My name is Ava, and my love for cooking began at a young age, though it was an on-and-off journey. My culinary skills were nothing remarkable at first, but I was eager to learn and excited to explore flavors from around the world. Over the years, I experimented with various recipes, gradually developing my own style—one that reflects my personal tastes and high standards when it comes to food. Growing up, my mother’s kitchen followed a dependable cycle of about twenty recipes. Lentil soup on Mondays, a vegetarian dish on Tuesdays, lamb chops on Fridays—you get the idea. While everything my mum made was delicious, the routine recipes became predictable. I craved variety, which led me to explore cooking on my own. One of my earliest kitchen experiments was making marshmallows, and that that didn’t go as planned. So, I tried fudge next, and to my amazement, it was a success. My homemade lasagna also turned out beautifully, reinforcing my passion for cooking.

For me, creating delicious meals at home is one of life’s simplest joys. My interest in food was sparked early on by watching Jamie Oliver’s cooking shows, and I was captivated. Though I never pursued cooking seriously, I was fascinated with cooking shows like MasterChef, Top Chef, and Iron Chef, and that further fueled my curiosity, as did food vloggers on YouTube, such as Mark Wiens, Best Ever Food Review Show, and The Food Ranger. Their passion for diverse cuisines deepened my appreciation for global flavors. My favorite cuisines are Korean, Thai, Italian, and French. While I love cooking at home, I also enjoy dining out when a restaurant boasts an exceptional reputation and a talented chef. My go-to dishes? A perfectly cooked steak and a well-crafted pasta dish.