Category: Eat + Read

  • Late Night Coping Mechanisms

    Late Night Coping Mechanisms

    There’s been a long silence on this blog, not because I haven’t been eating and reading books, but because I’m almost done writing my second novel. I say this with some trepidation because to be honest, I’ve been claiming I’m “almost done” for a while. And all the time, my book keeps…

  • How to Poach Eggs in Their Shells

    How to Poach Eggs in Their Shells

    A few days ago, we had some friends over for brunch and I decided to serve poached eggs on rice. “Is this going to be raw?” they asked in surprise, as I blithely started to crack eggs over the cooked rice in their bowls.

  • My Ill-Fated Elephant Detective Novel

    My Ill-Fated Elephant Detective Novel

    Everyone has a mistake or two hidden in their closet. Mine just happens to be elephant-sized. A number of people have very kindly (and probably untruthfully) expressed an interest in seeing my ill-fated elephant detective novel. This was the first book that I attempted to write, and it was a…

  • Play With Your Food

    Play With Your Food

    When I was a little girl, my sister and I loved to play with our food. We had to do this surreptitiously because my mum frowned upon anything that looked like wasting food or making a mess, but one of our favourite games, which could be played under the radar…

  • Instant Ramen Deluxe – the Lobster Edition

    Instant Ramen Deluxe – the Lobster Edition

    When I was a university student, I once organized a kung fu/ramen party.  This consisted of renting martial arts movies and providing a wide variety of instant noodles to eat along with the action. “What kind of party is this?” said my then boyfriend (now husband).

  • Terrible or Great? Hand-painted Chinese Movie Billboards

    Terrible or Great? Hand-painted Chinese Movie Billboards

    Recently, I wrote a guest post for She Reads about how, when I was a little girl, my grandmother lived in a small town in Malaysia opposite a cinema which showed scary Chinese movies. We children were not allowed to go and watch them, although from the front window we…

  • 5 Things To Do in Los Angeles

    5 Things To Do in Los Angeles

    Whenever I’m in Los Angeles, there are a few things that I secretly put on my to-do list. “What secret?” says my husband. “You know you’ll make us all do this anyway!” I have to admit that he’s right.

  • Recording My Audiobook

    Recording My Audiobook

    Happy Publication Day! The Ghost Bride was (finally) published on August 6th!! In a burst of optimism, I auditioned to read my own audiobook and was actually approved. I was very excited about this, as reading aloud is a favourite activity with my kids and brings back happy memories from my…

  • Guest Post: Food for Thought – Immigrant Fiction

    Guest Post: Food for Thought – Immigrant Fiction

    Today’s guest blogger is the talented Alison Klein, who combines a keen eye for literature with an equally discerning palate. Alison lives in Amsterdam and likes to read in the plane or on her roof terrace, or wherever else books happen to be.

  • Boba! Boba! Boba!

    Boba! Boba! Boba!

    Some foods are so addictive that they raise the suspicion that they’ve been adulterated in some way. Like the 215 restaurants in southwestern China that were shut down by narcotics police for adding opium to their food.