Hello! I’m Christine Ha – a food nerd in love with eating, cooking, photography, science, and culture.
Vietnamese food was always on the table when I was a kid, but I didn’t really care for it until my late teens (what a waste!). I was a super picky eater and mostly just wanted fast food. Somewhere down the line I flipped a switch, and now home-cooked food is something I appreciate so much more.
This is a journal of my recipes and food exploration that hopefully will share an appreciation for food with you!
Vietnamese recipes
I love allllll foods but have a lot of Vietnamese food here, sprinkled in with random cravings I just have to have.
My parents were born in Vietnam, so I’m a first-generation American here. There would always be Vietnamese food cooking at home and their unwavering passion for food led them to spend the 90s running a Vietnamese restaurant in California.
My mom has a discerning palette that she uses to consistently knock out dishes that brings the family together. She was the one always cooking for family gatherings, parties, birthdays, and the reason her brothers would stop by on weekdays for lunch.
Like many of my aunts and uncles, she is effortlessly selfless and giving, which I admire. I’m thankful and lucky to have her kitchen expertise and experience in Vietnam to lean on when I want to learn a new Vietnamese recipe.
It’s pretty funny trying to eat at Vietnamese restaurants with her though, since she’s a great cook and knows what it’s like running a restaurant. Any restaurant is by default minus 1 star for unknown (or known) cleanliness, and another star because she knows she could cook it better.
So eating all this Vietnamese food growing up and being exposed to many great cooks piqued my interest in cooking early. I didn’t realize until moving away for school that these are the recipes I’d miss the most. It’s not only something to eat, but memories of home, and now a way to connect to my Vietnamese culture and help keep the food and traditions alive.
Filipino recipes
You’ll also find a lot of Filipino recipes here! I’ve known my Filipina girlfriend for over a decade and this means lots of fiestas and family gatherings.
Of course lots of catering is involved but her mom has serious chops in the kitchen. She seems to always have two to three recipes going on at any moment, while thinking about the next party she’s cooking for, or meal she’s donating, or catering order she’s fulfilling.
We’re lucky that tita is extremely generous and kind: she’s always willing to teach a recipe or technique. And I must say I’ve never seen someone so content and at peace while in the kitchen.
They even took me to the Philippines for six weeks on a crazy family trip one time, which was eye-opening in many ways, but of course with the cuisine too.
Photography
The thought that a photograph can tell a story, take you back in time, make you feel something, and cause a commotion is pretty amazing. I love using photography to share with you my perspective. During my 9-5, I get to work on a lot of photography projects for YourBestDigs.com too (meaning I get to nerd out with more fun kitchen gadgets!).
Contact me
I love to hear from my readers! Keep in touch and sign up for updates on my blog here.
If you have a question about a recipe, please leave a comment on that specific post or feel free to send me an email. The best way to reach me is through e-mail: Christineha@gmail.com.
If you are a brand looking to collaborate, I’m open to work with food brands, or brands making kitchen gear or equipment that I love!