Sylvia Lee

I've had a very unique experience with food and the kinds of food that I've eaten at home. My dad grew up in New Orleans, so my parents make classics such as Gumbo and Jumbalaya and for special occasions, we have crawfish or crab boils in our own backyard. We have also moved a lot because my dad was in the Navy, so we spent 3 years in Japan. My first memories of life are ones from living in Japan, and my first memories of food are of Japanese food. On the other hand, my family is Korean and there wasn't a lot of Korean food in Japan, so I remember my mom having to learn to make kimchi and other staples such as kimbap. Growing up in Los Angeles has exposed me to a huge variety of foods including South Asian food. My favorite experience with South Asian food has been when I visited Singapore. The cultural influences from across the continent were evident in the cuisine of the tiny country. 

From left to right: Gumbo cooking, Korean  dinner at my house, Making Chinese pork dumplings, Korean stewed fish

From left to right: Laksa in Singapore, Bulgogi at a restaurant in Los Angeles