Chief Foodie: Lesli Schwartz
Deputy Foodie: Damien Aw

Hi! I’m Lesli, a self-taught cook who just happens to be obsessed with Asian food. Truth be told, I was a below-average cook for many years, especially early on in my marriage to my dear husband. I didn’t exactly have a good role model in the kitchen growing up (no offense, Mom!). My dad decided to take over the kitchen duties once my sister and I left for college. He was a real gourmet without even trying! He's my inspiration and my hero! After raising two wonderful children (now grown) while working full time in marketing, I decided to step it up and explore the world of cooking by watching endless hours of "The Food Network!" I'm still an avid fan of cooking shows and food blogs. They're a fantastic resource for new recipes and inspiration.

So, why Asian food? A few years ago, my husband and I moved to Gothenburg, Sweden as ex-pats for three years where we traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. While in Sweden, I met Damien, a native of Singapore and talented gourmet Asian cook. We soon discovered the joy of preparing Asian food as a culinary team and began hosting dinner parties for friends and catering for clients. Damien and his life partner moved to Atlanta shortly after my husband and I returned to Atlanta, and we have teamed up once again with our food blog, Asian Caucasian.

Most people I know are intimidated by cooking Asian food. Don’t be afraid! If you can follow a recipe, you can cook healthy and delicious Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese -- all food Asian! Please enjoy our variety of recipes and cheer us on as we experience this new blogging adventure together!

Always In Our Pantry & Fridge:

• Sambal Oelek (Asian red chili paste)
• Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Fish Sauce
• Sesame Oil
• Red Curry Paste
• Curry Powder
• Sweet Chili Sauce
• Fresh Cilantro
• Fresh Ginger
• Thai Chili Peppers (fresh, frozen or dried)
• Vermicelli Rice Noodles
• Rice (brown and white)
• Coconut Milk (light and full-fat)
• Dry Roasted Peanuts (unsalted)

You can conveniently shop for these ingredients and more at Shop for Ingredients.