Xin Xu hails from Edmonton, Alberta. But before settling in, she lived in Shanghai for the first 7 years of her life. That’s where she grew up and got her taste of the vibrant food culture. Since moving to Edmonton, she has fallen in love with international cuisine. If there’s a new restaurant in town, she would be the first to line up outside the door. At home, you can find her experimenting with recipes around the world. She hopes to share these experiences with all who care to listen.
In her spare time, Xin cares for 6 rescue budgies. Many of which she found stranded in parks or her backyard. On weekends, she drives out to Banff or Jasper where she can be found hiking new trails. She’s thankful Athabasca University has allowed her to work full-time as a researcher while taking courses that interest her such as abnormal psychology.
One drink that has taken the world by storm is the iconic bubble tea. Often the first thing that comes to mind is a clear cup filled with milk tea with tapioca “bubbles” at the bottom of the cup. The tapioca and other toppings added give bubble tea a certain flare quite unlike any other… Read more »
Over the weekend I had the opportunity to visit one of the most exotic locations in the province of Hangzhou: green tea village. Situated on the outskirts of the West Lake, the village spans as far as the eyes can see, and this has been both a therapeutic and culturally meaningful trip for me. For… Read more »
For hungry AU students looking for a cheap way to have a nice, fully-loaded pizza, there is an economical way to make it yourself. Recently I had a craving for pizza but the pizza place was charging me $2-3 dollars per topping (and they gave me so little last time). Luckily, I found a cost… Read more »
On my recent trip to Shanghai, I had the opportunity to partake in a traditional Chinese Medicine tea sampling experience that included sampling teas that catered to various bodily needs. Unlike other tea sampling events, this one was also culturally enriching, as I learned about various tea mixtures, their histories, and the underlying principles of… Read more »
I recall my obsession with cup ramen at a young age. It was a miraculous invention, being able to open a plastic cup with what appears to be plastic noodles and, with some boiling water, transform the contents into miraculous ramen. If you’re a busy student, instant ramen saves countless hours of meal prep and… Read more »
For AU foodies looking for a trip filled with unusual, ethnic street foods, making a trip to Japan should be at the top of the list. Summer brings out some of the best street food in Japan. In my most recent trip to Japan, I explored the areas of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto to sample… Read more »
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting my grandma’s hometown of Hefei, China. The city has a population of 3 million and is one of the fastest growing cities in China. In a bustling city, I had the opportunity to try some of the traditional breakfasts locals have on a day to day basis. Being… Read more »
For AU students craving homemade Italian meals with minimal effort required, look no further. One easy way of preparing Italian meals is with canned soup assortments. While the idea may warrant some raised eyebrows, I can vouch that not only does this cut the amount of effort, but also guarantees some quality meals you can… Read more »
For AU students planning on long-haul flights across the globe, airplane food can be either a blessing or a curse. For most of my student peers, it turns out to be the latter. Hence, when I began planning for this post, I felt like the sole advocate for airplane cuisine. While airplane food can vary… Read more »
Have you been to a social function complete with wine and cheese but couldn’t seem to exactly pinpoint the name of the slices of gooey goodness? I had the same indecision, as I pick up a mysterious slice, not understanding how to properly use this even if I had purchased a pack myself. Recently, though,… Read more »