About me

Before becoming the girl I am today—a Khuê Anh who loves the adrenaline of stepping beyond her comfort zone, who finds wonder in the smallest details, who is deeply passionate about the environment and cultural arts, who adores her hair yet loves it even more when it can serve a purpose, and who finds joy in caring for those closest to her heart—I was once just a little girl named “Sóc” (Squirrel), the nickname my parents still lovingly call me at home.

And if there was one thing Sóc was always excited about, it was the weekend spent in the kitchen with her mom, baking. I remember racing down the stairs, screaming my mom’s name, a recipe book clutched in my hands, shouting, “Mom, mom, let’s make this!” Even though she was often less thrilled than I was—something I now understand came from being worn out after a long week of work—she would always take the book from my hands and begin gathering the ingredients.

Baking birthday cakes soon became one of my fondest memories, repeated across many, many birthdays, whether for my brother or for myself. Slowly and patiently, my mom nurtured my love for baking—or perhaps more accurately, my love for experimenting with ingredients. I grew to believe that the kitchen is no one’s assigned role. Cooking and baking are not skills reserved for anyone in particular; they are learned through practice, curiosity, and care.

And thanks to my mom, I now get to bake birthday cakes for my friends—people I deeply cherish—continuing a tradition that began with Sóc, a recipe book, and a tired but loving mother in the kitchen.