If I had to boil it down, I’d say I’m someone who creates space and truly cares for others. For me, whether it's in life or in a restaurant setting, everything comes back to hospitality and making sure people feel looked after. But I’m also that someone that does a happy dance every time I have yummy dumplings or noodles.

I was born in Windsor, Ontario, but I made the big move out to Vancouver back in 2010. The way it happened was actually pretty spontaneous. I literally looked up an image of a map of Canada, closed my eyes, and just pointed at random. Luckily, my finger landed right on Vancouver! I bought a one-way ticket within 30 minutes, and I've been in love with Vancouver since.

For me, it’s not always about the fanciest spot. I love eating in places that showcase real identity and authenticity. Whenever a chef puts their actual story and culture on the plate without compromising, that's exactly the kind of food I want to eat. Some places that come to mind:

Honestly, Touk is my biggest source of excitement right now. We just opened our doors, and it’s been a massive labor of love. I'm just so thrilled to share it with the city and see where this little restaurant takes us.

On the rare days that I am not working a double at Touk, my perfect Saturday starts early in the morning at the farmers market, grabbing fresh ingredients, followed by an afternoon coffee exploring a neighbourhood.

Later in the day, you’ll probably find me relaxing on a patio by the water, playing a few rounds of tennis with Cameron, and then heading back to our place to cook together and split a bottle or two of wine. So… shopping, eating, cooking!

My grandmother, without a doubt. She didn't just teach me about food, she taught me how to take care of myself and how to take care of others. Her philosophy was all about the nature of cooking instinctually and feeling the food, cooking from the heart, and using it as a way to provide genuine energy and nourishment to the people you love.

It's a bit of a fun mix, but I absolutely love shucking fresh oysters and making a great plate of fried noodles at home. It’s comforting and deeply satisfying. Cameron and I love spending our days off just making things entirely from scratch, enjoying the peace of our own space, and relaxing surrounded by all our plants

I’d want them to know that our team at Touk is working incredibly hard to bring true Cambodian cuisine into the Vancouver dining scene. I am so deeply proud to be a Cambodian-owned and operated restaurant, and I absolutely cannot wait to share these flavours and our culture with everyone.

Go visit Touk! They’re located right downtown at 1152 Alberni Street, nestled right between Thurlow and Bute. They’re open for both lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday, and they’d love to host you!

What’s the People of Vancity series? 👉 Vancouver is full of people doing interesting things. We bring you one every week.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. 😊