We’re One!

And so… 366 days… 255 posts… several hundreds of thousands logged-visits… and many, many new friends later… shiokadelicious! turns one today.

This past year has been an amazing journey for me, and I would like to take this time to thank all of you for making it so special.

When I first started this blog, I never imagined it would turn out to be so much fun, and to be such an educational, eye-opening, horizon-expanding, soul-enriching experience. But it has been all this, and more.

Gastronomically, I’ve grown so much over the last 12 months; having to write about and describe food -- how it looks, tastes, feels and the emotions it evokes in me -- has “forced” me to become more acutely aware of the eternal, exquisite dance of flavors, textures and aromas (even blandness is an integral musical note in the symphony of taste), and to become more finely attuned to the magical alchemy that is cooking and baking. Suddenly, my eyes see the bounty of Nature in a fresh, new light; the mystery of the intricate synergies of disparate ingredients coming together into one spectacular whole -- be it a complex or simple, elegant or hearthy, delicate or robust dish -- takes on new dimensions. I feel, see and taste more intensely and more vividly.

Many times too I have been struck by the transformation in my own family and among my friends. They too have become more food-centric -- or more accurately perhaps, more aware of the joy of eating. There seems to be a renewed love affair with food -- good food. Many who in the past could not be persuaded into the kitchen, have started whipping out pots, pans, wooden spoons and whisks, and have started cooking and baking with gusto! In my own family, even the men have started venturing, with great enthusiasm, into the culinary arts!

But most of all, what has made this blog and my blogging experience so fulfilling and special is you! I feel so very blessed and privileged to have been touched by so many wonderful people, all of whom do not know me except through reading this website. The several thousands of sincere comments and thoughtful sharings and opinions that have been left on the site, and the hundreds of mostly friendly emails that I have received have encouraged, supported and, most of all, inspired me.

I am continually surprised, delighted and humbled by the correspondence I receive from all over the globe -- from Hungary to India, from Italy to New Zealand, from Finland to Brazil, from England to Australia, from Spain to South East Asia, from Netherlands to China, from Israel to France, from Germany to Iran, from Russia to Canada and many more countries, cities and towns in between. I could never have imagined such support, warmth and friendliness. Many write just simply to say “hi” and to say they are enjoying the blog -- I can’t tell you how heart-warming those messages are. And many others have shared openly with me -- I’ve enjoyed receiving your recipes, and have celebrated your triumphs and commiserated with you in your let-downs in the kitchen. I’ve learnt much from you about food, cooking, baking, eating and your different cultures. It has been so much fun sharing this journey with you, and I hope you will continue to drop me comments or messages. Thank you for making this blog a scintillating conversation, and not one woman’s mad, food-crazed monologue.

I am thankful for and deeply touched by the friends I have made through this blog -- perfect strangers who have opened their hearts and reached out their hands with such generosity, kindness and warmth to help me or to just bring me joy and happiness in ways big and small. My heartfelt gratitude to all of you -- you know who you are.

And since this is not the Oscars, I shan’t thank my hairdresser, the guy in the factory who assembled my PC, the man who sold me my digital camera and…

Okay, enough of the navel-gazing already! Where’s the food?

Of course, no post is complete without at least some food-talk…

I was going to bake some quadruple (yes, quadruple -- you read right) chocolate cupcakes -- the ultimate indulgence I think -- to celebrate this one-year milestone, but Life would not give me the time to do so. Instead, I was surprised (I just love yummy surprises) with a gift of a luscious Nutella cupcake, bought from Toast.

I think I’ll just let the pictures do the talking this time…

Here’s to more shiokaliciously delicious shiok-eats to come!

Copyright © 2004 Renee Kho. All Rights Reserved.
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