Where are you?
Kensington, CA USA… But no one ever knows where Kensington is, so I usually just tell people I’m from Berkeley. It’s the next block over.
What food-related topic are you most passionate about, that you want people to ask you about and you can’t stop talking about it?
I like to dabble in fermentation. Currently, I have tempeh, sauerkraut, kimchi, vinegar, sriracha, and other fermented hot sauces tucked away. I also can, and my end of summer ritual is to can a year’s worth of tomatoes, which for me is around 100 pounds. Zero-waste is another passion of mine, although I’m far from reaching that goal, so making staples (ketchup, mayo, tempeh) is another passion of mine. Homemade food means less waste, plus it’s really fun figuring out how to make things!
What’s a great food experience you have had?
Last year, I took a cooking/food tour in Sri Lanka, and it was an intimate tour where I got to cook in people’s homes and learn straight from the grandmas. Oh, it was bliss! Those family meals in Sri Lanka will forever stay with me. This year, I’m doing another cooking tour in India. Can’t wait!
A little tidbit about you
I carry around my own stainless steel take-out container and I also have a DIY boba cup, complete with a fat straw, I take to tea places. Even in Berkeley, the boba places are really thrown off by me wanting my drink in my personal cup, and sometimes they charge me more.
