About Me
Hello, I'm Ashley!
Food has always played a significant role in my life and identity. My relationship with food has evolved from being a picky eater to appreciating its cultural and emotional connections. Growing up in the 90s, ethnic food had yet to take center stage. I felt hesitant about my Chinese roots and often avoided bringing ethnic food to school. I even brought porridge to school for a multi-cultural heritage potluck – an ode to my Irish half. However, times have changed, Asian food is big in the North American food scene, and I learned that there is more to Irish food than potatoes and porridge.
Visiting my maternal grandparents every Saturday for lunch was a special tradition. My mother's family is ethnically Chinese, grew up in Calcutta, India, and moved to Canada when my mom was about 12 years old. My grandmother would prepare a dozen dishes for our large family, catering to everyone's preferences, including my picky eating habits. She effortlessly combined Indian and Chinese recipes, sometimes adding a touch of North American influence.
After moving out and cooking for myself, I realized the effort and love my grandmother put into preparing meals for our large family. Creating food is a labour of love, from its inception of thinking deeply about the people you are making it for, their tastes and desires, to the sourcing of ingredients and the elbow grease that goes into making an idea reality. Her English was never any good, so most of our conversations involved her asking if I liked the food, or when she would call me at home, she would ask if I had eaten, no matter the time of day, and if so, what. Connecting over food is a universal language. After she passed, cooking became my way of honouring her legacy.
During the pandemic lockdowns, I explored cooking more extensively and hosted dinner parties, experiencing the joy my grandmother felt while feeding and hosting us. Cooking has always fascinated me, offering a perfect blend of creativity, technique, and science. I pursued a career in the latter, but with this food blog, I pay tribute to my grandmother’s cooking and finally get to satisfy my own creative itch.
What You Will Find Here
In this blog, you'll find a combination of nutritious and well-balanced meals. I prioritize incorporating plenty of vegetables, a source of protein (animal-based or vegetarian), and healthy fats. This approach comes from my fitness enthusiast background of hitting the right macros but allows for a more intuitive way of eating healthy without becoming overly neurotic and counting calories. I also share cherished family recipes that reflect my grandmother's unique culinary journey from China to India to Canada; these cherished dishes can never be found at any Indian or Chinese restaurant.
When cooking, I don't always follow precise measurements, except in baking. I believe in tasting and adjusting seasonings throughout the process, just as great chefs do. I provide rough estimates in my recipes to offer guidance, particularly for those new to cooking. However, I encourage you to trust your taste buds and adjust the seasonings to make the dish truly shine.
