James Home Kitchen

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to my dear customers and friends. We will be closed for the entire Christmas week to rest, reflect, and heal from the recent loss of my beloved dog, Dallas.

I adopted Dallas nearly 20 years ago. When I first saw him, his uncertain eyes and fragile body showed signs of hardship and mistreatment. The moment our eyes met, I knew he belonged with me. From that day forward, he became family.

Dallas trusted only me. At home, he followed me everywhere and waited by the door each day until I returned. When I traveled, he often refused to eat until I came back. I spoke to him in moments of both sadness and joy, and I truly believe he understood and kept every secret I shared.

Before opening James Home Kitchen, Dallas accompanied me to two nursing homes for more than 10 years where I led Sunday music services. He would lie quietly at my feet, listening to the hymns. The residents loved him; when I arrived without him, they immediately asked where Dallas was. He was not just my companion—he became a blessing to many others as well.

Dallas was more than a pet — he was my buddy. Not many people know he went deer hunting with me. During hunting season, he wore a little camouflage outfit and sat quietly with me on the tree stand.

He also rode with me on my Honda Shadow. He even had his own goggles, and he looked very cute wearing them.

Dallas loved raw beef and salmon, sometimes taking most of it off the cutting board onto his plate when I was supposed to be cooking it for my wife. We did so many things together. He was my friend and my partner.

The most unforgettable moment was when Dallas saved my wife’s life. About a year ago, she was in the bedroom and slipped into a coma while I was busy working on my computer. At that time, Dallas was almost completely blind and deaf, yet he somehow knew something was wrong. He became very restless, circling me and running back and forth between my office and the bedroom, refusing to give up.

Because of him, I went to check — and found my wife needed help right away. By God’s grace, she fully recovered, but she was within about 30 minutes of losing her life. If Dallas had not sounded the alarm, I would have lost my wife. Even when his eyes and ears were failing, his love for us never did.

Dallas’s health began to decline about a year ago. For the last six months he had to wear a diaper all day, and during the final two months he needed a wheelchair. In the end, he seemed to know his time was near, and I could see it in his eyes.

After more than twenty years together, my heart is filled with sadness and reluctance to say goodbye. At a moment like this, I cannot help but wonder: when a beloved pet passes away, are they also within God’s grace? Are they also remembered?

The Bible does say that there will be animals in God’s coming kingdom: “The wolf will live with the lamb… the lion will eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 11:6–7)
This makes me believe that the world God has prepared is not cold or empty, but full of life — including animals.

C. S. Lewis once wrote that animals are not like people who must repent to be saved, yet their lives are still held within God’s grace.

With that hope, I choose to believe that God does not overlook any life He has created, especially those who have been loved and cared for by us.

May God bless you all. Life is short….. cherish your family, your friends, and your pets. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Respectfully,

Chef James

09/17/2025

Respect for Differences, Condemnation of Extremism

I decided to take down my past post about Charlie Kirk—not because of the negative comments (and I do appreciate those who supported me), but because I realized that some of what I wrote was misunderstood and, in some places, overstated. I needed to correct that.

My mistake was that my words sounded like I was blaming the Democratic Party or transgender and homosexual communities. That was never my heart, and I owe an apology.

In fact, I have many friends who are Democrats, and some are gay or le***an. I also work with people who live very different lifestyles... Yet in all of these relationships, we treat one another with respect and are able to openly discuss our differences without hatred. This may come from my own past — I was once an adulterer(refered to my past posts), but I was saved by my wife’s forgiveness and by Jesus’ grace. Because of that, I know firsthand the power of redemption and respect, and I try to extend that same grace to others. Many of my customers are Democrats as well. We’ve had conversations—sometimes about tough issues like illegal immigration—but we’ve remained respectful to each other. And most of them still come back to my restaurant, which means more to me than words can say.

I also think of one of my tenants who is transgender. When we first met, he was uneasy, maybe wondering how I would treat him. After running the background check, I had no reason to deny his application, and I welcomed him. Even though I may not personally agree with his lifestyle, I made sure through my attitude that he felt secure and respected, and I promised to protect his rights as a tenant. Today, he is one of my best tenants. That experience taught me something important about dignity and fairness.

But what breaks me most about Charlie’s death is the pure evil behind it. You don’t have to like him. You don’t have to agree with him. You can debate him, challenge him with facts, ignore him, or boycott his organization. But no one—no one—has the right to gun him down in public, in front of his wife, his little children, his friends, and ten thousand witnesses. That act was not courage—it was pure cowardice, and it must be condemned. Responsibility must not stop with the shooter alone. The people, educators, and extremist groups or organizations that encourage or praise, normalize, or justify such violence must also be held accountable.

My heart aches for his wife, Erika, and for their children. To see her stand so bravely after such a devastating loss moves me deeply. And to think his little children had to lose their father in such a cruel way is unbearable. It takes me back to my own family’s past, when many of my father’s relatives were brutally murdered and executed in public after lies and false accusations from communist authority and riot groups/individuals. Murder is murder—no matter who it is, no matter the politics, no matter the ideology.

Violence does not belong to the left, the right, or the middle. It is the tool of extremists, and it is the enemy of us all. Whether you are Democrat, Republican, independent, conservative, liberal, transgender, homosexual, or straight—we all have a stake in standing together against violence. Because if we don’t, no one is safe.

I am proud that, in the days after Charlie’s death, most communities did not erupt into riots or extreme violence. Instead, people mourned, prayed, and came together in sorrow — a response that showed the best of our nation. I am proud to be an American. I will stand and fight for the freedoms we hold dear, and I will protect my family, my friends, and those who rely on me — including my customers🤗.

We must defend liberty through law, reasoned debate, and peaceful action, and reject the extremists who would silence voices and steal our freedoms.

May God bless America.

your humble chef, James

12/26/2024

Dear JHK friends and families,

It’s incredible to realize that nearly a month has passed since my last post, following my return from visiting my beloved mother in Taiwan. So many of you have asked me about my trip when you saw me at the restaurant. I often shared how the experience was nothing short of amazing and wonderful, yet the time I spent with my mom and sister felt heartbreakingly brief. Ironically, just three days into my visit, I began to miss home deeply. It dawned on me that my heart and efforts are deeply rooted here in the US, specifically in Springfield City, more firmly than I ever noticed before…

Without a doubt, I was overjoyed and cherished every single moment with my family and friends, enjoying even the simplest places we visited. But there was a bittersweet feeling, knowing that this time cannot be relived, leaving behind many cherished memories. Living in Taiwan was like an unforgettable chapter in my life, and as that chapter closes, I realize that most of my days of striving are here in this foreign land, where I have become deeply settled.

This Christmas has been quite quiet, and I’m enjoying a few days of relaxation. I spent six to seven hours preparing braised pork belly steamed with fermented mustard greens that I brought from Taiwan. This dish can be served with white steamed bread (which we call Gua Bao) or with steamed rice. I also made a traditional Taiwanese beef stew, perfect to serve with noodles and dumplings. Both meals are ready to share with some of you (limited edition) over the next few days, and I look forward to making another batch when my wife misses Taiwanese cuisine again 😅. Anyway, I will post a few pictures to share with you.

Last, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your support and kindness, especially during the sometimes lengthy waiting times (I’m doing much better now🤔).

Merry Christmas to you, your families, friends, and even your pets! May we share our love to face the unknown challenges in the coming year and beyond.

Happy New Year to you all!!

Love you,

Your singing chef, James

11/25/2024

We're on our way home, boarding now at Taipei International Airport. Our journey takes us to Seattle, where we have less than two hours to catch our connecting flight to Chicago O'Hare. Sending up prayers for smooth travels—home, sweet home!

Your singing chef,

James

11/22/2024

Returning to a place that once caused me unbearable pain…

With a heart full of apprehension, I returned to a place that had once brought me to the depths of despair. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, you can check my previous posts for more context. This is the elementary school where I studied for six years. The second-to-last photo shows the classroom where some of my most painful experiences occurred. Standing there today, though much has changed—both in the place and in me—I still felt a tinge of unease in my heart. The school buildings have been entirely renovated, some even rebuilt, but I can still recall how it looked back then.

Over the past 40 years, despite returning to Taiwan many times, I had always intentionally avoided coming back to this place that held such sorrowful memories. I want to thank all of you who, through my journey of sharing, have indirectly participated in the story of my past. Today marked the first time I revisited my elementary school and relived those memories. However, this time, there was no sadness—only an overwhelming sense of grace, because Jesus saved me. The darkness of the past has been driven out by radiant sunlight.

This journey of healing has brought a perfect conclusion to my visit to Taiwan. Next Monday, I’ll be heading home! Home sweet home….

Your singing chef,
James

11/22/2024

This is where I served as an instructor at the Central Camp of the Army Infantry School in Taiwan. I completed six years of service and was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant.

11/22/2024

Here are some paintings by my cousin, Olivia. She said she’s excited to show them to you all!

11/22/2024

I’m visiting my relatives in Taichung, the central city of Taiwan and the third-largest city there! In one of the pictures is a couple—my aunt (my mom’s youngest sister) and my uncle. My uncle, who is 78 years old, is a marathon runner. He has traveled all over the world to compete in marathons, winning many medals, and he’s still running today!

A gentleman with an army-like appearance is my cousin, who is five years younger than me. I remember how close we were growing up—he always looked up to me as his big brother. I even led him into some mischief, like secretly damaging statues in a Buddha temple without anyone noticing. The lady standing with me in another photo is also my cousin. She’s an incredibly talented artist who can create photo-realistic paintings. I promise to share some of her work with you later!

11/21/2024

My mom, at 85, might need knee surgery soon. The doctor recommended she use a cane to help her walk and protect her knee, but her stubborn nature has her refusing the idea. I tried to reassure her that using a cane isn’t embarrassing—it’s actually a smart way to prevent further injury. To make her feel more comfortable, I even told her (a little white lie) that I sometimes use a cane for my sore knee. Hopefully, by joining her in using a cane, I can help ease her discomfort and make it feel less awkward for her🥹

The picture on the right was taken when mom was 50 years old, and my father was 60 at the time.

11/19/2024

11/19/2024

Jiufen: WW2 concentration camp….

11/19/2024

Jiufen tour - part 2 Gold Museum