When did you first get in to cooking and do you remember the first recipe you tried?
I learned how to cook at a young age but it wasn't until I left home for college that I started craving for my mom's food and decided to recreate them from scratch. I spent a good amount of time on the phone with her asking about ingredients and directions and she didn't mind one bit. Spring rolls, Vietnamese crepes, and lotus root salad were some of the dishes I attempted first. They were my comfort food.
What's your kitchen like and how do you keep organized when cooking?
My kitchen is very spacious and I love cooking in it. I usually get all my ingredients and spices ready before losing myself in the zone, as my husband calls it.
What tips would you give to someone wanting to become a better cook?
Don't be afraid of failure. Success means as much as failure. Take note of what you think went wrong so you can improve your next attempt. I keep a notebook of my recipes and how they worked out each time especially if I'm still in the recipe developing/testing process.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and what would you cook for them?
My dream dinner party would include Andrea Nguyen of Viet World Kitchen, David Lebovitz, and Julia Child. The dishes served would be Vietnamese with French influence--Vietnamese crepes as a starter, Vietnamese shaking beef and watercress salad and roasted quail as the entrees, and a passion fruit tart for dessert.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
I loved painting especially watercolor but it's been a while since I've picked up a brush. I would love to take up pottery and create my own bowls and plates one day.
Which cooking blogs do you love to read?
Honestly, between my work, being a wife and mother, I have little free time to keep up with a lot of blogs. I usually frequent blogs of online friends to see what they're up to such as Eat Little Bird, Cooking is a Craft, The Hungry Scribbler, and Haute Pink Pretty. I love David Lebovitz's blog. Who doesn't want to read about life in Paris!
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
We would love to connect with readers and introduce you to Vietnamese food so stop by our blog and dive in.
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