Welcome to Foodarina—my digital kitchen, my community garden sanctuary, and my ultimate happy place. I am so incredibly grateful you’ve dropped by!
If you walked into my home, you’d most likely find me in the kitchen, completely lost in my own peaceful world. To me, cooking isn’t a chore—it’s pure meditation. It is how I release stress, unwind after a long day, and ground myself naturally.
I’m a hands-on, old-soul cook who truly loves doing everything alone. I find absolute peace in the entire solitary ritual: from hunting for the best ingredients at local sundry shops and markets, to the therapeutic process of unpacking, cleaning, and prepping everything completely from scratch.
From Scratch, With Love
I love the deep, grounding process of handling raw ingredients. I will happily crack open fresh coconuts to scrape out the meat, handle chicken, beef, and cockerel, or expertly clean, cut, and cook fresh fish in all kinds of styles. I love prepping seafood like cuttlefish and crab, but prawns will always be my absolute favorite!
My husband jokes that I eat like a rabbit because green, leafy vegetables are my absolute favorite food—even the wonderfully rich, bitter ones that most people shy away from. I am also completely, wonderfully crazy about fruits. In fact, my husband of 27 years will tell you he didn’t even know half the world’s fruits and vegetables existed until he married me!
Apartment Living & The Joy of Farming
You don’t need a massive countryside estate to grow your own food! We live in an apartment, and I subscribed to a small, private plot of land provided by our management for tenants who love farming. That little lot is my absolute joy.
I spend my time tending to my crops, growing ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, ladies’ fingers, and many more. Honestly, watching my plants sprout makes me get excited like a kid with a brand-new toy! My love for nature goes beyond cooking, too—whenever I spot beautiful flowers along the way, I just have to stop right in my tracks to pause, appreciate them, and snap a few pictures.
27 Years at the Heart of the Home
For nearly three decades, I have had the absolute privilege of being the chef for my wonderful husband and my sons. Gathering around the table and watching them completely binge on a delicious meal I made is my greatest reward.
Of course, no kitchen is perfect! On the rare days when I’m completely exhausted and accidentally leave out the salt, my boys might drop a subtle hint, asking if it’s just their tastebuds playing tricks on them. My husband, coming home carrying the heavy stress of a long workday, will call it exactly like it is right then and there.
But to me, that is the raw, beautiful truth of a real, lived-in family kitchen. Every honest critique, every shared laugh, and every single clean plate is a vital thread in our 27-year story. It is a space of comfort, safety, and deep connection where my family still enjoys my cooking immensely.
Welcome to My Table
Foodarina is my space to share that genuine joy with you. I want to welcome you into a world where cooking feels like a beautiful, soul-nourishing ritual, no matter how busy life gets or whether you live in a house or an apartment.
Thank you for being a part of my journey. Let’s make something delicious together!