Hi! I'm Gail - the food photographer and recipe developer behind Teak & Thyme. I'm based in rainy but beautiful Vancouver, BC, where I was born and raised but serve the food community online everywhere.
Growing up in an Asian household, I don't have memories of baking with my grandmother's recipes or anything like that. In fact, the oven was mostly just storage space for pots and pans that we would have to take out if we wanted to use it on the rare occasion.
My baking and food blogging journey has been one that I discovered, fell in love with, and nurtured on my own with an inspiring online community that I'm happy to be a part of today.
My obsession with photography led me to food which led me to baking and desserts as I settled into my favourite little niche here in the food content world. You can thank my sweet tooth for that.
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Teak & Thyme is a baking & dessert blog where you will find recipes for all kinds of desserts and drinks. I love to create beautiful and delicious desserts that will make you forget about going out for dessert because you know you can make better at home. You! With your own hands! And a bit of time, patience, and practice!
When I'm not busy in my kitchen testing my next recipe, you can find me snuggled up on the couch as a blanket burrito and sipping on an oolong milk tea with boba pearls OR I'll be out in the mountains looking for the perfect view to photograph. There's no in-between.
Sometimes I share my adventures on my other Instagram @sunriseandsummit
My favourite recipes
It's hard to pick favourites but these are a few of my all-time personal favourite recipes that I make time and time again.
- Matcha White Chocolate Cookies - Any time I need to make something to share with friends, these matcha cookies are my go-to. They're a fan favourite and everyone always loves them.
- Earl Grey Bubble Tea - I make this at least once every few weeks to sip on during movie night at home. It's always some variation of this recipe. I'll usually just switch up the tea but the process is the same.
- Mango Chiffon Cake - This is my go-to cake recipe for birthdays. It's a light and fluffy cake that isn't too sweet so it's a crowd pleaser among older family members. It really tastes like it was purchased from an Asian bakery. I just switch out the fruit for whole new flavour.
- Cherry Galette - Galettes are the number one dessert that my husband requests from me. We're obsessed with the ultra-crispy galette dough that is my go-to recipe for any galette or pie. I'll switch up the fruit filling depending on the season but the dough always stays the same.
Random facts about me
- My Myers-Briggs personality type is INTP and I'm an Enneagram 5w4.
- I have a BSc in Biology with a concentration in Cell Biology & Physiology.
- My favourite animals are bunnies, whales, and sloths (in that order).
- If I could have any other job in the world, I'd probably be a wildlife photographer.
- I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I grew up reading the books - they saved and shaped me and will forever be an important part of my life.
- My favourite foods are noodles, sushi, and bubble tea.
- I could sleep for 14 hours a day if I didn't have any life obligations.
- I've travelled to 25 countries so far. My favourites are Japan, Iceland, and South Africa.
Work with me
I love working with brands that align with my content and audience through sponsored posts, recipe development, photography, content creation, or UGC.
If you'd like to work with me, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]
Join the community
Follow along on my social channels for more!