Following the Joy
Following the Joy
Cooking for me is sacred. It has always been and always will be. I grew up in a culture where food is a language. A language of love, friendship and healing. Without it, one ceases to exist. My birthplace, Indonesia with its vast span of islands and diverse peoples, taught me how to eat. The archipelago comprised of 18,000 islands and over 300 ethnic groups, was occupied by colonial powers for over 400 years for one simple reason- Spices. I acquired my skills at a young age through cultural traditions and informal settings. I learned to use local ingredients and cultivate my palate. I believe that, in order to be a good cook, you should first and foremost cultivate taste. My exposure at such a young age to the seemingly endless variety of dishes and spices indigenous to my motherland allowed me to hone that sense. The rest, technique and innovation, can be achieved through practice and experience.
Through the years, I’ve trusted my love of cooking to sustain and guide me. I’ve formed bonds of friendship, love, & companionship based on my love of food. It has sustained me through two rigorous college degrees, helped me find my life partner and given me community. It helped me endure the stresses of working in the corporate fashion world by transforming mundane lunchtimes into healthy epicurean team-building sessions with my coworkers. It’s been a beautiful journey, full of adventure and delight and I hope for so much more.
If you’re not passionate and adventurous about food, it’s not going to work out. I suggest you don't waste any more of your time and just stop reading right now. However, if you’re a person who feels that food has the power to open doors, to bring people together, to shape lives and make dreams come true, please sit, stay a while longer and I will tell you how wonderful and magical making food has been for me.
No better way to enjoy Indonesian food than eating with your hands.
Balinese Nasi Campur from Warung Teges
Traditional Indonesian sweets laid out for afternoon tea time
Pull up a chair, pop some popcorn and I’ll tell you about the unforgettable experience of entering a cooking competition on one of the biggest food channels in the U.S, the Food Network.
Delicious popcorn to accompany a great show.