I was graciously hosted (by Keri :)) to give an engaging talk on “Packaging and Place: Omiyage as Gastrodiplomacy,” as part of the NTU Food Studies Seminar series. Drawing on my current research as a…
Tagged By food
Exploring Kyoto, Japan spring 2025
Kyoto is such a special traditional city in Japan. Beautiful in every way! Highlights from our time: Fushimi Inari Torii Gates, Arashiyama Bamboo forests, Gion district, shrines and temples, tofu, bakeries, and strawberries. We walked…
Nagoya City Half Marathon 2025
One of the best ways to explore a new city is on foot—so why not run it? 😊 On March 9, 2025, we laced up for the Nagoya City Half Marathon, kicking off at Vantelin…
A Taste of Japan: Fresh, Flavorful, and Full of Tradition
Japan’s cuisine is a celebration of seasonality, simplicity, and balance. From vibrant market-fresh vegetables to carefully crafted bento boxes, every bite reflects a deep-rooted respect for ingredients. And when the New Year arrives, the food…
Kelsi teaching Culinary Diplomacy at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan
As a Fulbright Lecturer and professor at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, I am teaching four courses in the Global Education Institute: culinary diplomacy, communicating science, diversity and inclusion, and intercultural communication. One…
Interview, BBC Food Chain “How to Read a Menu”
How do you read a menu? Top down? Zoom in on the boxed listings? Decide by price? Whether there are photos? Or how they are described? All these are factors to how we read a…
Presentation at Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore
We were speakers at the Monday Morning Lectures series at the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore. Invited by Friends of the Museum, we gave a live presentation on beef and its historical and cultural significance…
Zip, Bike, and Cook in Phuket, Thailand
A tropical, beach island, Phuket, Thailand, is only a two-hour flight from Singapore, so we love to go as often as we can. In a recent trip, we did a zip line, a coast-to-coast bike…
Chocolate Tasting Class: Workshop on how to taste and talk about chocolate, March 13, 2023
As chocolate and language experts, we gave a chocolate tasting class! We guided participants on how to taste and talk about chocolate. We shared the fascinating history of chocolate and how chocolate is made. Then,…
Melbourne, Australia, a city of gardens, cafes, rivers, and art!
Melbourne offers expansive parks, multicultural cuisine and art, cool cafes, and beautiful rivers. Beyond the city limits is stunning scenery, from the Great Ocean Road hugging along one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines and…