Hey there, I’m Emma
Welcome to That Cute Dish, my little corner of the internet where I share my huge love for all things food! Thanks so much for being here!
Behind the scenes, I do it all — develop the recipes, style and photograph the food, and eat approximately everything in the process. Cooking out of my home kitchen in Brussels, I’m all about bringing you dishes that are bold, beautiful, and delicious.
A little about me…
Born in Korea and raised in Belgium, I grew up with the best of two incredible culinary worlds. I was adopted as a baby and spent my childhood savoring Belgian and French dishes, lovingly made by my parents.
I was fortunate to find and get to know my Korean family at 18. My Korean mom is an extraordinary home cook, and over the years she’s taught me how to make kimchi, doenjang jjigae, dakgalbi, and bulgogi from scratch. Those dishes didn’t just teach me to cook Korean food — they connected me to where I come from. Thanks to reconnecting with my Korean family while still learning to cook myself, I developed a love for Korean flavors alongside the comfort food of my childhood.
Learning to cook became a necessity when I left home for uni. Spoiled by my parents’ delicious meals, I quickly realized the only way to keep eating well was to cook for myself. Turns out, I had a knack for it! My friends always raved about my dishes, and before I knew it, I was developing recipes inspired by both my Belgian upbringing and Korean roots – and nearly 20 years later, I’m still just as passionate about cooking!
I’m also obsessed with snapping photos of food! My love for food photography began with the first smartphones, and I’ve been that person ever since – you know, the one who delays dinner for the perfect shot. In 2021, I took it further by properly learning the craft.
That same year, I won first prize in a recipe creation and food photography contest organized by Ixina and judged by Michelin-starred chefs David Martin and Filip Claeys. My Honeycomb-Shaped Pineapple Coconut Cheesecakes earned me a €7,500 prize — which motivated me to keep creating and photographing recipes.
My recipe inspiration
My recipes are a reflection of my life – a mix of Korean tradition, European comfort food, and flavors I’ve discovered from travels around the world. I’ve had the chance to travel extensively, living in Australia and the UK for a while, and exploring hundreds of beautiful places (my fav being French Polynesia!).
Every trip brings new flavors, techniques, and ideas that I can’t wait to recreate at home. Asian cuisine is my ultimate weakness, so you’ll find plenty of those recipes here.
Korean food in particular holds a really special place for me. Whenever I’m back in Korea, I spend time in my mom’s kitchen, learning and carefully noting her recipes. Back home in Brussels, I source my ingredients from Shilla and order my Korean BBQ meat directly from a Korean supplier. It’s not just blog content – it’s genuinely what I cook and eat at home!
Some of my Korean recipes have also found a much bigger audience beyond the blog – my Soy Garlic Korean fried chicken, Dakbokkeumtang, and Doenjang Jjigae have each racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, and my Kimchi tuna onigiri hit over 450,000 views on TikTok! Knowing that so many of you are making these dishes in your own kitchens honestly means the world to me.
What you’ll find here
On That Cute Dish, there’s something for every craving. Here’s what you can expect:
• Bold and authentic flavors inspired by my Korean heritage – like my Dolsot Bibimbap or Spicy Korean Fried Chicken.
• Asian favorites and fusion dishes that are easy to recreate at home – check out my Carbonara Buldak Ramen.
• Comforting Belgian and French classics with a fresh, modern twist – try my Salmon and Spinach Quiche or Belgian Waffles.
• Travel-inspired meals that add a world of flavor to your table.
• A mix of quick, fuss-free recipes for busy days and indulgent dishes for special moments.
Every recipe is tested multiple times before it goes live and written with care to make sure it’s easy to follow and yields amazing results. My goal is to inspire you to make homemade meals that not only taste incredible but also make your guests say “Wow, did you make this?”
Let’s connect!
Thank you so much for stopping by and letting me share my love for food with you. I hope you find recipes here that inspire you, impress your friends and family, and maybe even spark a lifelong love for cooking. Feel free to drop me a message or connect on social media – I’d love to hear from you!
