Meet Trang

Why I decided to publish Recipes

In September 2022, I found myself in a state of f-unemployment. I left my job and effectively became a full-time mom. I put away my degree and the next day I turned into a line cook. I have 4 kids and their tastes are ever changing. Here, hunger strikes often so I’ve learned to cook on the fly. When I was working, I'd often order out or grab meals from my parents or in-laws. Now at home, I cook for my little ones whatever it is they want and make meals that I enjoy for them. I would share snapshots of my meals on Instagram and my friends requested for the recipes. So, here are the recipes! Also, I'd figured one day my kids will grow up and need to learn to make these simple recipes for themselves. I gotta throw down for my picky eaters and for my friends!

Where did I learn to cook?

I got it from my momma. Seriously, everything Vietnamese I learned from my mom. My mom is very old school, so when people use packaged rice flour, she grinds it herself. I have a lot of my mom in me. I love the taste of fresh ingredients and the taste of fresh bread milled from wheat berries, or the taste of fresh noodles made from rice flour BUT that is very time consuming. As much as I love wholesome, fresh ingredients I love happy and full kids even more. When possible, making quick meals from prepackaged ingredients is my jam.

In my mom's kitchen I was taught to flavor by tasting the food and adjusting it with ingredients. Growing up my mom didn't hand me down physical recipes, she wanted me to develop my own flavors, and not to depend on written recipes. I learned by trial and error and eventually I learned to trust my own flavoring. Our taste buds is what makes each of unique. This is how I was trained, and one day I know you can do it too! Trust your taste buds! You know what though, it would've made a world of difference if there was a recipe somewhere. So for all my readers that love a good recipe, I understand that! Good news, I'm taking measurements checking it twice and sharing the recipes that were taught to me but never written.

And everything else I learned from the streets

I love street food! I am biased. If I was given the option to dine at a 3 michelin star restaurant or stuff food in my face from Singaporean hawkers? You'll find me at the hawkers center! There's something about night markets that brings out the flavor in food. Perhaps it's all the energy spent walking and gawking at all the delicious foods being served up and the tantalizing smells of all the food stalls wavering in the air that make the experience memorable and delicious. Street food is the BEST! I loved going out at night for che (Vietnamese dessert) in Saigon, Vietnam, getting late night tacos or pizza on 6th street in Austin, TX, drinking hot mint tea at the souks (small specialty shops) of Marrakesh, Morocco at night, and devouring doner kebabs after hitting up the discotecas (clubs) in Sevilla, Spain. Everywhere I go, I stay highly food-motivated. From my foodie adventures and experiences, I recreate the same dishes at home from memory of the tastes. There's a lot of trial and error that happens here. Aside from my street adventures, I've taken cooking courses with locals and scouted out local favorites. I love food! I love talking about food, looking at food, eating food, photographing food and sharing favorite restaurant recommendations and cooking recipes.

What you will find on Teerang at Home

• Easy-to-follow Vietnamese recipes that have been passed down to me from my family
• Cooking techniques
• Recipes that are full of flavor that use Asian ingredients, mostly fish sauce
• Useful information regarding Vietnamese culture and cuisine
• Seasonal Vietnamese recipes to make and enjoy

More about me & the blog