Off the Map

My Lonely Planet to Hidden Gems Off the Map

Since elementary school, I have always been assigned to select restaurants and hotels for family trips. Back then, Mom relied on two main sources: the few travel blogs available in the early 2000s and the thick, HEAVY Lonely Planet, which I flipped through so much that by the time we actually set off, the pages were practically falling out. My childhood dream (aside from becoming a translator) was to be a Lonely Planet editor. While LP may no longer be in print, I’ve decided to create my own little “Lonely Planet,” filled with my personal travel and food adventures.

Hanoi Food Diary | 河内美食”辣”评

Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg Foodprints

BROWSE BY REGIONS & CATEGORY

Food Map Across the Globe

Growing up in Canton (Southern China), my cooking has always been rooted in Cantonese cuisine, followed by other Chinese and Asian dishes. But with my partner Charles’ supervision and his occasional cravings for non-Asian foods, I’ve been slowly expanding my culinary horizons across continents—one dish at a time!

New Recipes (&Adventures)

Lab notebook documenting best practices, failure, reflection and resources just like a peer-reviewed paper (not really..)

Mulberry Jam Pound Cake

It’s mulberry picking season here in the Bay Area, and a friend generously gifted us a jar of homemade mulberry jam. While my partner experiments with mulberry-inspired cocktails, I went digging for baked goods recipes that could highlight the mulberry jam’s flavor.
Birria Tacos

After taco de lengua and carnitas, I’m taking on birria—one of Charles and Rick’s favorites from Tacos El Patron in SF—in preparation for another upcoming taco fiesta. Rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, this dish is slow-cooked perfection wrapped in crispy, cheesy tortillas.
[healthy] passionfruit pound cake – no cane sugar no butter

When you’ve got a big jar of passion fruit jam nearing its expiration date, and your partner can’t quite use it up in cocktails, it’s the perfect excuse to get creative in the kitchen. I couldn’t let that tropical, tangy delicacy go to waste. So I started experimenting: first with passion fruit triple chocolate cookies (a tasty idea, but the seeds hardened in the bake), and then with a passion fruit pound cake, which turned out to be a delicious success.
2025 SF Croissant Blind Test

Contestants: Arsicult, Juniper, Jina Bakes, Jane the Bakery, Neighbor Bakehouse, and… Safeway (yes, we need Costco in here next time!)
Passionfruit NY Rolls with Dark Chocolate Ganache

I first saw these car wheel–like, tightly layered pastries at Jina Bakes in San Francisco. They switched up the monthly flavors—strawberry, hojicha, lemon custard—and I loved every single one. Suddenly, they started sprouting in every bakery I visited, and I knew I had to bake it myself. My confidence was boosted after successfully baking croissants after 6 trials and experimenting with both sweet and savory versions. I rolled up my sleeves again and even bought pastry rings just to try making this viral “New York Roll” at home, filled with passionfruit coconut pastry cream and topped with dark chocolate ganache.
Tacos de Carnitas

Up until now, beef tongue tacos were the only taco I’d made—but with a taco party on the horizon, I knew I had to expand my repertoire. Hence, unlocking the classic, carnitas.
Tacos de Lengua

Of all the tacos I’ve tried, my heart keeps going back to three classics: lengua, cabeza, and tripa. So when I spotted peeled beef tongue at Costco, I knew it was finally time to recreate my favorite taco — and truthfully, make tacos at home for the first time! Surprisingly, beef tongue tacos are quite straightforward to make and the process made me realize I lack most of the essential sauces and toppings in my well-stocked kitchen with Asian pantry lol Let’s try this juicy beef tongue nestled in a warm corn or flour tortilla, topped with zingy onions, cilantro, a hit of lime and salsa of your choice!
Dark Chocolate Banana Bread (with a twist of coconut)

The best banana bread I’ve ever had wasn’t even eaten by the person who made it. A former colleague, who’s lactose intolerant, used to bake incredible dark chocolate banana bread—but never tasted it herself. Instead, she refined the recipe based on feedback from lucky coworkers like me. Inspired by her, I always turn to banana bread when I have leftover ripe bananas. This version is rich with dark chocolate, subtly nutty from chunky peanut butter, and has a fun texture thanks to shredded coconut. It’s deliciously moist, indulgent, and still has room for future experiments!
肥牛金针菇 | Enoki Mushroom With Beef

Enoki mushrooms and fatty beef have always been a favorite from my parents’ home-cooked menu. It’s a simple dish, but the bold black pepper sauce enhances the delicate enoki, while the glossy, starchy coating locks in the beef’s rich flavor. Charles may think the photo doesn’t do it justice, but I’m sharing it anyway—for easy home cooking and my own future cravings!