Annie Yu learned how to cook from her grandmother, who grew up near Canton, China. Her style of cooking included a lot of seafood, rice, and milder spices than Northern Szechuan cuisine. As the first American-born of seven siblings, Annie spent a lot of time in Chinatown in Boston, traveling to the markets with her grandmother. Today, Annie teaches Asian cooking in San Luis Obispo after many years in the world of corporate training. She shared with me her secrets for stir fry, which are fascinating, her dad’s one wish for his kids, and the reason she and her husband decided to move from the East Coast to San Luis Obispo.

Instagram: @sloasiancooking

Photo: Jen Olson