Hi folks!
I’m Clara June . And welcome to my Artisanal Taste . This is where I share all my food adventures.
I travel the world. I taste different foods and get attached to new cultures along with food habits. And these things always mesmerise me with their uniqueness and way of techniques. Specifically, I love everything about food and never forget to try local dishes from those countries.
I always try to recreate those foods when I return to my kitchen. Last week, I spent hours on dumplings. Even as a chef, sometimes it’s difficult to capture someone’s recipe. But when does it finally click? Pure magic happens.
Well, different countries, different food, different culture. Every time I travel through new countries, I always explore something new. Let me tell you a fun thing. Street tacos in Mexico taste nothing like Pad Thai in Thailand.
I always take pictures of what I eat. My friends are used to it by now. I also write down recipes when people are nice enough to teach me. Then I test them until they actually work for normal people.
I belong to Portland, Oregon . And my passion is thinking about food and planning trips. I always do research before going to any country. It helps to find what I should try or what can be harmful to my diet.
Like, right now I’m thinking about a trip to Peru. And you know what? I can’t stop thinking about the ceviche I had three years ago.
Behind The Story of My Food Obsession
My grandmother was a kitchen magician. She never used recipes. Just threw stuff together, and it always worked. That’s probably where I got obsessed with figuring out how food actually works.
Started traveling after college. Mostly because I was broke and needed to escape. But every trip turned into a food adventure. I’d skip museums to watch people cook instead.
Been doing this blog thing for a while now. Still weird that people actually read it.
A Bit About Me
In my family, food was a serious business. Not fancy. Just an important and healthy kind. My parents weren’t chefs, but they cared about every meal. Maybe that’s where I learned food isn’t just a fuel.
My cooking philosophy is simple. Respect the ingredients. Understand the technique. Then make it your own. One more thing, I’m not precious about authenticity. Food evolves when it travels. That’s what I personally believe.
In this case, I’ve a tiny secret. Always carry a tiny notebook in my purse for flavor combinations. Yeah, some of my friends know it and make fun of that. But believe me, many of my best ideas come from random moments. Like rose water in coffee at a Cairo Cafe. Even, surprisingly, one day I was watching a Bangkok vendor balancing sweet, sour, and spicy in ways. That day, I found a different seasoning idea.
I’m obsessed with techniques that seem impossible until you learn the trick. But once you get it, it’s like meditation.
I have zero shame about eating the same dish multiple times in one trip. Had the same pho seven days straight in Hanoi because I was convinced the vendor was doing something magical. Turned out it was the bone broth. 24 hours of simmering makes all the difference.
What You’ll Find Here
Recipes I learned from actual people in their kitchen. Just what local people make at their homes. Some recipes are from street vendors. Yes, some street foods that you can make without burning your home down.
Also, you’ll find amazing party drinks. I bet your friends will ask for the recipes. And of course, some seasonal recipes using what’s fresh now.
Not only the recipes, you’ll get innovative ideas of cooking tricks and tips I picked up from different countries and street vendors.
Well, I’ll not stop after cooking. I’ll help you serve the dish that makes simple food look special.
And, some of my family dishes took me forever to learn. Because I kept messing them up.
No, I didn’t forget about comfort food from different places. I’ll definitely share those comfort food that tastes like the real thing.
Also, some quick stuff for when you want something good but don’t have all day.
And a point to be noted, I test everything multiple times. Nothing worse than a recipe that doesn’t work. I also tell you what you can substitute and what you really can’t mess with.
Why We’re Different?
Food blogs or articles are everywhere nowadays. I get it. So, why should you care about this one?
Well, first of all, I’m not here to sell random products. Even I’m not selling some of the fancy ingredients that you can’t pronounce. I simply cook with simple ingredients and regular tools. I assure you, if I can make it work, so you can, dear.
I actually test my recipes. Like, really test them. Not just in a perfect kitchen with perfect lighting. I make them on busy weeknights, long, tiring days, even if I can’t find the ingredients near me. How? I use substitutes. After all these processes, I reveal the magic thing that actually works.
I learned from real people. Not cooking school. Not YouTube. From grandmothers in tiny kitchens. From street vendors who’ve perfected one dish for decades. From home cooks who never wrote anything down but somehow make magic happen every day.
Most importantly? I remember that food is about connection. Every recipe here has a story. Every dish connects you to someone, somewhere, who shared their knowledge with me. That’s what makes cooking worth it.
I fail a lot. And I tell you about it. Because knowing what doesn’t work is just as important as knowing what does.
A Note About Ingredients
Look, it’s hard to find authentic stuff sometimes. I shop at regular stores too. In case you can’t find any ingredients for my recipes, I’ll give you a substitute. Also, if there is no substitute or different way, I’ll share where you can find it easily.
I promise, I’ll be very clear and specific in this matter. But the fact is, food is not about fancy ingredients; it’s all about doing it right.
Let’s Get in Touch
You can email me without any hesitation. I always love to hear from you. Especially if you tried something or have good food stories.
Here you can email me.
clara@artisanaltaste.com
That’s it. Thanks for reading this far. Go, make something good.