In the Kitchen with: Anna Li

Hey there, foodies! If chasing viral food trends is your jam, you’ve got to meet Anna! She’s a corporate girly by day and a content creator by night, dishing out Asian-inspired twists on viral and traditional recipes (drooling yet? Us too!)

We caught up with Anna in her kitchen to uncover why food is her ultimate love language, her secret garnishing hacks, and why Crumble is her ride-or-die. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, Anna’s tips and recipes will have you revamping your cult favourites in no time! 

Hey Anna, thanks so much for having us in your kitchen! Can you spill the tea on what really goes on behind-the-scenes at @latenightannaa? 

“Hello! I’m Anna and I’m a 30-year-old corporate girly based in Sydney who loves to cook. I love [giving] traditional recipes [my own creative twist] and experimenting with different ingredients in the kitchen!”

“[latenightannaa started after travelling to Japan and South Korea.] I was craving their local foods, however they weren’t available in Australia. So, one day I decided to just recreate those recipes in my own kitchen!”

“[When I’m not juggling my full-time job with content creation, you can find me baking up a storm.] Growing up I was always a savoury girl but then I developed [a] love for desserts! A few years ago, [I even launched] my own home baking business, ‘Burnt Sydney’ - [specialising in] baked Basque Burnt Cheesecake.”

Wow, is there anything you can’t do! You’ve mentioned that the kitchen is where you let your creativity shine! What is it about cooking that makes it such a passion for you? 

“My cooking journey started [in the kitchen with my parents] when I was around 6 years old. I was [also] exposed to a variety of delicious food when I studied in China for a few years, which really broadened my knowledge and experience of food.” 

“Cooking is my way of destressing and unwinding, it’s also my love language. I love [creating] delicious recipes and then sharing my dishes with family and friends. To me, food is a universal language and brings together people of all cultures.”

We couldn’t agree more, food really does bring all kinds of people together! Speaking of which, do you have any fun hacks or food tips to jazz up cooking for our Crumble community? 

“Garnish, garnish and garnish! Garnishing a dish at the end is often overlooked but it adds the perfect finishing touch and elevates the dish aesthetically.” 

“I love to finish my savoury dishes with freshly chopped up scallions, sesame seeds, freshly grated cheese, crumbled feta, and a range of other herbs. For desserts, I love to garnish with icing sugar, drizzle of honey, cookie crumbles etc - the options are endless!”

So true about garnishing being underrated! Now, switching gears to Crumble, we know it’s hard to choose but which product is your must-have? 

“I am a huge fan of Crumble Cookware! I love that the cookware pieces are high quality, aesthetic and affordable. [Since using Crumble] I've felt so inspired to create delicious home cooked meals that are both delicious and beautiful to look at!” 

“I have the Crumble Classic Dutch Oven in Pink Sand and Deep Fry Pan in Cream and I’ve used them for so many recipes already! It’s been the perfect cookware for making winter soups, stews, braised meats, stir fried dishes, desserts and so much more.”

You read our mind, Pink Sand and Cream are the ultimate duo! We heard you’ve been testing a new viral recipe? Spill the deets, we’re all ears! 

“Recently I’ve been recreating viral recipes at home with my Crumble Cookware! I recreated the viral Flat Croissant dipped in Matcha Strawberry and Dark Chocolate and it was so delicious! Check out my recipe below.”