Ideas Behind This Blog
In February 2010 I decided I wanted to start a food blog with a view to meeting and sharing recipes with other food bloggers from all over the world. I come from a very cosmopolitan country and have met a number of different people in different situations but I’ve never had an opportunity to share recipes before now.
To explain why I haven’t been able to share before let me explain my background. I come from Taiwan and was born in Taipei where I lived for the first 25 years of my life. I studied at one of the top food colleges in the country but the chef scene in Taiwan is very male dominated. Essentially, if you’re a woman, you won’t be a chef. Although I am highly trained in Western cuisine, I simply can’t go anywhere working as a chef in Taiwan.
There are three main reasons behind my blog:
1. To meet people.
I love meeting people, to share people’s experiences, to learn and care about people
2. To share recipes.
Taiwan has a very diverse food culture which many people are completely unaware of. A lot of our cuisine originates from China but over the decades a lot of these dishes have evolved.
3. To prove that authentic Eastern food can be cooked at home.
There are many so called expert Chinese or Taiwanese chefs on the TV but often their food has no relation to the original dish. I watch chefs cook drunken chicken soaked in Shaoshing rice wine or a Taiwanese night market duck dish being prepared. Yes we have drunken chicken but it is served as a dry dish (ie without the soup) and we don’t have a Taiwanese night market duck dish.
About Me
Let me give you an explanation of where I come from and my background. My life started in Taipei, Taiwan in 1981 and my childhood was really miserable. My first memory of cooking was when I was two years old and my mother was passed out cold on the bed after gambling all night and I was hungry, so I tried to make myself a chocolate milk drink. My father and mother weren’t around for long periods of time for various reasons and I lived with my grandfather for a number of years before he sadly passed away from cancer.
Grandpa
However, the really great thing about my childhood was living with my grandfather. I absolutely loved him and he could cook really really well (in fact a lot of recipes on this blog are influenced by what he cooked for me when I was a child).
I remember the first time I met my grandfather was after my parents broke up. My mother moved to Japan and my father was busy doing his own things and I saw him in the kitchen. The first thing he said to me was “are you hungry?”. I just nodded as I was a little confused about who he was and I watched him cutting and preparing the food for me and suddenly felt really warm and secure. He made me a bowl of rice with steamed sliced pork and vegetables and it was simply the best meal I have ever ate in my life. I’ve eaten in Michelin star restaurants in different countries which were tasty, but grandpa’s food was divine.
When he passed away from cancer my life was at an all time low and I couldn’t figure out what to do. Reminiscing about my grandfather, I thought about all of the tasty dishes he cooked me and also how he taught me how to cook properly, both of which brought me huge amounts of happiness. So I decided I wanted to be a chef.
When I left high school, I enrolled at one of the top cooking colleges in the country and studied Western cooking for several years. I attended college in Kaohsiung and learned about Western cuisine and my fascination with the West ended up with me marrying an Englishman.
Moving to the UK
In 2007 I moved to the UK, wanting a break from my life in Taiwan but also to try living in a different culture, assuming that I would be able to buy decent Chinese or Taiwanese food but it was impossible. In Taiwan we have the awesome night markets where you can pick up many local delicacies but in the UK we have nothing. There are a few so called celebrity Chinese/Taiwanese chefs on the TV but their food is nothing like what I eat in my culture. I became and am still dismayed about it
These so called Eastern chefs say their dishes are prepared as they are because one can’t buy the right ingredients in this country but you really can. I live in Edinburgh and have done so for two years but the recipes throughout my blog are 99% authentic and everything was bought from Sainsburys/Asda and my local Chinese supermarket (which is a really basic Chinese supermarket).
Purpose
So, the purpose of this blog is to prove that one can make truly authentic Eastern food at home. I love storytelling and in Eastern cuisine many dishes have a story behind them. Whether it’s Donpo pork, Coffin Bread or Donkey Rolling on the Ground, everything has history. And as I will keep emphasising, I spent 25 years eating these dishes in the local markets in Taiwan, where people speak virtually no English, yet I can make them here.
I believe that because I can source ingredients to make truly authentic eastern dishes, which are fun to read and look at but most importantly incredibly tasty, I believe I can win food blog as I’m passionate food and it has really helped my life. I went from a really bad childhood to working in one of the top restaurants in beautiful Edinburgh and I hope my blog can be used to inspire people.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.. I am loving this challenge. I posted my FBC this morning check it out and let me know what you think.
Ashlee
http://ashandlewplus2.com/2010/09/18/project-food-blog-ready-set-blog/
Liv Wan, Your post was so endearing, and candid. Your pictures are beautiful. I wish you the best in this challenge!
Hi Liv. You are a great blogger, your photos are great, your food all look delicious. Thank you for sharing your passion with us. Will be rooting for you, all the best!
Hello Jan/Thella,
Thank you for your kind comment. I’ve voted for you on PFB and wish you all the best in your world. 😀
A passionate entry, and beautiful food — I wish I could taste it! Theresa
Hello Theresa,
Thank you very much for your kind comment. 😀
Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. I have been loving getting to know all of my food buzz friends. When you get a chance check my Food Blog Project post out and let me know what you think.
Ashlee
http://ashandlewplus2.com/2010/09/18/project-food-blog-ready-set-blog/
Hello Ashlee,
many thanks for your kind comment. It’s always be a wonderful experience to get to know someone. I’ve voted for you on PFB and wish you all the best. 😀
So glad we have met through Foodbuzz, I cant wait to try some of your recipes and I wish you good luck in the competition 🙂
Debbie
x
Hello Debbie,
I’m so glad that we have met through Foodbuzz too. I wish you all the best in your world. Thank you so much for your kind comment. 😀
Great post Liv. Thanks for sharing such a personal part of your life. I am humbled by your story. One of the best I’ve read. Good luck in the contest.
Hello Sara,
Thank you very much for the kind comment.
You’ve got my vote and wish you all the best.
What an incredible journey. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Best of luck in the challenge.
Hello City Share,
Thank you very much for your kind comment.
You’ve got my vote and wish you all the best in the challenge.
What a story.. amazing how far you’ve come! Your pictures are ones to awe over and your passion behind what you do is apparent. Good luck in the challenge.
Hello Evan,
Many thanks for your kind comment. You’ve got my vote and wish you all the best.
Wow – what an inspiring story!! I am deeply touched. Great photos too. I wish you the best in the challenge.
Hello Hyosun,
Many thanks for your kind comment. 😀
Great story and beautiful photos, congratulations and good luck;)
Hello Patty,
Thank you very much for your wonderful comment.
Your pics are so cute! Go Taiwan!! Are you a member of FAPA-YPG? My dad is president of the FAPA Sacramento Chapter. Learned a lot about Taiwan cuisine from my mom, but there’s a lot more to learn- nice to see your blog!
Hello Karma,
I’ve no clue of FAPA-YPG. I’ve checked the website and I’m interesting to be a member of it but don’t know how. Can you please give me some advise of it? By the way, You’ve got my vote and I wish you all the best and good luck. 😀
Your food does look really beautiful. I find your blog really inspires me to cook. Good luck to you.
Hello Greedy Rosie,
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m really appreciate.
You got my vote! Cheers and aloha.
Hi Liv,
Your introduction is so heartfelt. Yours and Grandfather’s story is so beautiful and I can see all the wonderful memories of him inspire your delicious recipes. I love your purpose section. Best of luck to you!
Hello Nancy,
Your comment always make my day. Thank you so much for your kind comment.
I stopped by to see what you were up to…and good thing I did. This is a great entry, off to vote 🙂 And good luck with the contest 🙂
Hello Alisha,
You’ve got my vote too. I always love your recipes. They truly look healthy and mouth watering. I wish you all the best and good luck. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I love your gorgeous pictures and am so happy I found your blog through PFB!
Hello Stephanie,
I love your blog too. You’ve got my vote. I wish you all the best and good luck!! 😀
You got my vote! Good luck – hope to see you in the next round…
Hello Eileen,
I tried to find your profile on PFB but I can’t find it. Can you please give me your profile link then I can vote for you?
Poor us having to compete against you! Your photos are always amazing. Great post! I voted for you! =)
Good luck!
Check out my PFB post : http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/503
Hi Jacob,
Many thanks for your kind comment. You’ve got my vote too. I always love your recipes. 😀
Nice post. Your food looks great and I’m glad to hear you strive for authenticity. I look forward to checking out more of your posts.
Hi Javaholic,
You’ve got my vote. Thank you very much for your kind comment.
you’ve got my vote 🙂 gluck!
Thank you Sians.
I voted for you too. Your blog is fantastic. It’s so much detail on it. 😀
Voted! Good luck!
I voted for you too. Love you blog so much. 😀
You have one of my votes! Good Luck! 🙂
Those pictures are gorgeous and your recipes sound great! I’ll be adding your site to my reader list and you definitely get a vote 😀
Oh, and if you’d like, pop over to my site and take a look:
http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/197
What an interesting background and beautiful photos of your work. I’d Good luck.
Great to learn more about you and of course I voted for you!
Hi, I’m a fellow PFB contestant too!
I loved reading your story, there’s so much warmth in it! and your pics are just amazing. I’ll surely be trying some of your recipes!
you got my vote, good luck ahead!:)
Hello Mansi,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and vote. I hope you have a great day.
Liv,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful post. No doubt you get my PFB vote. But more than that, your blog posts are always inspired which is why I keep coming back. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi Jean,
Your blog always inspired me a lot as well and Your food looks so so so tasty. Of course I gave you my vote too. 😀
i love your story..its very beautiful:) you definately have my vote! great job as always..!
I always love your posts! You have a great blog! I just gave you a vote! You can check out my entry here: http://tinyurl.com/2ec2hlq Thanks and Good Luck!
Hi Lindsay,
Many thanks for your vote and support. I’m really appreciate it. I’ve gave you my vote as well. 😀
hey ya! you have a lovely blog here. Stumble upon your blog through foodbuzz. 🙂 I voted for your blog. hope that helps. feel free to drop by!!
have a lovely weekend
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
Hi Jen,
Thank you very much for your kind comment and vote. I hope you have a great day.