Meet Wenny Vanilla, a multi-talented individual passionate about beauty and gastronomy. As a graduate of the renowned Jung Saem Mool Academy, a prestigious Korean beauty academy, Wenny has honed her skills in the world of beauty and cosmetics. However, her interests extend far beyond skincare and makeup.
Wenny is also a creative content creator, captivating audiences with her expertise in various subjects, including exploring obesity. On a typical day, you’ll find Wenny immersed in a whirlwind of activities, from crafting engaging content and appearing on talk shows to conducting workshops and providing digital marketing consultation services.
Wenny’s culinary adventures extend to the kitchen, where she shares an array of delectable home-cooked recipes utilizing the beloved air fryer on her popular Instagram page.
Wenny shares some of her favorite culinary experiences with us, including her very own healthy and simple recipes.
Hi! Please tell us a bit about yourself and your day-to-day activities.
Hi! I’m Wenny Vanilla. I graduated from the Jung Saem Mool Academy, a Korean beauty academy. Currently, I work as a beauty content creator and occasionally discuss topics related to obesity.
My day-to-day activities involve creating content, participating in talk shows and workshops, and working as a digital marketing consultant. This means I have meetings and visit clients’ offices occasionally.
What do you love the most about what you do?
I love love love being able to explore my creativity, trying lots of new things, working with brands, and bringing good impact to others!
What is your favorite type of cuisine?
I love Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, and obviously Korean cuisine. But if I can only pick one, it’s definitely Chinese.
What is your favorite food?
To be honest, I absolutely love home-cooked food. I’m definitely a comfort food person. However, I also have a soft spot for dim sum, sourdough sandwiches, and soup-based dishes.
Do you have any memorable food experiences?
Yes, I do. When I first tried Sate H.M Harris in Bandung. I came with zero expectations, I ended up finishing like 20 big fat satays, and I was so amazed at how good the satay was.
Do you have any memorable food trips?
Don’t we all have at least one, or maybe more memorable, food trip? Well, I definitely do! My food trips to Japan were the absolute best by far. The experience of indulging in those fresh fish dishes… oh man, it still makes me drool just thinking about it. However, whenever I fly back to my hometown, Medan, I must say those food trips are equally incredible. So, it’s a tough choice to decide which one to highlight. Hahaha, you can take your pick!
To you, what would make a perfect meal?
It doesn’t have to be fancy, but well prepared, well cooked, well seasoned, and who you enjoy it with!
What usually draws your attention to a place to eat?
What usually attracts me to a place to eat is when it appeals to my senses. I will likely go in if it has a nice or pretty ambiance, and I can smell something delicious as I walk by.
What is your favorite street food, and where do you usually eat it?
When in Jakarta, it’s definitely Sate. My favorite is Sate Apjay at Panglima Polim. When in Seoul, I never skip Tteokpokki (Rice cake) with Oden (Fish cake) & Dwigim (fritters) in Hongdae.
Is there any food you can eat every day without getting bored?
Definitely! There are two types of food that I can eat every day without getting bored: satay and sashimi. And let me tell you, it’s been proven! I can happily indulge in satay or sashimi for seven days in a row without a single complaint. It’s just that good!
Do you have any place you frequently go to for it?
There are a couple of places I frequently go to. My go-to spots are Sate Apjay, Panglima Polim, and Sushi Maru. Just thinking about it while typing this makes me drool. It’s that good!
Are there any specific restaurants or eateries that you find particularly accommodating to your preferences? If so, what dishes do you recommend trying there?
Two Hands Full in Bandung, I think they serve the best sandwiches and protein bowl (it’s Grain Bowl on the menu); other menus are also great. On my cheat days, I would love to have Chick and Waffle (it’s waffle and fried chicken with a drizzle of maple syrup). And they serve great coffee as well there.
What is your go-to comfort food, and where do you usually get them?
Dimsum! I love Wing Lok at Antasari.
Can you share some of your favorite healthy recipes or dishes you enjoy making at home?
I’m an air fryer person. I put everything in my air fryer. I use it for cooking, baking, and sautéing.
One of my favorite recipes at home is definitely air fryer tumis tempe with buncis (stir-fried tempeh with green beans). I also make most of my sandwiches in the air fryer. I love utilizing kitchen appliances to cook because it saves me a lot of time, and the results are amazing.
For the tumis tempe, I air fry tempeh cubes in the air fryer (you can lightly drizzle or coat them with oil before air frying). Once they’re done, I take everything out and place them in a large silicone bowl. Then, I add blended sambal, soy sauce, and sweet soy sauce and toss everything together. Afterward, I put them back inside the air fryer and let them cook for 5 minutes. That’s all!
I also share many home-cooked recipes with the air fryer on my Instagram page. Feel free to visit @wholovesvanilla and check out my “RECIPES” highlight tab.
Where do you usually hang out with friends or go for special occasions with family?
When it comes to hanging out with friends or celebrating special occasions with family, we often gravitate towards hotpot restaurants, dim sum houses, and Korean BBQ joints. These places are perfect for the joy of food sharing and gathering around a table. However, our usual go-to spots for casual hangouts are cozy cafes that serve exceptional coffee and delectable pastries.
What are your favorite local dishes, and where do you usually go to eat them?
My favorite local dishes are definitely sate, soto, nasi goreng, ikan bakar, and ayam goreng. I love Sate Khas Senayan, Remboelan, and Ikan Bakar Cianjur.
What essential ingredients or food items are you always keeping stocked in your pantry?
Eggs! I love eggs. I can survive the apocalypse as long as I have eggs in my fridge and, oh, sourdough. I always have them in my pantry and freezer. I stocked them up.
Where are your top three dining places that are always on your favorite list? And which food do you recommend getting at those places?
One of my top three favorite dining places that are always on my list is Sate Khas Senayan. I absolutely love their sate ayam (chicken satay) and soto ayam (chicken soup). It’s a must-try!
Another place that I can’t resist is Sate HM Harris in Bandung. Their sate ayam and sate daging (beef satay) is absolutely worth the journey. I would happily make the trip to Bandung just to indulge in these delicious skewers and then return home satisfied.
Lastly, there’s Fire Pot, and their specialty is hot pot. I highly recommend trying their kuah kaldu ayam (chicken broth) and kuah soto (soto broth). They are my personal favorites and add an incredible flavor to the hot pot experience. It’s a dining spot that I always enjoy returning to for a comforting and flavorful meal.
