in the first arrondissement. If you weren’t looking…

Red Currant Clafoutis

The only currants (or les groseilles) I’ve ever had in America were dried, shriveled specimens imported from Europe. So, when I spotted…

Crêpes in Paris

Like Julie Powell, author of Julie & Julia, I plan to cook a lot of Frenchy things while in France. Instead of cooking through Julia…

Cordyceps militaris (동충하초)

In the redwood forests of California, our neighbors have their own secret patches of chanterelles. If you don’t have your own patch, then…

Cheongyang Mayo

If you find yourself in Seoul, you will see ads for HBAF everywhere.

Lion’s Mane (노루궁뎅이버섯)

When I first met my husband, he avoided mushrooms because his brother told him that they were cultivated on a substrate of sewage. He…

Misu (미수)

I don’t trust Asian sweets to satisfy my sweet tooth. Sure, there is boba tea and shaved ice, and I enjoy them along with a small subset of…