Welcome to our “Get to Know” series! Each Tuesday (for the next year), we’re going to introduce you to a creator in the wellness space that we think you NEED to know. The creators we feature are of various backgrounds. Whether they’re an online content creator, coach, or owner of a product-based brand, they each have their own niche in the wellness world and contribute to the space, as a whole, in an incredibly meaningful way. We’re setting this up Q&A-style so that you can learn more about each creator’s why, the content that they’re most proud of, and exactly how you can be a part of and contribute to their journey. We hope you enjoy our conversations with these wonderful people and brands. We know they’re going to enrich your lives!
This week, we’re interviewing The Woks of Life. The Woks of Life is actually made up of a family of four – Bill (dad), Judy (mom), Sarah (older daughter), and Kaitlin (younger daughter) that has a real passion for “sharing [their] recipes & travels with each other and the world.” Follow along as we learn more about The Woks of Life:
Why did you start your business?
The Woks of Life: In short—to preserve traditional Chinese recipes in English for our family and other families around the world. But here’s the longer version of the story: The Woks of Life is a family-run blog. My sister, my parents, and I all contribute recipes and stories to it. I don’t know if we initially started it as a business—it was more about documenting our family recipes for ourselves! We started the blog in 2013. At the time, my parents had re-located to Beijing, my sister was in college, and I was a new college graduate trying to figure out my next move. My sister and I realized that though we loved to cook, we didn’t know how to make many of the traditional Chinese dishes my parents had made for us growing up. The blog became the place to record those recipes for ourselves, and—as it turns out—many others who also didn’t know how to make their childhood favorites, as well as anyone looking to learn more about Chinese cooking. Since then, the blog has become an incredible online community!
What’s your mission/purpose statement?
The Woks of Life: The Woks of Life’s mission is to de-mystify Chinese cooking for a new generation of cooks, and explore Chinese cuisine through its many lenses—the home cooked dishes your mom or grandma used to make, the Chinese takeout favorites that have become classics in their own right, and the regional Chinese dishes becoming more popular here in the U.S.
What 2 (or 3!) pieces of content are you the proudest of?
The Woks of Life:
- “Start Your Pantry with 10 Essential Ingredients” – This article talks about how accessible Chinese cooking actually is—and that hundreds of Chinese recipes can be unlocked with just a few key pantry items!
- “How to Make Chili Oil” – My sister’s chili oil tastes good on everything! It’s become a go-to for countless readers.
- “How to Make Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)” – This recipe has become hugely popular, as it opens the door to so many other treats, like steamed pork buns and pork fried rice.
Where are you going next? What’s your goal for the next year?
The Woks of Life: We’re currently overhauling our Chinese Ingredients Glossary, which has become an invaluable resource for many looking to better understand Chinese ingredients. We want to make it easier to quickly identify and search for particular ingredients in order to make trips to the Asian market easier for our readers!
How can we (and the Fed and Fit community) best support you?
The Woks of Life: The best ways to support The Woks of Life are to check out some of our recipes and cook with us, spread the word about our blog, subscribe to our newsletter (new subscribers receive a free eBook with our Top 25 Recipes in it!), and follow us on Instagram @thewoksoflife!
