My Story

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates.

Why, hello there! My name is Michelle and I’d like to personally welcome you to Kitchenmess, my repository of healthy recipes designed for amateur home cooks who are time-constrained.

Originally hailing from the sunny clear blue skies of Sydney, Australia, I have now found myself residing in the not-so-sunny and not-so-clear skies of Hong Kong, the proverbial “city that never sleeps”. Nonetheless, amidst the bustle of this concrete jungle is a culinary metropolis bursting with worldly flavors and styles, cutting-edge chefs, and a growing smorgasbord of up and coming restaurants that make Hong Kong one of the top destinations for any foodie.

So why KitchenMess?
To begin with, I’m a creative and generous spirit at heart (at least I like to think I am!). As such, it made organic sense for  me to start a blog which interweaves  my three passions in life – cooking, writing, and photography – and share it with all of you. Through KitchenMess, I hope to sharpen my creativity further and hone in on these three lifelong and invaluable skills.

It is my belief that when it comes to cooking, creativity knows no boundaries. Much of this blog will serve to chronicle my culinary experiments, adventures, and misadventures in my kitchen (hence the name ‘Kitchenmess’).

“The first wealth is health.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

My cooking philosophy is simple: use the freshest and highest quality ingredients you can get hold of and don’t overcomplicate things.

Developing healthy eating habits isn’t as confusing or as restrictive as many people imagine. The essential steps are to eat mostly foods derived from plants—vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes (beans, peas, lentils)—and limit highly processed foods.

I have created most of the recipes from scratch. Other times, I like to exercise my imagination and adapt or tweak other recipes to devise my own healthier (and tastier) version.

So where do I get my inspirations from? Whether I like it or not, my mind never seems to stop and has naturally been programmed to perennially search for, and notice new ideas.

Inspiration is everywhere. From the very simple act of browsing cookbooks, other culinary blogs, and dining out with friends, ideas are plentiful. I attribute most of my inspiration though, to the very act of traveling to different corners around the world, which exposes me to new cultures, new people, and new experiences.

It is my hope that KitchenMess can generate an increased awareness of the ingredients we consume on a daily basis, as well as “educate” and motivate busy urban dwellers to cook simple and nutritious meals at home. By publishing a pictorial step-by-step guide of simple recipes one can dish up in 30 minutes or so, I hope to promote healthy eating and cooking; something we can all factor into everyday living for enhanced wellbeing and increased longevity.

That said, I am still in the preliminary stages of my food blog, so please bear with me. As I attempt to refine my recipes further to cater for the more discerning palates, I also hope to inspire those home cooks who lack the time, initiative, or desire to cook. After all, if I can learn how to create simple, fast, and healthy meals within the comfort of my tiny kitchen (trust me, I am no genius and am not that talented), I am pretty sure you can too.

Together, let us nurture and strive for a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle, both for ourselves and for the environment we live in.

Let the journey begin…

Happy cooking and eating!

Michelle

*Disclaimer: I have a double Bachelors degree in Finance and Law, but no formal education in food photography, website management, culinary arts, or food writing. Was a Masterchef Contestant in 2015 (scary experience!). For a living, I’m immersed in the startup world, idealistically hoping to make an impact in the world. On the side, I also run my own supper clubs designed to connect people in an authentic manner over a communal meal and teach regular cooking workshops. At times, I also write restaurant reviews, and am also involved with recipe development and food photography. 

P.S. If you want to contact me for suggestions for collaboration, or have queries regarding my cooking workshops, supper clubs, or food styling and photography, please feel free to email me at michelle@kitchenmess.com and I’ll try my best to get back to you as soon as possible.