Leela Punyaratabandhu

2 weeks ago | leela.substack.com | Leela Punyaratabandhu

When I first moved to the United States, I braced for the usual cultural hiccups: driving on the other side of the road, the tipping rituals, people asking “How are you?” without the slightest intere…

3 weeks ago | leela.substack.com | Leela Punyaratabandhu

Hands down, this is one of my favorite ways to prepare squid. Not only is this salad fresh and punchy—letting the natural sweetness of squid shine through while hitting you with an herbaceous uppercut…

1 month ago | leela.substack.com | Leela Punyaratabandhu

This month’s Random Things might not be all that random—because surprise, we’ve got a theme! Spring has finally arrived in Chicago, and that means it’s time to fire things up. Let’s kick off the season with my top grilling gear picks. Time to upgrade, dust off, and take stock of your setup, friends. Here are my latest recommendations. A reliable kettle grill: I learned to grill on a clay charcoal stove back in Bangkok, where controlling heat meant fanning flames by hand.

1 month ago | leela.substack.com | Leela Punyaratabandhu

If you’re anything like me, any trip abroad longer than seven days goes something like this: you board a plane brimming with noble intentions—eating the local cuisine, hitting every restaurant you sp…

1 month ago | leela.substack.com | Leela Punyaratabandhu

My thoughts have been more numerous and less disciplined than usual these past several days. Could be a sign of getting old. Or maybe I’m just in denial about my brain having always been like this. T…