The Conch Girl Project at Fort Collins
Recipe for Davina L’s Kitchen:
Baked Cheesy Rice with Chicken Masala
09–01–2024
Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado
Ingredients
- The apartment is at basement level with some sunlight. It has very clean surfaces. Spacious and tidy. Cabinets were half filled, but very organized. Davina just moved in a month ago, she disclosed that earlier in an email.
- A revolving cabinet that got you absolutely obsessed. They remind you of the carousel in an amusement park, or the jewelry shelf in a boutique store–usually the revolver is used to display something attractive, and here on display are the tools for daily nourishment.
- There were three cooking books on the counter, one for cocktails, one for baking, and one for Singapore cuisine. You found related details in the kitchen: an alcohol shelf and cocktails mixers in the overhead cabinet, a towel stating the love for a cake, and Asian condiments: soy sauce, fish sauce, Shaoxing cooking wine.
- The fridge is well stocked, but not overflowing. You wonder if that is a must for residents in US non-mega cities where driving is necessary.
- Traces of Davina’s love for her cat, other animals, cocktails, nature, and the color blue.
- A kitchen with lots of stuff in the color blue. The shade of blue that you love, coincidentally. You would only highlight your hair in this particular blue when you were 22.
Steps
- Davina took you in and briefly oriented you in her kitchen. You were then greeted by Peaches, Davina’s cat. Peaches was so cute, until later when you were alone, she showed her teeth and hissed at you. You immediately walked away, and later turned around and found her lurking behind sneaking up on you. You had to knock on Davina’s door and ask her to take Peaches in.
- You decided to use as much blue in this kitchen as you can: blue baking bowl, blue preparing bowl, blue spatula, blue small knife, blue pan, blue oven glove, blue package of cheese, frozen corn, coconut milk, and masala sauce.
- Amazed by the rice cooker, which happily delivered a song when you pressed “cook” and then another tune when it finished working.
- These ingredients together form a baked cheesy rice with chicken masala. You learned that from eating in 茶餐厅, Hong Kong style cafes. But this is the first time you made it. And it was surprisingly easy. You prepared rice, and the dish as usual, and baked the cheese on top until they melted at the end.
- After this visit, you took a Lyft back. The driver, Sharon, had been in Fort Collins for 15 years. She told you there is no place here that has amazing Asian food. None. You now think more about how Davina said your dish “tastes like home and comforting.”
Davina L’s Response
"My dream ever since I was young has been to have a space of my own. Growing up, I didn't have a lot of stability, so I have always craved it. In August, I moved into my own place and have been hard at work making it my own sanctuary. Building a home for myself and my cat Peaches has been freeing and meaningful. My space reflects who I am - filled with images of my hobbies and friends who are so important to me.
When I learned that Sidian was looking for people to invite her into their kitchen, I was immediately intrigued. I thought it would be a fantastic way to break in the new place and to get some perspective on the life I have built for myself. I confess, I was a little nervous at the thought of letting a stranger into my sanctuary, but it was also the least I could do considering she was performing an act of care by cooking a meal. Growing up in an Asian family, I never heard the words "I love you". Love and care was expressed through comments like "You're too skinny" or "Have you eaten yet?". So even though Sidian was a stranger, I understood the significance of her act of service.
Peaches is not usually this apprehensive about strangers, so I felt so bad that she was guarded around Sidian. I think she was still adjusting to the new place and when I went into my office, she didn't like being left alone.
The meal itself warmed my soul. It reminded me of how comforting the congee my mom made would make me feel. There isn't really a good place here where I can go for scallion pancakes or nasi lemak. I miss the flavors of my childhood, so having a meal cooked for me that reminded me of my roots meant the world.
I have immense gratitude for Sidian and the opportunity to experience her cooking."