Food is the essence of life, and cooking is how we savor it.
Whether we’re stepping out into the world as young adults or creating a home for our families, cooking often becomes a necessity—regardless of our skills or confidence in the kitchen.
For me, cooking was a skill I didn’t embrace until after marriage. When my children were small, meal preparation was often a juggling act, and I’d find myself scrambling for dinner ideas during my commute home from work. Cooking felt more like a daily chore than a creative joy.
But everything changed when my husband’s job took us overseas.
First, we lived in Seoul, South Korea, and later moved to Berlin, Germany. Suddenly, the convenience of Japanese frozen foods and ready-made meals was out of reach. What at first seemed daunting turned into an unexpected opportunity—a chance to explore.
Working with local ingredients sparked my curiosity. I found myself experimenting with flavors, techniques, and dishes I’d never considered before. Cooking transformed from a duty into a delightful journey of discovery, and my culinary exploration of European cuisine began.
Each of us finds joy in cooking for different reasons. Sometimes, all it takes is curiosity and a dash of adventure to turn a routine task into a creative pursuit. For me, the process is simple: when a dish turns out well, it’s a moment of happiness; when it doesn’t, I try again. That’s the beauty of cooking—it’s a cycle of learning, creating, and sharing.
In this blog, I’ll share my favorite everyday recipes—the ones I truly make and love. I’ll do my best to explain them clearly, and I hope you’ll find them easy and fun to try.
Don’t have the exact ingredients? No problem! Swap them out for something similar. If the dish doesn’t suit your taste, tweak it until it does. Every family has its own preferences, and I hope you’ll make each recipe your own. Cooking is about joy, not rules, and the kitchen is your canvas.
About Me
After graduating from university and working for a Japanese food trading company, I moved to France to study the language. Later, I returned to Japan and joined a French dairy company, followed by several other French firms.
Eventually, my husband’s job took us to Seoul, South Korea, and now, we’re based in Berlin, Germany.
Happy cooking! May your kitchen adventures be filled with delicious discoveries and cherished memories. After all, the joy of cooking isn’t just about the meals we create—it’s about the moments we share along the way.
Bon appétit!
Atsuko
