• Food,  Grief,  Loss

    Grief and Loss of a Pet

    My essay “I Hated Cooking and Then I Had to Cook For My Dog” is up today at The Ascent on Medium. It’s a tribute to Hana, my brat terrier, who I had to put down on May 27, 2019. It was the worst day of my life. This essay helped me work through my grief and connect with her. I felt her with me as I wrote it. I attribute my joy for cooking to her and that’s what this essay is about. How a non-chef like me was forced to learn to cook when Hana suddenly couldn’t digest commercial dog food. How my own health required a gluten-free,…

  • Food,  Travel

    Best Hidden Gem for Breakfast in Taichung

    I just returned from a trip to Taichung, Taiwan to visit my dad. It had been 5 years since I’d last been to the island and I had only stayed a few days then. This time I stayed for 2 weeks. I think it’s the longest time I’ve ever stayed in Taiwan! I stayed in the West District at The Splendor Hotel Taichung and it was the perfect location. It’s right in the hub of the commercial district and you don’t need to drive anywhere for amazing food, entertainment, and culture. Where is the Best Breakfast EVER? Typical Taiwanese breakfast items are congee, soy milk, pork buns, scallion pancakes with…