I first tried a similar dish when I was in France back in 2024. I was on a work trip there with some colleagues to discuss about projects to collaborate, and we stopped by this Italian restaurant for dinner for the final time and to celebrate what we managed to accomplish during the trip. Don’t ask me why we chose an Italian restaurant in the middle of Paris, we just went along with the bosses’ tastes.
I first paid attention to ‘I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki’ out of sheer curiosity. It was sitting at the top of the bestseller lists, and its title hit that rare sweet spot—quirky, cute, and deeply intriguing all at once. But behind that relatable, almost humorous title lies a profound, raw look into a mind battling persistent darkness. More than just following a trend, I wanted to understand the internal mental landscape of someone living with suicidal thoughts—especially someone brave enough to lay those thoughts bare for the world to see. I wanted to understand the why and the how behind those psychological needs.
The word ‘bitki’ has its origin from the Russian word ‘otbitki’, which means pounded or minced. It’s evolved over time with other European influences, to become pan-fried meat cutlets and patties using minced meat. I like how the recipe includes whisked whites because that helps to make the patties a lot more tender to chew on, and what gives it a nice texture and an umami taste too.
A Grounding, Eye-Opening Look Into the Lives That Power Singapore
This book is an extraordinary collation of true, heartfelt personal stories detailing what individuals from all walks of life do for a living—and, more importantly, how they truly feel about what they do. Reading through these pages made me realize just how many professions exist right around us that I was completely unaware of. From foreign workers coming to Singapore for short-term stints at night bars and the local agents who manage this pool of service providers, to retirees tending community gardens or directing passengers at train stations, the book highlights a vast spectrum of human activities in Singapore.
