The first time I had crawfish was the summer after moving to America when my aunt from Houston visited. It was not until I came to New Orleans years later that I realized that a boil is not only a fun get-together with family and friends, but a religion of its own– rightfully! There are…
Fiori di zucca (Fried zucchini blossoms)
My ultimate summer treat is lightly battered fried zucchini blossoms—crispy yet tender, light yet savory. I first tried them in the summer of 2020 while traveling through Sorrento, Italy. There, my partner, friends, and I had the opportunity to learn how to make classic Italian dishes at Villa Ida, a beautiful villa. We picked home-grown…
Chili Oil series: Serrano/garlic/kaffir lime leaves & Roasted onion/jalapeño/lemon
I have been obsessed with eating and making chili oil!! Have I found my calling? Maybe in another life, I would be specialized in making chili oil hahaha. To start off, I should disclose that I did not have any previous experience. I just happened to have way too many serrano peppers that were going…
Summer Roasted Tomato Pie
I am back! I shamefully admit that it has been 2 years since the last recipe…life took over. I graduated from university, took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) twice, and now in the process of applying to medical schools! How exciting! Now that I have some time in between, getting back to cooking a…
Vietnam: Week 1 @HoChiMinh City
Time sure flies as this summer marks 10 years of me living in America! 6 years after my last visit in 2012, I finally got to go back to see my parents and enjoy the ridiculously good but cheap food that this city has to offer. This is going to be a bit different than…
Vietnamese lemongrass braised chicken
This winter has just been terribly cold and wet and it makes me crave lots of childhood comfort food when I was living in Vietnam. I still remember sitting by the kitchen windows while it was pouring rain outside and watching my grandma mincing lemongrass with her huge cleaver. This dish is incredibly simple to…
Blueberry lemon coffee cake w/crumb topping
There is this little bakery stand at my local farmers market that sells the most delicious and moist coffee cake. There is something about a sweet treat paired with hot coffee that you just can’t beat it, so whenever I could, I would always make sure to stop by and pick up some to have…
Autumn Chicken Curry
Fall is here and that means a lot of gorgeous root veggies! Since curry is so versatile, I wanted to incorporate these fall vegetables such as beets, sweet potatoes, and carrots. This recipe turned out to be so delicious and the build of flavor is incredible. The chicken is tender and the broth is creamy…
Summer salad with creamy avocado cilantro dressing
Summer is coming to an end and even though I am so excited for colder weather, scarfs, and pumpkin products; I am going to miss those sunny days and gorgeous and fresh produce. This is my take on a summer salad but feel free to tailor it to your preference and add in your favourite fruits and…
Fresh grilled figs with mascarpone cheese and honey
Fig is one of my all time favorite fruits and here in California, they are currently in season (June-September). Even though figs are available dried all year round, there is nothing better than a basket of fresh and ripe black mission figs. So when I saw them at my local farmers market in Davis, I knew…
Thai inspired coconut noodle soup
This is my favorite go-to soup for when I am feeling a little under the weather. It is so quick to make but the depth of flavor is quite incredible. The soup is light and versatile so feel free to add in your favorite veggies and meat of your choice:) *Serving: 3-5 Ingredients: -3 cups chicken broth…
Sweet glazed oven fried wings
I love wings, like really love them. And who doesn’t anyway!? They are the perfect finger food that is good on its own, dusted with a spicy rub, or best coated with a delicious glaze. This recipe is an inspiration from a local Korean restaurant here in Davis that makes the best sweet glazed wings…
Dish It Yourself 