I travel, I eat, I seek adventure and find it in both! I find food fascinating, eating a delight, and writing about it a privilege! Food is the only thing that you can use all of your 5 senses to heighten your experience; See, Smell, Touch/Feel, Hear, and Taste! Eating for me is a party in my mouth that my stomach never complains about, and my brain always thanks me for! People say love is the universal language…that maybe true, but I believe Food and eating triumphs it!

My name is Amy Sue and this is my blog about places I travel to for food and all things encompassing the culinary world. A few years ago a friend suggested that I start a food blog. She said I knew so much about food and that my knowledge should be shared with the world. So here I am, years later (better late than never!), starting my very first blog, sharing with you my knowledge, ideas, and stories.

Some say I am obsessed about food and all things culinary…and they are correct! It is not only my obsession, but my passion. You might be wondering if I just like to eat and travel or if I actually know my way about the kitchen? The answer is yes! I fortunately am not just an eater; I’m also a self taught home chef with experience in the restaurant industry. But cooking began at home for me, when I was old enough to reach the kitchen sink (with a step stool of course) and help my mother wash vegetables and grains of rice. Mom did me well, by teaching me the basics of the kitchen and some cooking techniques; like how to hold a knife and use it correctly without cutting off my fingers…you know all the “useful” things anyone should know!

But it goes without saying, that most of the knowledge I have acquired has been learned by watching Food Network; since it first aired years ago when I was in college, reading more cookbooks than my bookshelves can hold, and what I call “trial, error, and eventually triumph!” cooking and baking for various boyfriends through the years. I have also been procuring many dinner parties for my family, friends, and colleagues since before I knew I was good at it! Hosting and making the food for dinner parties of up to 60 persons, baking for people in my office, cooking for family and friends on holidays and everyday…it’s what I do, it’s who I am, it’s what I love!

Born in Taiwan and raised in Central Jersey, I moved to NYC at the age of 23 to start a career on Wall Street in Human Resources Finance and become a “grown up”. Unfortunately, it was not until 7 years and many people saying ‘what are you doing working in corporate? You’re wasting your natural born talent! You need to be in the food industry!’ later, that I would realize my obsession and passion in life (all things culinary) was what I should be doing! So I quite my job and did an industry change into the culinary world of NYC. One giant leap of faith in myself…

My first job was Manager at a bake shop on the UES. They now have many store locations in NYC and in Los Angeles and are very well known. It was an experience to say the least, especially for someone whom had never worked in the food industry. I remember very early mornings (baker NOT banker hours), fustrated days, and always coming home smelling like coffee and sugar. I learned to not wear my expensive clothes to my new “office” space because I always came home with something chocolate on me and that even kitten heels hurt after standing in them for 10 hours straight! But it was worth the experience and knowledge I gained from working there.

My second job for a Restaurant Group only lasted 2 months. They were searching for an HR Director since they never had one and were growing faster than they knew what to do with their employees. I thought after my first run in with the food industry, this was something I would be better suited for since it involved my prior business experience, but was in the industry I always dreamed of belonging to! After a very long month rotation through their Union Square location in the kitchen and front of the house, I soon began to realize this job might not be as “perfect” for me as I initially thought. Needless to say, they weren’t ready for HR just yet, but I did learn the ins and outs of a real fine dining restaurant kitchen and how front of the house and bar should work. It was just another stepping stone towards my next experience.

Moving on I worked for a  food & catering corporation,  as their GM of their restaurant and catering divisions. I believe I learned the most here. Partly because it was the most workable environment (dare I say this?) I had come across in the food industry, but mostly because the owner (a chef who worked for a former NYC mayor in his kitchen at Gracie Mansion as his Executive Chef) and the staff took the time to show me how everything operated. In turn, I helped revamp his business to make it more profitable and run more efficient and smoother. A year later I left with a plethora of knowledge and memorable stories.

But it took moving to another city (Washington DC) and traveling back where I was born (Taipei, Taiwan) to give me the push I needed to really incorporate all the business experience and restaurant/food knowledge I had obtained from working in HR Finance to the Restaurant/Culinary industry to start this blog. A clear head is a working mind, and hungry stomach! Food beyond tasty, is exciting! It can be exhilarating at times too! It’s innovative, sexy, and an expression of anything you want it to be!

So welcome to Amy’s Sue’s Tasty Bites! I hope you enjoy reading what I have to share and I also hope it inspires you to get out and travel to new places, taste new foods, and explore your inner hunger for all things culinary! Eating is definitely believing!

xoxo,

Amy Sue