What Does “No Measures” Mean?
The name No Measures was inspired by my mom—like a lot of Vietnamese moms, she never used measurements when she cooked. No cups, no spoons, no recipes written down. Just instinct. Just feeling. And somehow, it always came out right.
That’s how I learned to cook too.
But over time, I realized No Measures means something deeper than just cooking without measuring. It’s about trusting yourself. Following your instincts. Not limiting yourself to rules, numbers, or perfection.
No two people have the same taste buds. What tastes right to you might be different from someone else—and that’s the point. Add more garlic if you love garlic. Make it sweeter, saltier, tangier. Adjust as you go. Taste, tweak, trust.
Measure with your heart. Always.
Cooking this way lets your personality come through in every dish. It makes food feel more personal, more alive. It’s not about getting it “perfect”—it’s about making it yours.
There are no limits in the kitchen.
This book is here to guide you, not control you.
So trust yourself. Let your creativity flow. And don’t be afraid to get it wrong sometimes—that’s part of it too.
“Cooking requires confident guesswork and improvisation—experimentation and substitution, dealing with failure and uncertainty in a creative way.”
— Paul Theroux
Happy cooking 🤍
