{ NICE TO MEET YOU! }
I’m Felicia.
A simple girl with Singaporean roots who moved to Argentina for love.
It’s difficult to believe that I’ve been writing a food blog for the past seven years, when just a little while before that, I didn’t even know how to switch on the gas oven in the kitchen.
And it’s even harder to believe that it’s been almost nine years since I packed my belongings, uprooted myself from Singapore, flew across the globe and made Buenos Aires my home.
{ FROM SINGAPORE TO BUENOS AIRES }
Life sure has its ways of surprising me, and I’ve learnt that it’s often best to go with the flow, and embrace the changes as they come.
When I first landed in Buenos Aires, also known as “the Paris of South America”, I lugged with me two 26kg suitcases and carried a heart bursting with hope.
I needed as much hope and optimism as possible, to be honest. I’d just made a life-changing decision to move across the oceans and continents to live in the same country as Juan, whom I’d met while studying in Germany during my exchange (you can read about my big move in this post).
I’d just quit a job in a large international bank, and stepping foot in a country whose language I didn’t speak, and where I had no friends to call my own, was intimidating and challenging by a long shot.
I was armed with a large smile, romantic dreams, and ready for the adventure of my life. And indeed, Buenos Aires delivered all that and more.
{ THE BEGINNINGS OF DISH BY DISH }
As I gained my footing in this beautiful Argentine capital that is now very much home for me, I realized I wanted to connect with others through writing, a passion that captured my heart since I was 10 years old.
The question was – what should I write about?
When I found myself attending a cooking class every Thursday night, my heart beating with enthusiasm as I saw the professor rolling out fresh dough, or stirring a wooden spoon in a pot full of beetroot risotto, I knew the answer had found me.
Dish by Dish was initially a small and personal space to prove to my family and friends back home that I had eventually been “domesticated”; a sort of testament that I was able to pick up any skill I set my heart to. At that point, my one and only faithful reader was my mum, the woman I love the most.
I’ll be honest and tell you that I never expected it to become a food blog with more than just a handful of readers. I also never expected that food blogging would become a passion that gives back so much more than I put in.
But it did. Through this blog, I’ve had plenty of practice in the kitchen (at least two to three times a week), I’ve even learned how to handle a DSLR in manual mode without fear, and most importantly, I’ve made so many wonderful friends in the food blogging world – through fellow bloggers and readers alike.
More than that, I feel like I’m finally making a difference in this world, dish by dish.
{ WHY GLUTEN-FREE RECIPES? }
In early 2015, my husband Juan was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which basically meant that he had to eat exclusively gluten-free from then on. I started dabbling with gluten-free recipes out of necessity. All the breads, cakes, and cookies that Juan used to love before becoming Celiac were now off the table, and both of us had to learn our way into this new gluten-free world and kitchen.
At first, I was worried that gluten-free foods meant we had to sacrifice taste, but now I’ve realized that gluten-free doesn’t have to taste bad. In fact, there is a whole world of gluten-free recipes that look and taste so good no one would have realized that they are gluten-free.
Along with not being able to eat gluten, Juan is also lactose intolerant (as of early 2020), so many of the recipes I now test and publish are also dairy-free.
I’m not a registered dietician nor do I have formal training, but the recipes I share are based on my experience in the kitchen.
{ MY HOPE FOR DISH BY DISH }
My heartfelt desire is that anyone will be able to feel at home at Dish by Dish, either through a healthy recipe that calls out to them, or simply through the stories on the blog, that will hopefully touch their hearts.
At Dish by Dish, where personal stories and simple recipes intertwine, I hope you’ll stay a while, with a steaming cup of tea in one hand and a cookie in the other.
Let’s be friends!
{ SOME SIMPLE NOTES }
If you’d like to know more about food blogging, or starting your own food blog, here are are a couple of posts that you’ll find useful. If you have any doubts, just email me.
- How to Start a Food Blog in 5 Minutes
- Top 30 Tips for Food Bloggers
- Food Photography Tips for Food Bloggers
- Food Blogger Resources
- Kitchen Tools I Recommend
{ MY E-COOKBOOK }
I launched my first e-cookbook in July 2015 – an accomplishment I am very proud of!
The Simple Healthy Breads & Treats e-cookbook was mainly written with my mum as an inspiration, and it’s a dream come true to see the fruits of months’ of effort come to pass. More than anything, I hope this cookbook will inspire you to eat better, live healthier, and learn that food is really our medicine.
I know you’ll love it – so check it out & get a copy, then tell me what you think!
Hi Felicia! Fellow Singaporean here and I believe we are of the same age (we turn 30 this year!). Chanced upon your blog while looking for some gluten free recipes (my aussie bf is gluten free). Very proud of you and very inspired by your story! Who says Singaporeans are caged birds who are afraid to step out of our comfort zones, look at u! Many happy wishes and love from Singapore.
Hi Lynn! So nice to read your message this morning! Always nice to meet a fellow Singaporean in the blogosphere!! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment! Haha, i like what you said about Singaporeans often being stereotyped as caged birds afraid to step out of our comfort zone (sometimes it can be pretty true!). Sending plenty of love from Buenos Aires! if you ever visit BA, let me know! I’d be happy to meet up with you!
Love your blog 🙂 excited to follow u!
Helllo! thank you so much for dropping by and following my blog!! 🙂 I’m glad you like it! Happy weekend!! xoxo, felicia
You have a wonderful blog Felicia. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Thanks so much for your encouragement! Will definitely continue to write so you can keep reading! 🙂 Happy weekend, Felicia
Hi Felicia, I love your blog, especially the one on strawberry mascarpone tart! I am from Hong Kong, but lived in Madrid in the mid-90s. I can relate to your experience, except I am a terribly cook. Having said that, I learned to make a few Spanish dishes – thanks to my Madrid friends. I look forward to reading more about your life in Buenos Aires. Cheers, Mrs. J
Hi Mrs J! thank you so much for your compliment! I’m glad you can relate to some of my experiences so I’ll definitely keep writing! Have a great week ahead!
Felicia
Hey! I just nominated you for the Liebster Award (: Do check it out here~ http://afifahcookie.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-liebster-award/ Smile always, 😀
Thanks so much! Congrats on ur award nomination too!
You’re welcome babe~~ Aww, thanks(: And hey! Another Singaporean blogger on WordPress^^
You too! Looking forward to reading more over here!
Hi fellow Singaporean! I would just like to say that this is a beautiful blog and your bravery and optimism inspires me! 😀 Cheers!
Thank u so much for your compliment and for dropping by!! So nice to wake up to a comment like that! 🙂 Have a wonderful week!!
Hello, I’ve nominated you for the Addictive Blog Award https://crushland.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/the-addictive-blog-award/
thanks Shafeeqa! so sweet of you!
Hi, Felicia – I’m currently living in Singapore, but born in Bulgaria and lived in the States for a long time. Your blog really spoke to me with your beautiful dishes and transatlantic stories. Now following here and on Facebook.
Hi Assia!
Thanks for following my blog and for reading!
I’m really glad my blog speaks to you and that you can identify with the stories!
I hope you like Singapore! 🙂 I miss it very much!
Have a great week ahead!
Felicia
Hi Felicia!
Thank you for your kind comment – it’s lovely here in Singapore. I hope you can relate to in my stories as well! 🙂
http://assiaskaleidoscope.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Assias-Kaleidoscope/144279652358271
This makes me soo happy, eeeeekkk!!! I can’t believe you went all the way to BA, my homeland, that’s a very big step of faith 😀 And I’m definitely looking forward to reading more~
Hey Ellie!! Yeah i know, big step of faith!! Are u Argentine-korean? or Chinese? or Japanese?
thanks for reading my blog by the way!!!
Hi Felicia, I have nominated you for Super Sweet Blogging Award and Blog of the Year 2012 Award
http://liveblissful.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/awards-and-many-more-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-1052
Thank you for the nominations! You are too kind!
I hope you had an amazing Christmas celebration!
felicia
Felicia, I just adore your blog. The recipes, the pictures, your take on life… Thanks for sharing! I will keep reading!!!
Hi!
What a lovely compliment! Thank you for your encouragement! I will definitely keep on sharing and writing!
Have a beautiful week 🙂
felicia
Hi Felicia,
I have nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award! I really enjoy your posts and recipes.
You can check it out here: http://birgitlikes.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/nomination-for-beautiful-blogger-award/
Feel free to not participate if you are not in the mood.
All the best, Birgit
Hi Birgit!
that’s such a nice way to start my day! thank you for your nomination! 🙂 Will head over to check our your post right now!
xoxo
felicia
I found you,Felicia! Congrats for this blog, for being so nice and …..good looking! I loved to read about your life and your country,to say nothing of Buenos Aires! I lived there in my youth ,Spanish is my second language,my brother was born there, so B.A.counts a lot for me. What you told me about Singapore is extreme ly interesting……(How many hours dose it take from there to Milan?…… ) When I red your post on TheDomesticMan blog I thought you were one of those “cuisine addict”young women ,so trendy nowadays….. Luckily,you’re much more similar to my ideal of woman:cooking, yes,but not only. As for me, I adore inventing new recipes,and if they are not too complicated….. all the better! Hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Anna! thanks for your sweet comments!
I must imagine that BA is very important to you since you lived there in your youth! Regarding your question on how many hours SG is from Milan (i think it should be between 12-14 hours on a non-stop flight?)
Hah, thank god you’re right and I’m not a person who only cooks all the time! I also paint once a week (see my paintings at http://rosewithoutthorns.weebly.com), and when I’m not working as a stock analyst, I like to read on my Kindle… and I love to travel. one day I would love to live in Italy for a couple of years. A project that’s still on my to-do list!
Tell me a little about yourself! I went to your blog but it seems there are no entries!
Ok take care! Ciao!
felicia
I’m so glad to hear from you! Let’s start with you wanting to live in Italy: it could surely be a good experience! As you know I live in Milan, willing to give you any information you need. As for my blog, I tried to start one but ,apart from my “extraordinary”lack of attitude,there are moves ,suggested by WordPress ,that don’t work with my iPad…. Actually I’m new at everything( iPad, blogging,P.C.etc.) but I’m not in a hurry…..In the meanwhile ,I browse here and there…. So ,you’re a painter,too! That’s fantastic! I’ll go and see your blog,straight away. Next time,I’ll tell you about my life in Milan,so see you soon! Baci, Anna
Hi Felicia
First of all, kudos to you for making a bold move! Your recipes look easy enough to follow and I will try it out someday!
My best wishes to you in your new environment and I am sure you have adapted very well.
In case you are wondering who I am, well, you can call me auntie because I am an old classmate of your mum and I had dinner at your place in East Coast sometime ago though didn’t get to meet you.
All the best
Cheers
Ellen Choo
Hi Aunty Ellen!!
Thanks for dropping by and leaving such positive comments!!
The recipes that I post are usually easy and doable (for people who just started or don’t like complicated recipes). So I’m sure you can follow them easily!!
i think we might have met before because I remember that my mum has held several gatherings with her ex-classmates quite a few times and I happened to be at home. Oh well, I’m sure we will definitely meet next time!
Have a great weekend!
Felicia
Dear Felicia thank you for all the wonderful recipes.
just a suggestion: leave out pictures on baking instructions.
helps save paper space.
thanks again..
happy baking!
Sirena
Hi Sirena, thank you for stopping by and for your feedback! I hope to see you around again!