Emotion

The first time I wrote and tested the date syrup recipe, my neighbor’s home in Oakland was in the process of being burgled in broad daylight, and I called 911 to inform the cops (who arrived in a timely manner and prevented the theft). By the time this book comes out, I will have moved to Los Angeles; during our move, I froze several large batches of the Black Pepper Chicken for my husband to take with him when he first drove down there. These memories are now intricately tied to these dishes in my mind; making date syrup now reminds me of that burglary, and Black Pepper Chicken is the one dish I quickly associate with our move to Los Angeles.