claire handleman

claire handleman

Hi, I’m Claire Handleman, a southern-California girl who is currently shivering her way through another New York winter.

I’ve been living here for about nine years and have been part of the food industry in most every which way. I’ve had the lovely opportunity to work at some of the best restaurants in the city, including Jean-Georges, Eleven Madison Park and Del Posto. I’ve been an assistant culinary producer for The Chew, writing recipes for all of the hosts, and I had the good fortune to win on the show Chopped (perhaps the most stressful thing I’ve ever tried my hand at). I’ve done a few pop-ups in the city, written for a Thai newspaper and generally have just wanted to have new opportunities within this food world.

As much as I love cooking in the city, my favorite past time has been to get out of the city and travel. I’ve traveled extensively the past 10 years and have made my way through over 50 countries. My passion lies in South East Asia though, so I head back there frequently.

I have gorgeous friends in Bangkok who share their time with me, usually in the form of grabbing a meal or exploring a market, or taking weekend trips to yet unexplored (for me) towns around Thailand. I learn about food from a local woman who takes me into her home to show me Northern Thai cuisine. And I always frequent my favorite restaurant, Nahm, to learn about royal Thai cuisine. The food never ceases to fascinate me and the bold flavors often leave me speechless. The combination of great friends, beautiful weather, colorful culture and wildly vibrant food has me hooked.

This blog is a place for me to share my travels and experiences and occasionally a new recipe I’m toying with. I hope you enjoy.