FAQ

You have questions, I [might] have answers. Below are some questions I’ve gotten and you might have the same questions looming in your head too, so take a peek and your question just might be answered! If not, please use the contact form above to get in touch with me, or leave a comment below :)

Why did you start a blog?

Well, believe it or not, I’ve always been blogging. I had a blog in middle school that I used as my journal and I gave up on that. I tried again in high school and kept it for a while and then college came around and I had no time or interest in keeping up with a blog. Fast forward few years later and I decided to start another one (the one you’re reading now) that I would keep because I wanted to document all my cooking and recipes and life virtually, on the interwebs. Mostly everything I’ve ever printed off in my life (photos, recipes, etc.) have always been shoved in a drawer, never to be seen again. I don’t like dealing with paper hence why I never scrapbooked. I like all things digital. Makes sense — I’m a web developer and designer. I’m technical. Print journalists probably hate me. I digress. I started this blog to document my life and my cooking. I wanted to share and inspire with other foodies like myself. I never knew that my blog would transpire me to meet so many amazing food bloggers. It’s a great community and we all have so much adoration and support for one another.

Why ‘Table for Two’?

I thought it was a cute play on words but it also described Jason & I perfectly. We’ve been a table for two for almost 2 years. We cook together, eat together, live together. It’s a great description of us.

So, does that mean you only make portions for two people?

No, no, no. Maybe I kind of dug myself a hole with this name since it kind of means a place setting for two at a table, but I like to think that the name Table for Two is just a name for Jason & I’s current lifestyle. I make portions for 4+ almost every day I cook. Seriously, I have a problem: I can’t make anything for two people. It’s so hard for me, mainly because I love leftovers and I always worry about if we’re going to have enough food, so why not just over-make & be certain we have enough to eat? Better to have more than too little! So, long story, short: most all my dishes are for 4+ and we almost always have leftovers.

Did you go to culinary school?

No, I didn’t. I wanted to but I decided to go into the technology field instead. Everything that I know is either through my mom or self-taught through trial and error.

Can I use your recipes on my blog?

Sure! That’s what this blog is all about. I want to share and inspire. All I ask is that you appropriately cite your sources and give credit where credit is due and please do not just copy & paste my words. Be creative :)

My dish didn’t turn out like yours, why?

To be honest, it’s hard impossible for me to tell you what went wrong as I wasn’t there with you in the kitchen. Maybe go back and try again? It’s all about practice and trial & error in the kitchen :) good luck!

How are you still so skinny even with all the food and desserts you make and eat?

I don’t know. That’s the honest to good truth. I guess I have good genes? I wasn’t always this way, though. I went through a weight loss journey back in high school where I lost 25 pounds. Yep, maybe someday I’ll blog about it :) ..but in all seriousness, I try to get in some regular exercise every now and then (I also walk a lot in the city) and to me, it’s mostly about portion control. You can eat like sh!t and still be okay if you don’t eat it all. I found that if I just eat a normal portion (not like Cheesecake Factory portion), I’ll be fine.

What is your favorite thing to make?

Pasta dishes and cookies :)

What camera and lens do you use for food photography?

I use a Canon EOS Rebel XSi Digital SLR Camera Canon EOS 60D along with my 50mm f/1.8 II lens (also known as the nifty fifty) and my 24-70mm. The 50mm lens rarely comes off my camera when I shoot food. I also swear by my Speedlite. I don’t have great lighting in my apartment nor is natural light abundant so my Speedlite has been my lifesaver. It’s a great investment. It’s pricey but I definitely do not regret it one bit.

Did you take any photography classes?

I have no professional training in photography, I just shoot, shoot, shoot. Practice makes perfect — it’s really true! Some of my old pictures are horrid to look at, but it also shows that I’ve come a long way and there’s improvements every day. That’s why I don’t take them down –  it shows that practice makes perfect, and even today, I’m still learning.

Is the photography on here original? Can I use it?

Yes. In fact, everything on here is original, unless otherwise noted, and so is the design and specific code that I coded for my blog, aside from the template.

In general, no. You may not use my photography without first contacting me for permission and even in those instances, I still may not allow it. Sorry, not trying to be a total b!tch here.

How old are you?

25.

Where do you live?

Do we have a stalker on our hands? Haha, I’m from and live in Northern Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C.

What’s your ethnicity?

I’m Taiwanese-American. I was born here in the states but my parents are from Taiwan.

How did you and Jason meet?

Jason and I met at a Superbowl party at my house in February 2010. It was the New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts. Everyone was going for the Saints and I, wanting to change it up, went for the Colts. Saints won ;) Jason and I didn’t have much interaction at this party. He sat on one couch, I sat on another with my roommate at the time, and I was giggling like a psychotic idiot the whole time because me and my roommate were texting about Jason. You know, the typical girl thing to do. Me: oh my gawd, Jason is soooooooo cute.

Few days later, I get a friend request on Twitter — classy, eh? It was Jason. I was all like, “oh cool,” but really, I was like “oh my gahhhhd.” I accepted. I then found him on Facebook — again, social media is great, isn’t it? He accepted my friend request. Friday night comes around, I get a text message from a random number that said, “hey, it’s Jason, sorry if this is creepy but my phone pulls all my friends’ numbers from Facebook and that’s how I got your number and I was seeing what you were up to tonight, if you were going out or anything.” I was already in the car with my friends about to drive to the metro station to go into the city. I receive that text and immediately text back and make a fool of myself, “JASON WILLIAMS?!” Okay, to my defense, I literally know about 20 Jason’s so I thought I didn’t have one of the Jason’s in my phone, which was Jason Williams. Anyway, I shortly realized, “crap, no, I think it might be the Jason” so I called him and we make plans to meet up. Fast forward to after hanging up with him: I’m like the giddiest person in the car. I’m all like “omg omg omg, I get to hang out with Jason tonight, he’s so cute, I can’t wait.”

After that Friday night, we continued to hang out more and more, even on work nights (I say this because I wake up every morning at 545 so it meant you were really special if I hung out with you past 9pm, lol). We went on a couple dates and as a way to “get to know one another” we exchanged iPods. Haha, don’t you love that technology brought Jason & I together? He gave me his iPod for the day and I gave him my iPod for the day and we listened to each other’s music. I didn’t like his music and I know he didn’t want to listen to Lady Gaga or Backstreet Boys. It was a fun idea, though.

March 3rd, 2010 was when we officially called it official and the rest is history. He truly is my other half & he completes me. I have a quick temper, he’s calms me down. I’m a worry-wart, he’s laid back. I’m OCD, he brings me down to earth. We complement each other :)

How did Jason propose to you?

On one knee. Ha, just kidding. You can read about how we got engaged here.

Does Jason cook with you?

Sometimes. Most of the time, I like cooking by myself. It’s “my time” and it’s a stress-reliever for me. He does cook for me though on occasion when I ask him to whip up something delicious for us :)

Is blogging your full-time job?

No, I work full time as a web developer/designer for a company in Washington, D.C. that I’m not disclosing due to security and safety reasons. This blog is what I do “on the side” and I love everything about it.