SIA Around the World

Summer may be ending but my summery soba noodle salads are still going strong. Hiyashi chuka is the answer for when you are feeling like something light and refreshing but still need that carb-y goodness to fill you up. The ingredients are so interchangeable in this recipe but this one is pretty deluxe and stays traditional. Get your bowls ready!

Why has it taken me this long to write a banana bread post? I really don’t know, especially since I am constantly baking loaves each month. Here’s my ever-evolving recipe! Although I’ve got it down to a science now…

One of my favourite Hawaiian dishes is loco moco. A hamburger patty, gravy, sunny side up egg and two scoops of white rice. Can it get anymore comforting than that? I made a shortcut version of it featuring miso gravy which I actually really enjoyed. Don’t knock it till you try it!

What to do with a jar of canned peaches? Yeah, my ex gave me a jar of peaches (really puzzled as to why) and I had no idea what to do with it. First of all, I only took with fresh ingredients so I was trying to think of something that I could make with it without me giving it away or growing it in the trash. After much research, I decided to go with a southern-style peach cobbler which, as you’ll discover, is much different than the version you were originally thinking of.

Ah… I LOVE SPAM. I don’t know if it’s the Filipino in me, but there’s something that’s so satisfying when you open a can of Spam. One of my favourite things to make is spam and kimchi fried rice. Salty, spicy, carb-y - it’s everything you want in a meal. And luckily, this recipe can be made in a quick pinch!

Who is the genius that decided to put cereal into cookies? I’m a huge fan of folding cornflakes into my cookies. Not only does it added an interesting crunch, you’ve got that nostalgia factor at play as well. That, combined with toasted almonds and oatmeals make for an overall amazingly delicious cookie.

What is Cincinnati chili? Well…it may not be what you think. It’s essentially a scoop of chili atop a bed of spaghetti with numerous sky-high toppings including cheddar cheese, onions and beans. It may sound odd but hey, don’t knock it till you try it! It’s strangely satisfying…

Ever get stuck with a big leftover tub of gochujang for that one time you used it to make soondooboo or jjigae or something? Yeah, that happens to me often so I was experimenting on adding gochujang to an American chili and…it worked! I absolutely loved the smoky-sweetness that the gochujang gave the chili - works really well with a couple extra dashes of liquid smoke! Probably my new favourite - cannot wait to make this again!

GUYS, I MADE BUCATINI FROM SCRATCH AND IT WAS THE BEST EVER!!!! Ahhhhhh, so proud of myself! Making fresh pasta from scratch may seem like a chore but the end product is so rewarding and satisfying, especially when cooking together amongst a great group of friends. We prepared this all’amatriciana style which was a favourite dish of mine when I was in Rome. So cool to relive those memories through this dish!

Fun times were had when my friend Karen invited me over for a pasta-making party. Yes, you read that right. PASTA PARTY! We made a number of pastas including this fun little number. What happens when a bunch of food nerds combine their powers, knowledge of food, killer ingredients and wine together? You get this wonderful dish: creamy garlic, Boursin and morel fusilli. Drool.

Never thought in a million years that I’d be traveling to Wellington but of course, life trajectories happen and have lead me to this beautiful city. Wellington was the highlight of this trip to the Pacific Islands and I am glad I made the trek out there. Wellington, although small, is completely doable in a day or two. Its best enjoyed starting off the day at one of the many artisanal coffee shops, people watching by the bays and ending with a cocktail or two. One of the most hipster cities I’ve seen as a whole and I loved it all. Read on to find out why!

I have a new blog, hooray! After a long year of thinking about making this blog, I've finally taken the leap and just did it. This blog is centred around my two of my biggest loves: travel + food.