Ronnie Woo - Did You Eat Yet?

I m a model turned therapist turned globetrotting chef who also happens to be Asian, American, and gayeach of which Im 100% proud to be, making me 700% amazing (I was never a math guy, so just go with me on this one). My parents told me to become a doctor or lawyer (shocker!), but lets just be honest here: they were really setting me up to become a chef thanks to the constant chatter about how much they loved eating. I grew up in a family where every dinner was spent talking about what we were going to eat for the next dinner. My mom would wake up early and cook different dishes for lunch, like Chinese sausage fried rice or an egg omelet sandwich, just so she could send all of us out the door with a homemade meal packed in one of her various Tupperware containers. And when I got home, there was always a snack waiting for me (with my two favorite snacks being either my moms homemade wontons or Totinos Pizza Rolls). All our family vacations were planned around whichever location on earth had the best food. If a destination wasnt known for the food, it was out of the question. I know it sounds like my family and I were gluttonous giants eating everything in our path, leaving only a trail of chicken bones and orange peels, but the truth is food is just my familys love language. Whenever I call or visit Mama Woo, the very first thing that comes out of her mouth is, Did you eat yet? Those four simple words have always made me feel loved, welcomed, and cared for, and since its the same exact thing I would ask if you were at my house, making it the book title was a no-brainer.

Ive worn many different hats in my life and each of those chapters has played an integral part in the process of how I got here. I mean, where do I even begin? Thanks to an awkward growth spurt in high school, I started modeling when I was a teenager, eventually moved to LA, and got to do some pretty amazeball modeling gigs. Along the way, I also became a certified personal trainer and even though I absolutely hated working out, it was kind of fun telling people what to do. Yes, I know exercise is good for my physical health, well-being, and blah-blah-blahbut Im not going to lie to you, the only reason I work out now is so I can eat more.

After living out my dreams as a glamour puss (a.k.a. male model), I decided to go back to school. I got a BA in psychology and, like any other good, overachieving Asian kid, I went on to get two masters degrees, an MBA and MFT, while simultaneously working at a mental health clinic. This also happened to be around the same time that I met my husband, Doug. I was high on dopamine and adrenaline from being in loooooove and I felt like I could do anything. So, I decided to further explore my love of food and cooking and just went for it.

I had never felt more empowered or confident about anything in my entire life. I always knew I loved eating, but now cooking had become my true happy place. I dedicated every day to being in the kitchen, teaching myself to cook everything and anything under the sun, and doing my best to refine my culinary skills. Shortly thereafter, I launched my private chef company, The Delicious Cook, which specialized in personalized intimate dining experiences, typically consisting of multicourse dinners in clients homes. I found myself working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and quickly established The Delicious Cook as one of the most sought-after private chef companies in the entire universe (at least from what Ive heard). Having cooked for every type of personality imaginable and in home kitchens of every size, Ive racked up years worth of insight on how to make mouthwatering dishes in the comfort of your own kitchen that still bring that je ne sais quoi (which is French for awesome-ass deliciousness).

Ive had the wonderful privilege of continuing to travel the world for the sole purpose of finding the best food. With each new experience, Ive come to learn that cultures and cuisines are constantly influencing one another, evolving, and changing over time. What may be authentic to you might not be authentic to someone else, and thats what makes the world of food super-duper fun. Some of the recipes in this book might be more traditional than others, like the .

Ive never fit into a single box, and neither do my recipes. Much like myself, this book is akin to a gloriously stacked dim sum cart at Sunday brunchthere is something for everyoneand I know youre going to find a buttload of recipes youll want to make and devour (if not all of them). What every one of these recipes has in common is that theyre damn delicious, bursting with flavor, and made with accessible ingredients. Ill never tell you to buy a superfluous one-time-use ingredient or add unnecessary steps. Dont get me wrong; its not about cutting corners but rather consistently making an irresistible fail-proof dish. I promise that each one of these recipes will excite you, titillate your taste buds, and hit the spot!

In the mood for an Asian-inspired dish? Ive got you, boo. Feeling kind of healthy? Fear no more, youve got options! Want a downright delicious noodle dish? Theres an entire chapter dedicated to them. Want to try your hand at making pot stickers? Ill walk you through it fold by fold. Looking for a decadent dessert? Of course! This book has it all.

There are many reasons why you might have this book in front of you. Maybe you were hungry, saw the cover, and thought to yourself, That food looks scrumdiddlyumptious! or That Asian dude looks like a nice person, please take my money. Maybe youre one of my longtime fans. Or maybe someone who loves you very much gifted you this marvelous book. Whatever the reason, I just want to say thank you. I swear on the Lords dumplings that you are in for a real treat. I love feeding people and its how I express my love, but since I cant personally cook for every single human on this planet (as incredible as that would be), writing a cookbook is the next best thing. Whether youre cooking out of these pages for your family and friends or its a table for one, just be warned that youre going to have a hell of a lot of fun making these recipes and even more fun eating them. You might even get a chuckle or two out of the stories as wellwhich is a win-win because laughing is like jogging on the inside. If for some reason you end up hating this book, dont tell anyone and just pretend that it is the most brilliant cookbook youve ever owned. Thanks!

And since youre here, let me ask you somethingdid you eat yet?