Hi! I’m Julie Chiou and I’m the blogger behind Table for Two. I’d like to personally welcome you to my table! Table for Two has a variety of wholesome recipes as well as guides and resources, including my travels!
I’m on a mission to simplify the relationship between food and busy lifestyles. I strive to inspire you with real recipes for real life that are always deliciously easy, innovative, and approachable that your whole family will love! I believe that you can always find time to make a homemade meal and I’m here to help you!
About Table for Two by Julie Chiou
I started this blog in 2011 because I needed a creative outlet from my full-time job. I’ve always been a very creative person (my background is in web development and design), and my full-time job wasn’t giving me much of that. I was becoming frustrated and creative folks like me need an outlet to flourish; so I used my web development and design skills to carve out this little space on the Internet!
My passion for food dates all the way back to childhood where instead of watching cartoons, my mom had on Julia Child or Yan Can Cook on PBS for me to watch. I was constantly in the kitchen trying to help out and shadow my mom. As I grew older, the passion of being in the kitchen and feeding others never dimmed; instead I was ignited with the desire to love people through food. I would say food and keeping you full is my love language.
I believe that food brings people together and helps create long-lasting memories. There’s a reason why we all gather in the kitchen, go out to eat, cook together, etc. — food is the common denominator!
My cooking philosophy is:
- Making a mouthwatering, simple, and quick meal doesn’t mean you give up on flavor.
- Real recipes for real life means that a satisfying meal is affordable and accessible to everyone.
- Regardless of your culinary expertise, you should be able to whip up a tasty meal without breaking a sweat or feeling frustrated.
- Spending hours in the kitchen is not always feasible. My recipes are crafted with your busy schedule in mind, ensuring that you can create a homemade meal that is wholesome and delicious.
I make all my meals with that in mind. Throughout the blog, many of my dishes come together with ease and are very approachable. I’ve dedicated myself to curating a collection of recipes that are not only bursting with flavor but are also designed to be user-friendly.
My recipes are popular amongst everyone, most notably busy families, college students, couples, seasoned cooks and bakers, and young adults learning to cook. There is truly a recipe for everyone on Table for Two.
Millions of visitors come to my website each month to gather inspiration to feed their families. That responsibility and extraordinary feeling of admiration is not something I take lightly, and I truly appreciate every single one of my readers!
About My Recipes
Table for Two has been a trusted recipe resource for 12 years (and counting!). On my blog, you will find thousands of recipes for every level of cooking. Easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos guide you in your kitchen and build your confidence. Yes, you can!
I specialize in easy and quick dinners, especially one-pan meals, casseroles, comfort classics, Asian cuisine, slow cooker and pressure cooker meals. You’ll also find appetizers, breakfast, side dishes, soups and stews, and desserts.
I spend an incredible amount of time testing my recipes. No recipe gets photographed or posted if it fails at any point during the recipe development process. What does this mean for you? It means that when you make a recipe in your own kitchen, you can be confident that it has been tested and the mistakes worked out. You won’t be the one dealing with any of that. In addition, I am proud that my recipes have:
- Accessibility of ingredients is an element of my recipes that I am hyper-aware of. You won’t find obscure and expensive ingredients or complex techniques here. Instead, I focus on using readily available items that you can find at your local grocery store. Cooking should be a joy, not a scavenger hunt for rare ingredients!
- Deliciousness is, of course, at the heart of every recipe I share. I firmly believe that food should be a celebration for your taste buds. From comforting classics to exciting new flavor combinations, there is something for everyone at the table!
- Time is of the essence, and I respect that. My quick and easy recipes are perfect for those days when you need a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, my goal is to make your cooking experience enjoyable and stress-free.
Praise
I stumbled upon your blog last night. What kept me on your blog was your professionalism. Your blog is amazing! I too keep Food Network on TV every chance I get and love to cook. I have printed 15 of your recipes so far and can’t wait to share them with the people that I love. I believe most memories are based off of delicious food!
-Renee J.
YOUR BLOG IS AMAZING! I’ve been working in nutrition communications for just under two years now and I can tell how much time and effort you put into each recipe. I really appreciate the energy you put into it because as a consumer, it makes it easy for me (to follow you, your recipes, suggestions and more)! I literally have a list of recipes I have to try! THANK YOU for this awesome blog and these amazing recipes.
-Kristen W.
I just happened onto your site from a Google search and I’m LOVING your recipes! So easy and so good! I love your recipes…more life than the ones on Cooks Illustrated. I like your cooking because it’s accessible and not hard. Thanks for doing this! I’ve passed on your site to like a million friends so far!
-Scott S.
Dinner for Two Cookbook
In 2015, I published my first cookbook, Dinner for Two. I took the same cooking philosophy and put it all into a cookbook for a smaller gathering. You can find more information about what is inside the book and where to purchase on my cookbook page.
Julie Chiou and Table for Two in the Press
Here are some of the various outlets and articles that have featured Julie.
Tamron Hall Show, Zooey Deschanel’s favorite dish
Curried coconut lentil soup made live on air with Zooey Deschanel.
Costco Connection
Featured my Basil Beef Stir Fry recipe in Costco Connection July 2021 publication of the “For Your Table” column in the USA. Following that success, it was picked up for Canada and UK publication. Costco Connection is the 3rd largest magazine in the country with more than 15 million subscribers.
Bon Appétit + Samsung
Created a unique recipe for Bon Appétit to film at their studio kitchen in NYC to promote Samsung’s Gas Cooktop. Recipe here.
Food Network: Dish, Party of Two
Launched Food Network’s first-ever “for two” recipe section on FoodNetwork.com and authored multiple recipes and articles for their Food Network: Dish section. My column was called Party of Two.
Food Network Magazine
Featured multiple recipes from Table for Two in a partnership with Samsung and their new refrigerator and oven. Inspired audience that food prep can be easy when you have the right appliances and tools.
Fun Facts About Julie Chiou
In addition to being a small business owner, cookbook author, and creator, writer, and editor on this blog, I’m also just your average late-30’s ambivert (enneagram type 1) living in the suburbs of Northern Virginia where I work a full-time job as a web developer.
I love food (obviously) but sometimes I need a break from the kitchen! You’ll find me and my partner trying all the fun new restaurants on the weekend. Truth be told, I’m a homebody through and through and can spend an entire weekend curled up on the couch with my Kindle and devouring psychological thrillers, WWII historical fictions, or cheesy rom-coms. I spend too much money on luxury purses and candles, but as the young folks say, “YOLO,” right?
Having explored at least 11 countries in my lifetime, traveling is one of my favorite hobbies. Whether it is visiting family and eating the street food at the night markets in Taiwan or walking along the Thames in London or bathing in a natural hot spring in Iceland, I am always ready for any jet-setting plans thrown my way!
Keeping In Touch
I’m of the mindset, “no question is dumb” so if you’ve got a question, thought, or request, please feel free to send them my way! I’d love to connect with you.
- Rate and Comment on my Posts. Not only do I love seeing what you’re making, I love hearing about what you thought of it. Ratings and comments on posts not only help support this website, it helps others who want to try the recipe as well!
- Social Media. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook. Send me a DM on Instagram – I reply to them all!
- Facebook Community. Join The Community Table to see what others are making and to connect with other readers!
- Email Me. You can reach me directly at julie@tablefortwoblog.com.
- Get Free Recipes to Your Inbox! You can sign up here to receive weekly emails to your inbox, at no cost to you!
Featured photos: Laura Metzler Photography
