Welcome To That Spicy Chick
Hi! I’m Lavina
A little well known secret about me is that I LOVE food. Another very well known fact about me is that I absolutely ADORE spicy food!
My goal is to share delicious recipes from global cuisines and my love for food and all things spicy with you! I want to inspire you to cook at home and show you that you can make things taste even more delicious in your own kitchen!
My Cooking and Food Philosophy
My cooking philosophy is fast, tasty, fresh and wholesome. With everyone leading busy lives, it’s important to know how to prepare delicious meals that are quick and easy and nutritious so that you don’t need to turn to takeout and dining out several times a week. Several of the recipes on here are meal prep friendly and can be made ahead to enjoy during a busy week.
I don’t believe in food restriction but that all foods fit in a well-balanced diet. Nature is our pharmacy and food is medicine, either physically to help us get through sickness and prevent deficiencies or to make us feel joy, connection to others, and for the soul.
What You’ll Find on That Spicy Chick
My cooking is vastly inspired by my travels, dining out, curiosity and creativity. Here you’ll find tried and tested recipes that are packed with flavor, mostly healthy and made mostly with fresh ingredients.
You’ll also find classics and authentic recipes that stay true to the cuisine they’re from, and high protein and wholesome recipes that will satisfy you and your cravings.
Have a look around and maybe give one of my recipes a try! Word of caution though, do consider toning down the spice level because I am known to get very excited in that department! The recipes on here will always tell you exactly what spicy ingredient to use less of and have suggestions for how much is reasonable enough for most people.
Education
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Business and a Postgraduate diploma in Event Management with Public Relations. I also am a PN Level 1 Nutrition Certified Coach and am pursuing further education in Sleep, Stress Management and Recovery through Precision Nutrition.
High Protein Focus
More recently, I’ve shifted my focus on high protein meals that are nutritious, satiating and flavor-packed! We don’t only just do boring chicken and rice here on That Spicy Chick and we LOVE cake for breakfast – also known as protein baked oats!
After battling through some health issues from 2020 to 2022 that required several surgeries, I discovered that eating high protein helped speed up recovery from surgery and wound healing. Since having fully recovered and no longer dealing with those health issues, I’ve still maintained a diet high in protein. Alongside with training at the gym, it has helped me to rebuild the strength and muscle that I had lost.
How That Spicy Chick was Born
I spent the majority of my twenties as an events professional in Hong Kong. In 2017, I realized that career field wasn’t for me so I took a chance and left my event producer job. That same year, I created That Spicy Chick and transitioned into becoming a full time food blogger, recipe developer, food photographer and writer.
My All Time Favorite Recipes
A Bit More About Me
I am a bold, courageous and caring woman in my thirties and I have a SPICY personality!
I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and have lived in Hong Kong for most of the last two decades. I’ve also lived in Singapore, New York and London and have travelled all over Asia, America, Europe and some parts of the Middle East.
My favorite things to do are peruse through food blogs and digital food publications, create and test recipes, hit the gym, and above all, cook and eat GOOD food!
My favorite cuisines include Chinese, Sichuan, Thai, and Mexican (see a spicy trend there? 😉). Though I honestly will eat food from any cuisine. I love cooking chicken, shrimp, and pork in different styles, but you’ll occasionally find me making something with lamb.
Apart from food, I love enjoying icy cold beers with friends and watching movies in the cinema. I have a soft spot for rom-coms but will sit through horror films with fingers stuffed in my ears. Truth be told, 9 out of 10 times it’s the sound effects that make you jump, not the scene on the screen!
On any given weekday, if I’m not busy blogging, cooking, taking pictures of food, writing recipes in my trusty notebook, eating, or at the gym, you’ll find me at a supermarket, wet market, or in a tiny little shop somewhere discovering new ingredients to create recipes with!
I like to cook Asian food a lot but I will occasionally find inspiration in a gem I’ve tried at some Middle Eastern or Western restaurant, or online from other bloggers or food magazines. I’ll then generate my own masterpiece (but I’ll always tell you the source if they were behind the firecrackers going off in my head).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do You Live?
I am currently based in Hong Kong, and I’ve lived here for the majority of my life. However, I was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan for 15 years and I’m Indian by blood! I have also lived in New York, London, and Singapore.
Why Did You Start This Food Blog?
The simple answer to this question is that I LOVE food (especially spicy food!). Nothing gives me greater pleasure than creating recipes and cooking food. Call me weird – but I love the chopping (you would too if you had this gorgeous set of sharp knives!), testing what works and what doesn’t, and most importantly, I love feeding myself and people delicious food! My goal through this blog is to inspire you to want to cook and to show you how to make easy, delicious and nourishing meals at home!
Where Do You Get Your Cooking Expertise From?
I’m a self and Internet taught home cook for the most part. But I grew up watching my Mom cook incredible tasting recipes and definitely picked up a few tricks and techniques from her, especially for Indian cuisine. I also love taking cooking classes whenever I travel so besides the Internet and my mom, my travels around have allowed me to master a variety of cooking styles, techniques, and also gain knowledge about foods from different cultures!
What’s Your Favorite Type Of Chili?
Thai Bird’s Eye Chilies are incredible! Loved Thai Holy Basil Chicken when you visited Thailand? They’re the same chilies in it! They are pretty hot and great for Asian food cooking – especially for Thai food! But I tend to use it in recipes from all cuisines.
What’s Your Favorite Thing To Cook?
Everything! Cooking is not a hobby to me. It’s my true passion and I really do live to cook! If I had to pick my top 4 favorite types of recipes to make, I’d say easy pasta dinners, meal prep breakfasts, noodles, and Asian stir-fries. I love anything that’s quick and easy to execute and/or full of big and bold flavors! (I’m currently obsessed with this Pasta Puttanesca with Shrimp and readers are extremely fond of this Peanut Sauce Ground Pork Stir-fry.)
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Do you have questions, need more information on a recipe, have a service enquiry, or just want to say hi? Fill out the form and I promise to get back to you in the time it takes the capsaicin from a red chili seed to tingle your tongue.