Have you ever tried a recipe with three hundred plus review, only to be disappointed by the dish? You followed it completely to the tee, yet your result was not amazing like the other hundreds that have tried it. It has happened many times to me over the years as I learn to cook … [Read more...] about First time cook? Following a recipe can lead to disaster.

There were many times when the mention of fish sauce during a dinner conversation at an Asian restaurant with non-Asian friends elicited disgust —that is if the person I was walking to had heard of its existence. Some appreciated its role in Southeast Asian food; others were … [Read more...] about How is Fish Sauce Made: A Visit With a Fish Sauce Maker