Taste Of My Sister In Law Who Traveled Abroad -... May 2026

She started fermenting things on the counter— kimchi , som moo (fermented Thai pork sausage), sourdough with turmeric. Our family, initially skeptical, began to crave the unknown.

So the next time you meet someone who has traveled abroad, ask them not for photos. Ask them to cook for you. Because It is sour, spicy, bitter, sweet, and deeply, deeply human. Have you had a similar experience with a family member or friend who brought back flavors from overseas? Share your story in the comments below. And if you want Maria’s recipe for Larb (the one that changed my life), subscribe to our newsletter. Taste of My Sister in law Who Traveled Abroad -...

She served Larb (a spicy Laotian minced meat salad), Gỏi cuốn (Vietnamese fresh spring rolls with peanut hoisin sauce), and a small bowl of Nam Prik Ong (a Northern Thai tomato-minced pork dip). My brother warned us: “She doesn’t cook Italian anymore. Not for a while.” She started fermenting things on the counter— kimchi

That is the power of one person’s journey. did not just change a menu. It changed a family’s identity. We are no longer people who eat Italian on Sundays. We are people who eat larb , khachapuri , and cá kho —and argue about which is best. Conclusion: Go. Taste. Return. If there is a moral to this long article, it is this: Travel changes you. But the most generous thing a traveler can do is come home and cook. Not to show off, but to share. Ask them to cook for you

She would text me at 4 PM: “I found fresh galangal. Dinner at 8. Don’t eat lunch.”