3 Types of Technical Interviews
This is the third post in the recruiting series that I’m currently writing! I’ve written two other posts, about my recruiting goals, and sourcing companies. In this one, I’ll be laying out the structure of the 3 different types of technical interviews I encountered, what studying techniques worked best for…
Detecting Signal Among the Noise
When I tell my friends that I talked to over 50 companies, most of them are understandably shocked. Seeing this number at the end of my process, I’m a little daunted myself, even though I didn’t kick off interview processes with all of them. Talking to this many companies was…
How I Started Recruiting Again
Recruiting is this whole mysterious black box, and I think that interviewers and candidates would both benefit from a more transparent process. We can’t really do that unless we’re willing to talk in detail about what happens, so here’s me trying to shed some light onto it after exploring over…
Lily (San Francisco, CA)
If there’s anything my friends know, it’s that decadent food is my choice of sin. Lily transforms fried rice, embellishing the classic leftovers dish with wagyu, uni, ikura, and crab, and I’m here for it.
Ginger Chicken Congee with Preserved Egg · 皮蛋鸡肉粥
When I was growing up, if I ever came down with a bout of food poisoning, or wasn’t feel well, my parents would make me a bowl of congee to help settle my system. Plain rice congee is a common breakfast in China, but my favorite has always been either…
read more >> Ginger Chicken Congee with Preserved Egg · 皮蛋鸡肉粥
Dry-Fried String Beans · 干煸四季豆
When I was living in China, my roommate Lili and I had staple dishes that we’d order at any restaurant. Dry-fried string beans were one dish that always made that list. The kick of heat from the chilis, the umami from the 芽菜, and the sumptuously blistered texture of the…
Steamed Whole Seabass · 蒸全鱼
Fish is commonly prepared whole in a lot of Chinese seafood dishes. The striking appearance, along with the flavors of the different parts of the fish, is a delicate, but impressionable, way to prepare whole fish. While this dish looks complicated, preparation is so easy and simple, and always satisfying!
Authentic Sichuan Mapo Tofu · 麻婆豆腐
Mapo tofu is a Chinese dish that is now ubiquitous throughout the world, but it originated centuries ago from the Sichuan province, in my hometown of Chengdu. So it should come as no surprise that the version nearest and dearest to my heart is the original, numbingly-spicy version of the…
Savory Stir-Fried Tomato Egg · 番茄炒鸡蛋
Growing up, one of my favorite dishes was stir-fried tomato and egg. It was one of the first recipes I learned to cook from my parents, and is one of my go-tos when I want to cook something comforting, healthy, and easy. In high school, I’d often stay up late…
Sesame Furikake Avocado Toast
Furikake and sesame come together in this fragrant, crunchy rendition of avocado toast. Furikake is a mix of dried seaweed and seasonings that can be found at most Asian supermarkets, but if you don’t have any on hand, any dried seaweed will do.
Honey Prosciutto Avocado Toast
The inspiration for honey prosciutto avocado toast came from a leftover charcuterie board. I found myself with scraps of leftover prosciutto, herbs, and honey, and decided to combine them on top of avocado toast. What I ended up with was a decadent combination of sweet and salty, fresh and rustic.…
Lemon Herb Avocado Toast
This recipe for avocado toast is one that I find myself making most often, because I usually have the ingredients required in my fridge and pantry already. The lemon and cilantro brighten and balance out the creaminess of the avocado, and the smoked paprika.
Curried Tumeric Avocado Toast
Curry and tumeric are some of my favorite spices to give a dish a flavorful zing. The fresh garlic in this recipe (as opposed to powdered garlic), gives it a surprising kick of spice. Since this recipe includes a poached egg, olive oil, and fresh avocado, it’s best enjoyed right…
Birdsong (San Francisco, CA)
As my most beloved restaurant in SF, and possibly in the US, there are so many praises I have to sing about this place and their food philosophy. I’ve eaten here 3 times (the first in their first week of opening), the most number of repeat visits I’ve accumulated for…
Oma (San Francisco, CA)
Since quarantine began, dining options in San Francisco have become limited. Many restaurants have pivoted towards delivery and takeout options. Despite my love for cooking, I sometimes find myself craving dishes that aren’t feasible to replicate at home. Uni over rice is one of those specific, but infeasible options, because…
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Symptoms and Cures From a 0.1x Engineer
It’s been just a little over two years since I decided to make a serious commitment to the journey of programming. I wanted to document as much as I remember of the first hard parts of that journey because I don’t want to forget how unfeasible the idea of becoming…
read more >> Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Symptoms and Cures From a 0.1x Engineer
Vegan, GF 担担面: Mala Sichuan Sesame Noodles
Since I was a little kid, 担担面 (dan dan noodles) have been a staple when my family orders at Chinese restaurants. The first time I went back to visit Chengdu, my hometown, I’d beg my mom to let me eat them every day. My flavor of choice for most Chinese…
Blueberry Banana Protein Pancakes
Have you ever had a bad day when it starts with pancakes for breakfast? I haven’t either! Protein pancakes have always come out dense and dry for me. Thanks to the dalgona craze that’s been taking over the Internet lately, I’ve developed an interest in egg whites and what they…
Mochi Muffins Three Ways: Black Sesame, Matcha, Original
The first time I encountered the magical mochi muffin was 2 years ago at Contraband Cafe in San Francisco. It was a muffin that had a crispy exterior, and firm, but chewy, on the inside. The muffin had a buttery, toffee-like taste to it, but the best part about it…
read more >> Mochi Muffins Three Ways: Black Sesame, Matcha, Original
Curried Tumeric Scrambled Eggs on Toast
When your roommate looks at your breakfast and remarks, “Wow, how did you make some veggies on eggs and toast look so delicious?”, you figure it’s a good recipe to document on your blog that no one reads 🙂 Elevated eggs and toast falls into the grey area between “I’m…
Gado Gado with Spicy Almond Sauce
About a month ago, I happened upon this delicious hole-in-the-wall Indonesian restaurant in LA called Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine. I tried gado gado for the first time, which is one of Indonesia’s five national dishes. My favorite thing about this recipe is how customizable it is; it’s a solid way to…
Marutama (Vancouver, Canada)
It seems like the ramen craze has penetrated every major city in the world. From Sydney to Amsterdam to San Francisco, every city has a few ramen joints clamoring to be the best outside of Japan. Vancouver is no exception; when I asked around for must-visit food recommendations, the majority…
Charred Shishito Peppers (GF, Vegan, Paleo)
Some days I feel painfully lazy when it comes to cooking dinner. Though I usually see the kitchen as as place of solace, and my time to relax, there are evenings where I’m either working late, or want to do something else, which prompts me to look for a quick,…
Tartine Manufactory (San Francisco, CA)
Tartine Bakery is one of San Francisco’s quintessential foodie establishments. It’s made every notable list, and for good reason. In 2016, Tartine Manufactory inherited 5,000 square feet of space next door to Heath Ceramics, dedicating the interior to baking bread, cooking food, and serving drinks. With countless restaurants in San…
28 // The most magical year yet
I wrote the following post as an email to my close friends on my 28th birthday, reflecting back on what has been the most fulfilling year of life yet. I was encouraged to share my experiences with self-work more publicly by a few people I trust and admire, so I…
Sparking Joy In a Digital World
My fascination with digital minimalism began when I read Deep Work by Cal Newport back in college. I won’t give a summary of the book here, but can say that it’s one I’ve revisited occasionally over the years–a handbook for focus and discipline that has profounded impacted the way I…
Herb and Garlic Sweet Potato Mash (GF, NF, Vegan, Paleo)
It’s been a long time since my last post, hasn’t it? Since my last post back in November, a handful of other priorities have surfaced in other areas of my life that brought about a wave of reflection on how often I wanted to post new recipes and commit to…
read more >> Herb and Garlic Sweet Potato Mash (GF, NF, Vegan, Paleo)
The Art of Living: Mastering the Mind, and Finding Forgiveness
“Have you forgiven yourself?”, she asked. “Yes.”, I replied. For the first time, I believed it. Many of my friends are aware that I did a vipassana retreat in mid-October. To say the technique changed my life would be an understatement. Some people have asked me to share my experience,…
read more >> The Art of Living: Mastering the Mind, and Finding Forgiveness
More Port, Please
Portugal has been a blur of small, beautiful moments. Unlike trips I had taken in the past, I let a lot of experiences just happen and let the universe work its magic without trying to force its hand. Whether this meant sleeping in or waking up early, staying inside and choosing…
Spiced Persimmon and Fig Muffins (GF, NF, Paleo)
Fall is in full swing, and it’s my favorite season for several reasons. Not only do the leaves change color and introduce stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red to the scenery outside, but the produce available in supermarkets now includes fun, seasonable items: different types of squashes, pumpkin, and…
read more >> Spiced Persimmon and Fig Muffins (GF, NF, Paleo)
O Paparico (Porto, Portugal)
The serendipitous magic of planning as I go has been serving me really well in Portugal. By complete coincidence, a friend and I found out that we’d both be in Porto at the same time, and as it turns out – we are a foodie match made in heaven. After…
Mustafa’s (Berlin, Germany)
After a whirlwind few months of nonstop transitions and different life chapters being written and read with a speed and intensity I simply couldn’t keep up with, I finally found some time to head out of the country for a few weeks. My first stop was in Berlin, where my…
Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles, CA)
People might bill me as a hater for saying this, but I’ve never been a big fan of Los Angeles. Too spread out, too much traffic, a little too materialistic. In fact, I actively try not to spend too much time in the city, but as I have tons of…
Sushi Yoshizumi (San Mateo, CA)
I’ve dated a number of sushi restaurants in the Bay Area–and for the last 4 years, haven’t felt that spark of chemistry with any of them. Although my favorite food is sushi, it’s also the one I tend to be pickiest about, and after a lot of missed expectations, just…
Seaside Escape: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
When I first moved back to California after spending nearly three years abroad, I felt a nebulous gratitude for everything I had taken for granted on some level. Something I really missed while living in a concrete jungle was the proximity to the ocean. Not lakes, rivers, or beaches, but…
Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe (Monterey, CA)
I’ve been trying to squeeze as many trips into the end of summer as I possibly can, and managed one pretty well-planned daytrip to Carmel–you can find some snapshots and words here. Carmel is a trove of delicious food because almost everything is local. When I go places, I gravitate…
read more >> Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe (Monterey, CA)
City Guide: San Diego, California
San Diego is one of the most stunning cities in the world. Surrounded by sand and water, there’s a number of ways to spend your time in San Diego, especially if you love food and nature. Home to the best tacos in America, and truly world-class beaches, it’s one of…
City Guide: Shanghai, China
(Last Updated: Apr 1 2018) Shanghai is my favorite city in the world (tied with San Francisco). I’ve lived there twice in my life, the second time for three years. If you want the absolute best food scene in the whole world (not exaggerating), the craziest nightlife, and a glimpse…
Honey Rose Pistachio Cheesecake
Welcome to the first recipe on the blog! It’s an exciting endeavor to sharing the results of my kitchen therapy—one I think I’ve put off for far too many years. Better late than never, right? (more…)