When friends ask me about the origin of the name Jyumami, I often chuckle at its simplicity. It’s merely a fusion of the first and last letters of my name paired with umami. Yes, that’s about as deep as it gets! But somehow, it’s caught on, and now some friends even call me by that instead of my real name.

My love for food stems from my early childhood years.  I spent my days at a Chinese daycare where lunch was always a spread of delicious dishes. My parents recall how the educators had to limit my jook (rice porridge) portions because I kept asking for seconds! Savoury food has always been a source of joy for me, whether it was coming home to my mom’s bowl of bún chả giò after school or indulging in dim sum with my family, which made those Saturday Chinese school days a little more bearable.

My love for cooking slowly started when I left Montreal for a 7-month exchange semester in Australia, and wanted ro recreate savoury dishes that reminded me of home.  Through trial and error, what began as a daunting chore soon blossomed into a cherished passion.  Now, as I watch my parents and my grandma grow older, I want to cook more dishes for them and I realize just how important it is to preserve our family traditions and culture. That’s why I’ve started jotting down some of those recipes – it’s a way for me of keeping our Chinese-Vietnamese heritage alive, for myself and also for the next generation to savour.  I love experimenting dishes from other cuisines too – so you’ll also find some Japanese, Thai and Korean-inspired recipes here.

Beyond the cooking, I’m also fascinated by the history behind dishes. Food tells stories, and I enjoy uncovering the origins of the meals we love today. So, along with the recipes, you’ll find tidbits of history or fun facts about the ingredients or traditions that shaped them.