Every book has a story behind it. This is the story of how my cookbook came to be and of the Lord’s goodness and kindness throughout the journey.
Pinch me—I need to know this is real. My cookbook, Rice. Noodles. Yum. (Everyone’s Favorite Southeast Asian Dishes), was released on June 11, 2019. On that day I officially became a published author, yet the true honor belongs to God; without His grace, this would not have happened.
If you would like to order a copy, click the cover image above. To learn more about the book, visit the Our Cookbook page on my site.
The path that led to this book began in a season of deep sorrow. In the summer of 2011 I was 37 ½ weeks pregnant with our third child. At a routine visit on August 30, 2011, the doctor could not find the baby’s heartbeat. After further tests, we learned our baby had passed away, likely related to the pre-eclampsia I experienced. My husband and I were devastated. I wrote a tribute to our third child, Brooklyn Alexie, which I shared on my blog.
Those first months were unbearable, but by God’s grace we found ways to carry on for the sake of our family. I needed a constructive outlet to process grief and to turn my energy into something positive. After much prayer and reflection, I began food blogging in the summer of 2012. I had been married for nearly eight years at that point, had learned to cook through many trials and experiments, and had a growing collection of recipes. Because visa restrictions kept me from working outside the home for many years, I became a full-time stay-at-home mom—an unexpected blessing that allowed me to develop my cooking skills and to be present for my children’s milestones.
My blog started as a simple online journal to keep the recipes I tested and made so I wouldn’t lose them, and to share them easily with family and friends. Manila Spoon was born—named after my birthplace, a place I love for its food. I also created a Facebook page to post recipes, and over time the audience grew. Today the page has over 200,000 followers who regularly try and enjoy the dishes I share.
Although I had long entertained the idea of writing a book, I never expected it to happen. In 2017 Page Street Publishing unexpectedly reached out to ask if I wanted to write a cookbook. I didn’t seek the opportunity; it simply appeared. When they asked what I wanted to focus on, I immediately said rice—my favorite—and added noodles because in Southeast Asia both are central to daily meals and street food culture.
To capture authentic rice and noodle dishes, I traveled across Southeast Asia—Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines—to research, taste, and learn how to prepare these recipes. Previously I had visited some of these countries, but this trip required deeper immersion in each country’s food culture. I did not know many people in those places, but I felt the Lord’s hand guiding me. He led me to helpful contacts, generous hosts, and skilled culinary teachers. I met Christians in unexpected places who offered kindness and assistance—from AirBnB hosts in Malaysia to the first people I encountered in Ho Chi Minh City, and friends in Singapore who provided accommodation after years apart. Each encounter felt like a reminder that I was not alone while traveling in unfamiliar territory.
After returning home, I spent six months repeatedly testing recipes, photographing dishes, and editing content. By God’s grace I submitted the manuscript and, to my surprise and relief, my editor loved it with few major revisions. The timing and provision felt like a clear example of God’s providence. I began my research trip on March 20, 2017, and exactly two years later, on March 20, 2019, I held the first copy of my cookbook in my hands. That full-circle moment felt nothing short of miraculous.
On the publication date, June 11, 2019, I saw my book stocked in the Asian section of Strand Bookstore in New York City. If someone had told me this would happen seven years after I started blogging in 2012, I would not have believed it. Yet everything unfolded in its own season, and I am grateful for the journey and the lessons along the way.
Although I could not predict how the public would receive the book, I found peace in knowing the same God who guided me through creating it would be with me in the steps that followed—marketing, promotion, and sharing it with readers. Above all, I cherish the experience of producing the book; it stands as a testament to God’s loving-kindness and faithful provision.
Rice. Noodles. Yum. (Everyone’s Favorite Southeast Asian Dishes) includes 75 authentic recipes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines, presented in full color. The collection ranges from popular fried rice dishes to noodle favorites like pad Thai, pancit, pho bo, and mie goreng, plus street food, sweets, and regional specialties. It’s a culinary tour of Southeast Asia that readers can make at home.
The cookbook is available for preorder and purchase through major retailers. It features a curated selection of dishes designed to be approachable, with clear instructions and widely available ingredients.
Publishers Weekly praised the book for its flavorful recipes and variety, highlighting dishes such as moo sarong (fried pork meatballs wrapped in noodles), serabi (Indonesian coconut pancakes), soto ayam (chicken noodle soup with turmeric and ginger), and creative regional mashups. The review noted that Raines’s instructions are clear and that the book offers an outstanding assembly of dishes sure to get plenty of use.
To get a sense of the book’s look and feel, you can view a short inside preview video on the Manila Spoon Facebook page.
This project has been a journey of healing, discovery, and gratitude. I am humbled by how it came together and thankful for every person and divine moment that made Rice. Noodles. Yum. possible. To God be the glory.