If you’ve ever sat down at a cozy izakaya and ordered a plate of golden, crispy corn fritters, you know how addictive corn kakiage can be. At my local spot, it’s hands down one of my favorite appetizers—the kind of dish I always order, no matter what else is on […]
I’m Patrick Kong (AKA Patty.Plates) and I was born in Vancouver, Canada to Chinese immigrant parents. My father was a Guangzhou city boy, and my mom a village girl from Toisan. Both my parents have been cooking their entire lives - my dad even owned a small food court restaurant at one point (it was NOT good… sorry dad). My dad mainly saw food as a means of sustenance (both literally and economically) while my mom saw food as the glue that held our family together and connected us with the motherland.




