About

Welcome to Savory Daydreams! I’m Abigail West—former attorney, perpetual food enthusiast, and the creator of the recipes you’ll find on these virtual pages.

My culinary journey began long before I knew it would become my life’s work. Growing up in a multicultural household in San Francisco, our dinner table was a colorful tapestry of flavors—my father’s Southern comfort food mingling with my mother’s vibrant Filipino cuisine. Food wasn’t just sustenance; it was our family’s love language, spoken through steaming plates and secret ingredients.

Despite my early passion for cooking, I followed a “practical” path, spending six years practicing corporate law in New York City. Between case files and client meetings, I found myself sketching recipe ideas in the margins of legal pads and experimenting in my tiny apartment kitchen late into the night. Those culinary experiments became my escape, my creative outlet, and ultimately, my calling.

In 2017, I took the leap that terrified and thrilled me in equal measure—trading my briefcase for an apron and launching Savory Daydreams. What began as a small food blog has grown into this delicious community where I share recipes that celebrate both my heritage and the flavors I’ve discovered through travels across five continents.

My approach to cooking is relaxed yet reverent. I believe in honoring traditional techniques while making them accessible to today’s busy home cooks. You won’t find fussy, complicated recipes here—just honest food with bold flavors that don’t require a culinary degree to master.

When I’m not testing recipes in my sunny Oakland kitchen, you might find me browsing farmers’ markets for inspiration, taking impromptu road trips to discover regional American cuisines, or hosting Sunday suppers for friends where conversation flows as freely as the wine. My rescue cat, Miso, supervises all kitchen activities from her perch on the windowsill—judging my technique with characteristic feline discernment.

Through Savory Daydreams, I hope to inspire you to view cooking not as another task on your to-do list, but as a daily opportunity for creativity and connection. Food has the remarkable ability to transport us—to different cultures, cherished memories, and new possibilities. I’m honored to be your guide on this delicious journey.

So pull up a chair, grab a spoon, and let’s transform everyday moments into something extraordinary, one bite at a time.

With warmth and butter,
Abigail