Ciao! I’m Nilar.

(The r is silent, so that’s “Nee-la!”)

I’m a Burmese-American woman that has found herself living in Rome.

Rome wasn’t the initial life plan…but it is where I have chosen to stay. I have traveled quite a bit for work and I’ve always been passionate about cooking, entertaining friends and sharing recipes. How did the cooking begin? I grew up in the kitchen – both of my parents are very skilled in the kitchen, and during a few stressful bouts in grad school, I stress-baked and baked and baked….

In an attempt to keep fitting into their clothes, my parents (read: patient saints/housemates) would share with the neighbors. One of these neighbors happened to be a Food Editor for the Washington Post. She said, clearly you can follow a recipe – would you like to be a test chef? And that is where I started to think, maybe I do have a knack for this cooking thing.

I never wanted to open a restaurant, or become a working chef in that sense. I do on most days actually like my job as a communications wonk. I have a passion for learning new cuisines, discovering a new market or grocery store where ever I am but my favorite activity by far is cooking for friends and family. Ingredients are the words that I prefer to communicate with.

I always found a sort of magical energy in the kitchen. This blog is a combination of recipes, stories and experiences…I hope you enjoy them with me!