The Epestle

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

I haven’t conducted a formal survey, of course, but I’d wager that many cookbook authors—along with recipe developers and testers—have dishes they adore yet have never thought to publish. Speaking for myself, there are plenty. Dozens, really. And the reason—assuming I’m even fully aware of it—has nothing to do with gatekeeping. I suspect most of us who began blogging in the early aughts wouldn’t recognize a gate if we tripped over it.

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

A few days ago, I announced—somewhat prematurely, as it turns out—in an Instagram story that I’d be taking you to Laos in this edition of The Epestle. Well, long story short, I forgot that the photos…

1 month 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…

1 month 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.