#MandalayBook
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meemalee.bsky.social
Also in my book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen 💕

bit.ly/mandalaybook
snig.bsky.social Snigdha @snig.bsky.social · Dec 5
Tonight's dinner is Coconut chicken noodles (Ohn-no Khao swē), a recipe from Myanmar by @meemalee.bsky.social. The recipe is from her first cookbook "Noodle!". #BurmeseFood #MyanmarFood
December 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Happiest thing though:

I got to give a copy of #MandalayBook to @johnherndon.bsky.social 🥰

We’ve been online pals for over a decade now, but I wrote Mandalay after the last time I saw Tortoise - and I acknowledged them in the book!

I drew him a little tortoise of course 🐢
A man in an orange beanie (John Herndon from the band Tortoise aka A Grape Dope) holding a copy of my bright yellow book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese kitchen. You can see his (smiling!) eyes and nose, but the rest of his face is covered by the book. He’s wearing a black puffer jacket and the back of his hand that’s holding the book has a black ink tattoo on it of a reflected bird sitting on water. Me, a Burmese woman in a black Tortoise t-shirt with an illustration by John Herndon, who is also an *artist* artist as well as a musician. I am smiling while holding open a copy of my book Mandalay in which you can see I’ve written a dedication to John and drawn a little tortoise.
November 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Just sent out a batch of signed copies of ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’ that I’d donated as raffle prizes for Myanmar fundraisers.

Got me thinking if I should do them for Christmas again?

I probably have to decide soon because I’d need to order them in.

#MandalayBook
The title page of my book MANDALAY with a glittery drawing by me of a map of Myanmar plus a cover note for the raffle winner The title page of my book MANDALAY with a glittery drawing by me of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda plus a cover note for the raffle winner The title page of my book MANDALAY with a glittery drawing by me of some pink orchids plus a cover note for the raffle winner The stack of books parcelled up for delivery to the raffle winners with ‘Mandalay’ stickers on each parcel
November 1, 2025 at 6:59 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Overhead shot for y’all.

We call this A-Kyaw-Zone which literally means ‘all the fritters’, although this is just a fraction of the Burmese fritter repertoire!

Recipes for these (and more!) in my book ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’.

#MandalayBook
A large, round lacquerware tray laden with crispy Burmese fritters that I’ve just made. Clockwise from top, we have Chickpea Tofu Fritters (Tohu Kyaw / တိုဟူးကြော်) - crispy golden bites with soft and fluffy insides - mine are rectangular, but they often come as triangles. Mandalay Bean Fritters (Mandalay Pè Kyaw - မန္တလေးပဲကြော်) have a crispy, ruddy brown shell encasing the fluffiest kidney bean filling. They look a bit like falafel. Buthi Kyaw or Buthee Kyaw (ဗူးသီးကြော်) are fat ‘chips’ of lush bottle gourd (buthee means ‘bottle fruit’) in a crisp golden batter. Many would say that this is THE iconic Burmese fritter. You can use chayote or even courgette instead.
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Man, I love fritters!

#BurmeseFood #MandalayBook
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Jul 8
Here’s my husband dishing up fritters while I steal one and burn my mouth like a fool (worth it though).

We had Chickpea Tofu Fritters (Tohu Kyaw), Black Gram Fritters (Matpe Kyaw) and Mandalay Pe Kyaw (Mandalay Bean Fritters) - recipes all in #MandalayBook! #BurmeseFood
October 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
My friend, the brilliant Burmese artist and illustrator @ohn-mar-win.bsky.social came for lunch with her family yesterday, and she took the best photo of me serving up the snacks!

#MandalayBook #BurmeseFood
Me, a Burmese woman with tied-back hair wearing a black jumper, red dangly earrings and a red, black & white beaded necklace, smiling with my mouth open and look a little crazy. I’m carrying a large, round lacquerware tray filled with crispy Burmese fritters that I’ve just made - clockwise from top, we have gourd fritters (Buthi Kyaw), chickpea tofu fritters (Tohu Kyaw), and Mandalay-style kidney bean fritters (Mandalay Pè Kyaw). All fritters from my book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen, and these ones all happen to be vegan too.
October 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
JOIN US TOMORROW as we kick off SE London Bookfest talking about Food, Glorious Food! ❤️📚

Come say hello and if you bring or buy a copy of #MandalayBook I’ll draw you a picture too!

Tickets are free, but we’re also accepting donations to support local food banks tiny.cc/food

#SELbookfest
October 17, 2025 at 7:47 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
This Saturday!

Come say hello and if you bring or buy a copy of #MandalayBook I’ll draw you a picture too! x
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Oct 1
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!

I'm taking part in a panel with other women food writers for this year's South East London BookFest.

Come join us at 2pm on Sat 18 Oct!

l'll be alongside Romy Gill,
Pary Baban from Nandine, @foodstories.bsky.social and
The Flygerians!

Free tickets here! 🎟️ tiny.cc/food
A collage of the bright yellow cover of my book ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’, me in a burgundy ‘Original Beef of Chicagoland’ T-shirt (from the tv show The Bear), holding a plate full of Tokyo Disneyland cakes, the poster for the SE London BookFest, and the area around Corner Corner (between Canada Water and Surrey Quays) which is where our panel will be.
October 14, 2025 at 7:11 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
You can find said recipes in my book ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’, but here are a few for you to try that aren’t in there 🥰

#MandalayBook
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Jan 4
My third @gbchefs recipe is for Khayan Chin Thi Thoke – Burmese Green Tomato Salad!

Great as a starter or a side dish or even as a snack!

#BurmeseFood

https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/green-tomato-salad-recipe
October 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Oh, and we’ll all be signing books afterwards!

I will of course be happy to personalise your copy of #MandalayBook or #NoodleBook for you too!
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Apr 2
It’s been a while since I posted thise signed copies of #NoodleBook so I think it’s safe to share the doodles I did without spoiling the surprise.

I’m only posting the ones I like the most though - some were not my best efforts 😅

This first one I call “Deadpool Loves You”
October 1, 2025 at 11:49 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
One of the best illustrations I did for #MandalayBook 😆
A drawing I did of two orcas sinking a red boat. One is saying “Where’s my Shan noodles?” and the other is saying “Fritters!” This was a request from someone who ordered by book Mandalay a couple of Christmases ago and I was only too glad to fulfil it.
September 26, 2025 at 6:14 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
📣 TODAY! I’m bringing my nice pens for doodles too! 📣

#celebrASIA #MandalayBook
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Sep 6
Did you miss me? Have been away, but I’m back now!

TOMORROW please come say hello to me at #celebrASIA - I’ll be signing books at Battersea Bookshop at 15.30!

celebrASIA Festival is on all this weekend - showcasing the best of South East Asian food, music, dance, arts and culture here in London!
Me, a smiling Burmese woman, in a promo poster for my book signing at Battersea Bookshop at 15.30 tomorrow (Sunday 7 Sept) as part of the celebrASIA festival that’s on all weekend. Posted for the celebrASIA festival showing the venue Battersea Power Station “A FESTIVAL OF HERITAGE AND FUN 5TH - 7TH SEPTEMBER 2025 Celebrate celebrASIA 2025 at Battersea Power Station with vibrant street vendors, live performances, arts and crafts, Djs, and fun for the whole family!” A FESTIVAL OF HERITAGE AND FUN 5TH - 7TH SEPTEMBER 2025 celebrASIA A journey through South East Asia ARTS & CRAFTS WORKSHOPS STREET FOOD STALLS AUTHENTIC ARTISAN MARKET LIVE PERFORMANCES AND DJS KIDS ACTIVITIES AND GAMES At BATTERSEA POWER STATION
September 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
Mohinga from my book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen or here where it was named one of Observer Food Monthly’s 20 Best Noodle Recipes ❤️ www.theguardian.com/food/2020/ma...

#MandalayBook #BurmeseFood
January 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Luke Hospital sent me this 😭❤️

Thank you everyone who ordered #MandalayBook for enabling me to make this donation 🙏🏽

The fundraiser ends on 31 December, so please share or donate if you can gofund.me/fe08073f

#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
A ‘certificate of appreciation’ from the medical superintendent of Luke Hospital thanking me for the donation I made from direct sales of my book MANDALAY this Christmas
December 27, 2024 at 10:22 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
Just wanted to let you know that I sold 19 signed/illustrated copies of #MandalayBook and 8 bookplates so, as promised, I've donated £5 from every sale plus any tips to support the work of the incredible Luke Hospital in Myanmar - a total of £189 - thank you all 🙏🏽🇲🇲

gofund.me/e4b5e34d
[GoFundMe email receipt to me] Thank you for your donation to "The Last Hospital_30 Days in Myanmar" Film Screening in UK Here is your donation receipt: Donor name: MiMi Aye Donation date: 25 December 2024 Donation to: "The Last Hospital_30 Days in Myanmar" Film Screening in UK Donation will be received by: Nay Lin Tun Donation amount: £189.00 Total amount: £189.00
December 25, 2024 at 11:23 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
This illustration is of my friends Zarne Koko and Lwin Mclay when they performed at the 2021 Stronger Together Winter Gala (which they also organised!) to raise funds for Myanmar 🙏🏽❤️🇲🇲

#Myanmar
#MandalayBook
A Burmese man and woman performing the Myanmar Prince and Princess Duet Dance while dressed as the same in strings of pearls and elaborate silk sarongs.
December 21, 2024 at 3:52 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
CATBUS MADE IT TO AUSTRALIA IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! 😻🎄

#MandalayBook #BurmeseFood #Totoro
December 21, 2024 at 9:54 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
Gavin said, “surprise me with whatever you fancy drawing” so this was the obvious choice 😌 #MandalayBook
A close-up of my illustration for gavinmit which is his pfp (some kind of disturbingly realistic carrot man lifting his t-shirt to reveal chiselled pecs) but wearing a chef’s toque and holding a blue whisk. It is all very glittery. I love my glitter pens.
December 16, 2024 at 9:21 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Ok, all #MandalayBook books and bookplates have been sent out now!

Should get to you next week (including overseas folk!)

Thank you, my lovelies - I will have a bit of a rest and then tot up totals for charity etc 🙏🏽❤️
A stack of white padded envelopes containing copies of my book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen. Each one has a sticker stuck on the top left which shows the front cover of the book.
December 13, 2024 at 4:43 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Personalised copies of #MandalayBook are being sent out in batches, mainly dictated by how many I can carry.

Not for the first time, I regret writing such a heavy book.

Bookplates are also being posted.

Thanks again for your orders! ❤️
7 personalised copies of Mandalay: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen by MiMi Aye Those same 7 copies packed up ready to be posted
December 11, 2024 at 7:53 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
Reason is because several folk have asked me to draw ‘a cat’ in their copy of #MandalayBook with no other guidance.

Quite tempted to do them a pic of this fella now I’ve recovered from the shock.
December 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
#MandalayBook last orders today, thank you ❤️
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Nov 19
🎁 CHRISTMAS 2024 🎁

I am now selling signed & illustrated copies of my book ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’ for the UK, and signed & illustrated bookplates for everywhere!

£5 from each sale will be donated to Myanmar charities 💕🇲🇲

#MandalayBook #ChristmasGiftIdeas
My book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Vietnamese Kitchen upright on a pile of four other cookbooks, surrounded by gold tinsel. There is a black star-shaped call-out that says ‘Signed Copy’ in white cursive.
December 8, 2024 at 10:47 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
Last orders for signed and illustrated bookplates TODAY! ❤️

(This is the only international option)

#MandalayBook #ChristmasGiftIdeas #BurmeseFood
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Nov 19
🎁 CHRISTMAS 2024 🎁

I am now selling signed & illustrated copies of my book ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’ for the UK, and signed & illustrated bookplates for everywhere!

£5 from each sale will be donated to Myanmar charities 💕🇲🇲

#MandalayBook #ChristmasGiftIdeas
My book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Vietnamese Kitchen upright on a pile of four other cookbooks, surrounded by gold tinsel. There is a black star-shaped call-out that says ‘Signed Copy’ in white cursive.
December 1, 2024 at 5:45 PM
meemalee.bsky.social
Last orders for signed and illustrated bookplates tomorrow! ❤️

#MandalayBook #ChristmasGiftIdeas #BurmeseFood
meemalee.bsky.social MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · Nov 19
🎁 CHRISTMAS 2024 🎁

I am now selling signed & illustrated copies of my book ‘MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Burmese Kitchen’ for the UK, and signed & illustrated bookplates for everywhere!

£5 from each sale will be donated to Myanmar charities 💕🇲🇲

#MandalayBook #ChristmasGiftIdeas
My book MANDALAY: Recipes & Tales from a Vietnamese Kitchen upright on a pile of four other cookbooks, surrounded by gold tinsel. There is a black star-shaped call-out that says ‘Signed Copy’ in white cursive.
November 30, 2024 at 10:47 AM
meemalee.bsky.social
No, *you’re* crying 🥺❤️

#MandalayBook
jaronoff.com Jacob Aronoff @jaronoff.com · Nov 25
I love your cookbook so much that I have almost destroyed the spine of the book from cooking so much from it this year! it's been such a source of inspiration as well that my partner and I use it as a starting place when we can't decide what to cook.
November 25, 2024 at 8:38 PM