School
University of Nottingham
Expertise
East Asian cuisine, European cuisine, molecular gastronomy
- Xan has lived in four countries across Eurasia, and has enjoyed a wide variety of food and culture.
- With an interest in historical cooking, Xan has made recipes from medieval cookbooks like "The Forme of Cury" and "Kitab Al-Tabikh."
- Candy making is one of Xan's hobbies, and they've made a variety of recipes from scratch including lapsang souchong fudge, Japanese karintō manju, Appalachian potato candy, and Indian besan ladoos.
Experience
Xan has a diverse, multicultural family, and has traveled extensively while working as a scientist. As a result, they've been lucky enough to enjoy a broad range of food culture from around the globe. Passionate about both food and cooking from a young age, Xan loves to prepare food at home as much as they enjoy dining out, in restaurants and at street food stalls alike. With a background in science Xan has also dabbled in molecular gastronomy, learning about things like flavour chemistry, gelification, and the material science of candy.
Education
Xan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry of materials and a PhD in molecular astrophysics — both interdisciplinary fields which involve finding connections between seemingly disparate concepts and bodies of knowledge.
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Bring your yard to life and create a pollinator paradise with this hardy, fruit-bearing tree that butterflies adore. Plus, it’s suitable for tiny yards.
By Xan Indigo
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You might assume that a tomato plant will only live for a few months, and while that may be true sometimes, that's not always the case.
By Xan Indigo
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Food History
By Xan Indigo
The cowboy diet might have been simple, but it kept them alive on those grueling cattle drives — and this staple food may have been the most important of all.
By Xan Indigo
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Olive oil is one of the most popular oils to use for cooking. How many olives it takes to fill up one bottle of olive oil might be surprising to consumers.
By Xan Indigo
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Beer and Wine
By Xan Indigo
Guinness is a huge part of Irish culture and has been brewed in Dublin for centuries. Find out why canal water used to be essential for brewing the stout.
By Xan Indigo
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Shopping Tips
By Xan Indigo
There are a few helpful phrases on olive oil bottles which can tell you more about what's inside, but 'product of' and 'imported from' sound similar. Are they?
By Xan Indigo
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Many factors go into the end result of a dish, but most people don't think about the water they use as one of them. Here's what's behind this secret ingredient.
By Xan Indigo
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Not every item that McDonald's dreams up will make it onto the menu, such is the case for this fruity broccoli dish meant to make the vegetable more appealing.
By Xan Indigo
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If you're a tequila drinker, chances are you've heard of highland and lowland tequila. But here's everything you need to know about the difference.
By Xan Indigo
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A lot of people across the internet are wondering why their potatoes are going soft, sprouting, or quickly rotting, and there seem to be many possible reasons.
By Xan Indigo
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Cooking Tips
By Xan Indigo
Grilled salmon is an easy way to get a flavorful meal, and while wood imparts a classic smokiness, this swap will give the fish a bright, citrusy twist.
By Xan Indigo
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There are many urban myths swirling around about fast foods and whether they ever go bad, so one Redditor aged a Filet-O-Fish for 3 years to see what changed.
By Xan Indigo
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Here's how coffee grounds can be a useful addition for gardeners growing strawberries by offering a simple way to support healthier plants and soil.
By Xan Indigo
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Food History
By Xan Indigo
Heinz ketchup’s tomatoes aren’t sourced only from the United States — the brand taps multiple regions to get its signature ingredient and flavor.
By Xan Indigo
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Learn how to grow oranges indoors if you don't have a garden, from selecting the right tree to providing light, water, and care for a fruitful harvest.
By Xan Indigo
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Cooking Tips
By Xan Indigo
Poached pears are the dessert that always surprises with how good they are, and this alternative ingredient will give the dish even more layers of flavor.
By Xan Indigo
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