Kim Fay

- MFK Fisher ... anything and everything, but ESPECIALLY her essay, "Borderland," in Serve it Forth.

- I fell for Elizabeth David when I picked up South Wind through the Kitchen, a selection of her previously published writings. She is truly divine, and while not as sensuous as Fisher, she's in the same league.

- Who doesn't love Laurie Colwin? Home Cooking and More Home Cooking have given me many of my standards, from shortbread to tomato pie. And her essays that include anecdotes about being single in New York have a wit and warmth that leave Carrie Bradshaw standing in the dust.

- While not a volume of food essays, the novel, Book of Salt, by Monique Truong, is essential reading for food lovers. The episode about the pineapple is heartbreaking--you'll know what I mean when you read it.

- Next on my list: The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book. Impressions to come.

- I also recommend picking up a copy of Best Food Writing 2005. My favorite essays include "1 Tsp. of Prose, Recipes to Taste," by Judith Jones, and "Bitter Alchemy," by Deirdre Heekin.

Since 1995, I have worked as a travel and food writer in Vietnam and Los Angeles. My writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Travel + Leisure, Preferred Destinations, Transitions Abroad, the Vietnam Investment Review, and Things Asian. During that time, I spent four years as the Hotel Editor for Gayot publications. For Gayot I wrote hundreds of reviews for hotels, spas, cookbooks, food shops, wine countries, and more. Following is a selection of articles written for Gayot’s online Tastes and Food Papers.

You must buy my friend Ann's The Little Saigon Cookbook (my sis took the photos!):