Tiny Urban Kitchen: Cooking and Tasting Around the World

About Me

I am Jen, an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always.

I've eaten at over 800 restaurants, developed close to 350 recipes, and have traveled to over 50 cities spanning 20+ countries and 5 continents. Have a look around, and enjoy!

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Latest Articles

Eating in Taiwan - 2024 EditionNovember 3, 2024
After going to Taiwan in February 2017 and July 2017, I never would have imagined it would be so many more years before I returned again. After all, I lived in Hong Kong, only a 1.5 hour flight away. But then the pandemic came, and before you know it, it...
Top Foods to Taste in Shunde, ChinaSeptember 23, 2024
They say Cantonese food has three main roots: Chiu Chow (chaozhou), Hakka (kejia) and Shunde (pronounced SHUN - Duh). Many say that the origins of Cantonese food comes from this small but packed region full of incredible food. In 2014, Shunde was recognized by UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a...
Sayan Night Market - Ubud, Bali, IndonesiaSeptember 17, 2024
After two days of spending most of our time at the resort or on a resort organized tour, my friend was itching to go into the town and get a taste of the local markets and the street food! Sayan Night Market, located in the village of Sayan just a...
Balinese Home Cooking (Bali, Indonesia)September 14, 2024
Balinese Home Cooking is a restaurant located inside a small, traditional Balinese village called Payogan. Approximately 3km north-west of Ubud Palace, it was a short drive for us to come here by car. Before actually entering the restaurant to eat, we briefly walked around the village and saw some locals...
Bali: Nungnung Waterfall and the Ayung RiverSeptember 11, 2024
On Day 2 of our private tour, we visited Nungnung Waterfall. It is about 1 to 1.5 hours away from Ubud. The entire excursion took 4 hours and cost about USD$200 for 2 people. Nestled about 900 meters above sea level in the village of Nungnung, Nungnung Waterfall cascades from...
Classic Vintage Tour of Ubud, Bali, IndonesiaSeptember 8, 2024
The Mandapa Ritz Carlton Reserve offers various types of excursions guests can reserve. One popular private tour that takes you to all of Ubud's most popular "must-see" sights (perfect for a first timer to Bali like myself!) is the Classic-Volkswagon Vintage Tour. It was AWESOME to ride in this VW...

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Recipes by Category

Globetrotter

I travel A LOT, and I always do extensive research about food before going to a new location. Therefore, if you’re planning on visiting a new place, definitely check out the places I’ve visited and written about in these locations when you’re planning your trip.

United States

I grew up in Ohio (where I ate mostly my mom's cooking - see recipes above!), but spent 20+ years living in Cambridge, a college city right next to Boston. I've spent a lot of time trying food all over the US. There are certain places I visit almost annually, and thus know especially well, such as New York, Las Vegas, and both Northern and Southern California.

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Other North + South America, AU/NZ

Asia

I have lived in Hong Kong for the past 5 years and thus have traveled quite a bit around the region (heh, until the pandemic came). Hong Kong and Japan are both magnificent food cities. One could spend a lifetime just exploring those two places alone. Taiwan is the place of my roots, and I have nostalgic memories visiting it with my family. Finally, these past several years I’ve been able to taste my way through numerous cities in Mainland China, as well as explored many locations throughout Southeast Asia.

Europe

I love Europe's rich history, stunning architecture, breathtaking landscapes, and incredible food. There's a sense of familiarity, perhaps because I spent so much time in Boston, a most "European-like" city in the US. Through the years I've had unique opportunities to explore many parts of this continent, both for work and pleasure. I never tire of it.