To Asia, with Love

I feel a sense of kinship with Hetty McKinnon. Not because I am a bestselling author of four cookbooks, an immigrant from Asia who grew up in Australia, or a successful podcaster. But because, with some pretty good storytelling and a happy coincidence, she managed to recreate one of my fondest food experiences. Said meal (follow the link to the recipe) was had in Tokyo’s famous Shinjuku district and it’s a preview of the author’s love letter to Asian cuisine. A deeply personal, moving, and delicious look into the food her ancestors, her mother, and Hetty herself grew up with, "To Asia, with Love: Everyday Asian Recipes and Stories from the Heart" pays homage to an entire continent’s traditions. It tells story through timeless recipes — made relevant for a new generation of readers — even a middling home chef like me can recreate. Her vegetable-first, fresh produce-focused mission is clear, but so is the conversation this work is bound to initiate on cooking from the heart.