Hey there, I’m Lin! I’m so glad you’re here.
Let’s be real, you’re probably here for the recipes, but I figure we should get to know each other a little. After all, food is personal.
My story starts in a place that was loud, chaotic, and always smelled incredible: my parents’ Sichuan restaurant in Chengdu. They were both chefs, and the kitchen was their world. For me, it was my playground—a playground that had woks instead of swings and giant bags of chili peppers instead of sandboxes.
I guess you could say I didn’t have much of a choice but to fall in love with food. It’s simply in my DNA.
So, how did I get here?
That crazy, delicious restaurant life was all I knew, so it wasn’t a surprise to anyone when I went off to culinary school. I wanted to learn the “why” behind all the things I’d seen my parents do by instinct.
After that, I dove headfirst into the fire. I spent the next ten years working as a professional chef in the intense, high-heat world of restaurant kitchens. It was demanding, exhausting, and it taught me everything about precision, speed, and what it truly means to cook with heart under pressure.
But even after all those years, I felt a pull. I knew there was a universe of Chinese cuisine beyond my restaurant’s four walls. So, I took a leap. I quit my job and spent years traveling all over China with a backpack and an insatiable appetite. I wanted to taste everything, from the street-side stalls in Xi’an to the bustling dim sum halls in Guangzhou.
My Mission: This Blog (and a Book!)
That journey across China changed everything. I came back with notebooks crammed with recipes, stories, and techniques that felt too special to keep to myself. I knew I had to share them.
Right now, alongside sharing recipes with you here, I’m pouring all of that knowledge and passion into writing my very first cookbook. It’s a huge project, a true labor of love.
But a book takes a long time to create, and honestly, I couldn’t wait to start sharing and connecting with other food lovers. That’s why Woks of Love was born. Think of this blog as a real-time look into my kitchen—a place where I can share the recipes and stories that will eventually fill the pages of my book, and get your feedback along the way.
My goal is simple: to show you that you can absolutely cook authentic, mouth-watering Chinese food at home, and to have a ton of fun doing it.
Here’s my promise to you:
- Recipes that actually work. These are the dishes I cook for my own family, tested and re-tested until they’re perfect.
- No secrets held back. I’ll explain the why behind every step, so you’re not just following instructions, you’re learning to be a better cook.
- A direct line to me. This blog is a conversation. If you have a question, ask! I’ll do my best to help.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m genuinely excited to share this journey with you. Let’s get cooking together!
Cheers,
Lin