#ChineseFoodiesofIG: Elizabeth Haigh, Mei Mei London

Elizabeth Haigh AKA @the_modernchef, Michelin-starred founder of Kaizen House and Mei Mei London

This is part of an ongoing series of interviews I’m doing with my favourite Chinese foodies that I follow on Instagram. Come and follow the #ChineseFoodiesofIG hashtag on Instagram and leave a comment showing your support for these talented folk!

Where are you from? Where are you really from?

I split my time between Maidenhead and London. I’m really from Singapore. 

What does home taste like?

Anything my mum cooks, possibly her Hainanese chicken rice. Makes all of my sisters and me happy instantly.

Rice or noodles?

Rice.

Share a food memory:

Demolishing several steamed crabs with my family in a warm, humid Singapore with plenty of ice cold beers around the table and a charcoal hot pot of silken tofu and fish whilst chatting about life. Probably one of my favourite memories.

Who’s your Chinese food legend?

Easy. My mother.

What’s in your fridge?

What isn’t. I’m currently writing my cookbook so there’s everything from fermented bean pastes, tofu and fresh noodles to orange wine (to help me write!)

Favourite Chinese vegetable:

Kang Kong (water spinach), preferably in sambal.

Know any good Chinese restaurants?

Where to begin? I’m loving Sambal Shiok for my laksa hit and also Singburi.

Dream dinner party guests:

Anyone who doesn’t talk politics all the time and loves food and wine.

What would you like to tell the world about Chinese food?

It’s always been my life. I’ve grown up mostly in England, but we’ve always had Chinese food as a staple diet, and I have even more appreciation for it now that I’m a mother and passing that knowledge and life experiences on. Food is community and without it, it would be joyless and lonely!

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