Hii! I’m Tiffany, I love food and adventures

I’m passionate about sharing food from home(Taiwan) with the world. There is so much about Taiwanese food– the people, the history and the stories. CHOOCHOO-ca-CHEW will give you a little insight on what Taiwan is like through recipes. I’m developing recipes with local farmers market finds you can recreate in your own kitchen!

What is Taiwanese Food? |台灣料理的定義是什麼?​

Taiwanese food is complicated. It's a combination of Taiwan's history, people and geographic location...
READ MORE

Before I started CHOOCHOO-ca-CHEW…

I have a degree in fashion design and worked for Nike and Quiksilver as a window display designer/visual merchandiser but wanted to live a simpler life with less impact on our land. I want to go back to the basics, and what’s more basic and important than the food you eat every day? The society has become so fast-paced, most have forgotten what’s truly important. I’m trying to slow down, be less stressed, live minimal, create less waste, and eat better.

Healthy Eating to me is…

I believe in healthy eating, but not by going vegan, gluten-free, 100% organic or following trends, I believe in eating local, seasonal and making food from scratch. Eating local does not only support small independent businesses but also helps you eat seasonally and creates less waste! People are so used to buying pre-made food from stores because it is “easier and faster” but all I see is the trash it creates and the marketing strategies that make people think junk food is “healthy”. Making food from scratch helps me learn what’s really in my food, I most likely won’t put things I don’t think I can eat in it, there are no chemical preservatives and it’s fresh so it tastes better.

Why seasonal and local?

Seasonal veggies and fruit are cheaper, tastier and contain fewer chemicals because they really don’t need them, it’s their season to grow! You get to try new things and will be eating a larger variety of food instead of sticking to the same foods all year, which is great for your body! The Chinese have always believed in treating your body with food, and it always ties in with the season. Eating local supports the local economy, reduces carbon footprint and gives back to the community.

 

I love farmers markets with passion. I spend a lot of time wandering around the Rochester Farmers Market and learning from the farmers.

02 - 20170201.Bún-chả-Vietnamese-Grilled-Pork-Rice-Noodles_Resize-5-1.jpg

TRAVELING FOR FOOD

When I’m not in my kitchen experimenting with old recipe books, I love trying new food! Not always a big fan of restaurants but I love those hole-in-the-wall places where you sit on a tiny short bench half squatting to eat. To me, those are the true local experience(in Asia at least) and most of the time they have the most authentic flavors since it’s closest to what people really eat in a country, not just for tourists. JOIN MY ADVENTURES.

EAT GOOD FOOD