Hey there.
I’m Ai Ping.
Yup. That’s my first name. I’m often called Ai which really isn’t my name. It’s like calling John Jo. It’s wrong and weird. Don’t do it.
I’m 100% Malaysian but call Taiwan, the US and China my home. Mr. V – the hubby, grew up in Taiwan. We lived most our married life in Taiwan and in the U.S. A year ago, we settled here in the charming yet mysterious Shanghai.
I’m the epitome of “I live to eat”. Nothing makes me happier than a pack of Nasi Lemak and Fried Chicken…. and Chocolate Cake all day long.
I’m obsessed with Southeast Asian & East Asian food. So, expect to find a lot of that here. To me, its rich and bold flavors are unparalleled. Just the variety of street food alone is astonishing, what more hawker stalls, restaurants and home cooked food. Best part is, cooking ’em isn’t as hard as you think. I guarantee it will change your life.
I’m curious and I’m a nut. Not necessarily a good combination. Case in point.
It explains my bald patch smack in the middle of my head when life puts a vain 5 year old girl, a pair of scissors and a mirror together.
It explains all the scars on my body as living proofs of me wondering how much grip my shoes have climbing a construction cement tunnel or how fast my bike can go… downhill.
Curious Nut is a space where I indulge in my curiosity.. about EVERYTHING. I explore life and tell my story through the lens. And by life I mean cooking & eating, playing & eating and building new experiences & eating. Just a lot of eating, really.
More importantly, I hope to connect with you, be inspired by you & to discover life (and food) with you.
I appreciate you for dropping by. A big shout out to you.
Shoot me a message or drop me a comment. I’d like to hear from you.
And if you like what you see, please share this space.
Let’s be friends. Like me. Follow me. Stalk me.
Subscribe and get the latest post right in your inbox.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/curiousnut
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/curiousnut
Instagram: www.instagram.com/curiousnut
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCWeZHu3u1Xl6TiozucLvktw/
Email: info@curiousnut.com
27 comments
Happy to have come upon your blog! I am an American who just moved back to the US after 30years in Taiwan. Your recipes are delish and your your writing makes me giggle. So by combining my two favorite things (food and laughter) you made me a fan!
Your recipes are what I would order out. You have given me the secret to mint chutney. Everyone loves it and it is now on my Christmas menu with chicken tikka starter. I will be cooking it this weekend – June, surely close enough to Christmas. Thanks for your recipes we really appreciate it.
HI!! sorry you can disregard the message sent through the contact link…just found this.
I found your Hokkaido milk roll recipe and tried it….the family now thinks i’m some gifted baker!!! They were the absolute best rolls I’ve ever had…and i went another step and used the recipe to make kaiser rolls for burgers and that turned out to be excellent as well!
Thanks for sharing the recipe and i’ll be trying some of your other recipes now!!
OMG….i’m afraid i’ve got to make some more now that i’ve been thinking of them!! LOL
Mark
Hallo Ai Ping! I was looking for a ayam masak merah recipe and found yours! Now I just need to get some serai and galangal to make it hehe. Like you, I’m a Malaysian living in LA as well! We are lucky to be able to find Asian ingredients easily hor. But no fresh durian 🙁 Anyway, Love your site, photos and style of writing 🙂 will come back for more!
Hi Wei Yann. You can find serai and galangal in Thai markets like Silom or Bangluck. Enjoy!
Hi Ai Ping,
I am a 50 yr old guy living downunder here in New Zealand. I am a big fan of asian food. Recently I visited my supplier in China and had a ball! We ate more food than ever before and came home and had lost weight!1
You have a great website and have inspired me to cook your recipes.
All the best and kind regards
Richard 🙂
I am just an old American who loooooooves noodles of any kind. I will try some of your recipes and we have lots of Asian markets where I live. Although, I have not been in many, I should check it out. Thank you for all the good things to eat.
Faye
Hi AiPing,
Stumbled upon your blog when I googled Nasi Lemak recipes. I am totally in love with your site and I’ve got it Pinned to try as many as I can.
Like you I’m a Malaysian living here in the States, but much differently I live in Alabama now and Asian food grocers are rare. So I have to make do and be creative with substitutes here and there. Even made Laksa last weekend!
Sorry this comment is getting long. Just got excited seeing your blog. Lots of love and hope to read more from you.
Hi Yvonne. I’m super happy you came and dropped me such a sweet message. It’s always great to connect with fellow Malaysians especially outside the country. I get what you mean about hard to find ingredients as I lived in Chicago (and a small town in Illinois) when I was studying there. But now that I’m in LA, it’s relatively easy to find ingredients (thank god!). I hope you enjoy testing out the recipes. Keep in touch and we can just talk about food all day long. 🙂 Now that you mentioned laksa, I’m totally craving a bowl now.
I have been away for more than 40 years and I still believe S.E. Asian foods are one of the best.
Eddie
That I agree 100%. The flavors are just equal to none.
Oh my goodness! I feel like I just stepped out of a restaurant! The peanut ginger dressing is like…ridiculously good! I wouldn’t change anything about it. It is fantastic. I can’t believe I did it myself 😀 Thanks so much for this great recipe! And my husband thanks you too😉
Hi Barbara!
That is a great compliment. Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the dressing. It’s one of my favs too!
Love your blog and your photography! Very inspirational.
Thanks. Yours looks super amazing. Love your blog too. I can just dive into the food.
Ai Ping, you are are a gorgeous lady full of fun Remind me of my younger days as a true Malaysian about food.
Eddie
Thanks Eddie. Are you also not living in Malaysia anymore?
Hi Ai Ping, thanks for passing by my blog, thought I would come and sneek into yours 🙂 Wow I love your blog and your recipes. and your photos and everything. We have quiet a few things in common, curiosity and food. Can’t wait to try one of your recipes out. Cheers!
You had me at chicken feet. 🙂
Surprised to find the photo of “Ngon Jim fuon” &subsequently opened the pin. Enjoyed your comments as a bonus.
Haha. Thank you.
I love your site! Makes me homesick for Southeast Asian food. Thanks for the recipes!
Love yours too. :p The Tomato Quinoa ala Nasi Tomato… cracked me up but brilliant!!
Hi Ai Ping, a shoutout to a fellow blogger Malaysian. Like you, im also living abroad in Melbourne. Missing all the Malaysian food – i know what you mean when you say nasi lemak at heart eapecially those banana leaf 50cents nasi leamk with killer sambal. Love the photography and writing. Keep it up!
Hey to you too! Only those that have left the country will truly know how it feels like to be away from the food. Aaaaahhh. And yes to the 50 cents nasi lemak packets with the best sambal. Thanks for dropping by and saying hi. I went over to burpappetit too and it looks super sleek and clean. I love it. Love the recipes and photography too of course.
Hi Ai Ping,
Your blog is very entertaining. I just returned from a wonderful trip to Borneo and Singapore. So I was looking for a Teh Tarik recipe. I am glad, I found your blog.
I am also a storyteller and I really like the stories you are telling with your recipes. They are well written and your photos are fantastic.
Great job!
I will check out your recipes. All the meals look very yummy, is there any Laksa recipe? That’s my favorite dish.
All the best
Petra
Hey Petra. Thank you for your kinds words. I appreciate it very much. I’m sure you had a wonderful time in Borneo And Singapore. Did you go to Malaysia by any chance? As for Laksa recipes, I only have one up right now. You can search for ‘Asam Laksa’. This is the fish based sourish spicy version. I’ve yet posted Curry Laksa or other types of Laksa. Hopefully soon. Thanks again for popping by and saying hi.