About

Our family has a history in moving around. First it was Great-Grandparents leaving their hometown to escape from the war in the early 1900s in China. Then it was my Grandparents moving from Southern to Northern China for work. Later, my parents left their birth places and settled in Beijing, where I spent 12 years of my childhood before flying all the way to the West Coast of the U.S. Just when I thought this would be the place to grow old, I found myself back in Asia. I have been residing in Hong Kong with my husband and daughter for the past decade, and recently, a lovely chubby cat has been added to the family. In the back of my head, I secretly speculate that I may be somewhere new again in the next 10 years.

So my life had been filled with changes and adaptations, non-stop. It had been an exciting journey, until everything came to a stop 2 years ago when the Covid-19 pandemic happened. Travelling stopped in Hong Kong, tourists disappeared, restaurants closed at dinner times. The bustling city known for its colourful nightlife became uncomfortablly quiet. Around the same time, one of my closest family members was diagnosed with late-stage cancer despite living a healthy and active life.

The series of events made an impact to my daily routine, as many people in the world experienced. I started to spend more time at home, doing more home cooking, noticing more trivial things in our daily lives. One thing I started to think deeply about and took actions to make a change is the food I want to prepare for my family. I need recipes that are easy to prepare, but healthy, less grease and more fibres, basically more vegetables and plant-based ingredients to our dining table. Dining out everyday in Hong Kong is so common and convenient that streets are lined up with restaurants of all types, from high-end to family style. It’s difficult to discipline the diets when so many food options are at arm length. So at least at home, I want to serve meals that are light but fulfilling, simple but delicious.

My cooking is forever influenced by Chinese cuisine, what I had mostly during childhood. Planning what dishes to cook sometimes feels like walking down a memory lane, going back to the small town my Grandparents lived, and where I spent almost every school break. I'm nowhere close to a professional chef, but I cook with the care for my loved ones in mind, like many others do. I hope that my exploration of recipes from the past and my learning of new recipes from other cultures, can give you some fresh ideas and to show you how easy and healthy Chinese home cooking can be.

With more time at home, I also had the opportunity to pick up an old love for ceramics. I studied Graphic Design and Fine Art in college. But I have always remembered the fun and excitement I had when I took a hand-built ceramic class in college. The process of kneading the clay, then throwing or sculpting it into wonderful things that make our lives beautiful is like a personal meditation for me.  

So this is why Jin's Table is created, a place that I share healthy recipes inspired by Chinese or Asian cooking. Also a place I document my learnings in pottery and ceramics. I share things that I found beautiful to be on the table, which brings the family together at the end of the day. Through these, I express my love for the people I care deeply about. I also wish to share this love with the world around me. Real or virtual, doesn't matter, as long as it reaches out and brings tiny joys to our days.

jennyjin1024@gmail.com