Every so often, we're highlighting a local or regional blogger we think you ought to know about. We can’t be everywhere at once, so we look to these passionate eaters, cooks and writers to keep us tapped into every facet of the food world. Consider this a way to get to know a blog’s taste buds, because, well, you should.

Meet today's featured blogger and blog:
Who: Rachael, of La Fuji Mama
Where: Corona, California
Twitter: @fujimama

I have always loved to eat, which is a good thing, since my life has been filled with a rich array of food experiences that would have been a shame to waste on a person who eats purely for sustenance. My love for food is written in my genetic makeup. My maternal grandmother was a German immigrant, so I grew up being exposed to sauerkraut, wurst, marzipan and many other wonderful German flavors, and my great-grandmother, a cook trained in Switzerland, left recipes that have become treasures, like her homemade spaetzle noodles. My paternal grandmother is well-known as a phenomenal cook in her community, and she shared many of her recipes with my mother, who in turn cooked them for our family when I was growing up. I love getting to visit her as she constantly inspires me to make new and delicious dishes, like 5-layer ice cream cake. My parents themselves love to eat and try new things. My father liked to expose me and my siblings to unusual foods from a young age. Whether it was getting us accustomed to hot peppers or grilling a rattlesnake, my dad made sure that eating was never boring.

Places I have lived and visited have also played a huge role in what I like to eat and cook. I grew up in Southern California where there is a wide array of ethnic foods to choose from. During college, I lived and studied in Paris, France, and I spent at least one evening a week with my host mom helping her cook the family meals. Not only did she teach me a lot about French cuisine, but she sparked my love for being in the kitchen. When Mr. Fuji and I lived in Memphis, Tennessee, I fell in love with Southern cooking. I was going to grad school at the time, and cooking became my mode of relaxation. After a long day in class, nothing soothed my soul more than going home and making dinner. Mr. Fuji and I have also lived in Japan twice, where I developed a passion for Japanese cuisine and cooked with Japanese friends. In addition, I have traveled to many countries around the world - Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Cambodia, Malaysia and China to name a few. Each time I visit a new place, I also discover new foods, new palate-pleasers and new cooking styles. In fact, I especially love to try dishes that might seem strange to the Western palate. I’m proud that I’ve tried things like grass jelly in Hong Kong, sweet and sour camel meat in Beijing, hachinoko (bee larvae) and zazamushi (stonefly larvae) in Japan, durian in Bangkok and python in Cambodia. My appreciation of the world’s diversity has grown through these experiences. I’m now trying to pass on my love for food and cooking to my own children. My oldest child is starting to help me in the kitchen, and I love seeing her excitement as she discovers the world through her senses. As I have watched my own children and other children around the world, I’ve learned that they can have surprisingly adventurous palates if we give them the proper environment.

It was while we were living in Japan for the second time that I started my blog La Fuji Mama, after the birth of my first “Fujiling.” Although it seems obvious to me now that I was destined to write about food, my blog wasn’t a food blog until we moved back to the United States two years ago. I enjoy sharing my love for the flavors of the world and demystifying Japanese food - one of my favorite cuisines. I feature recipes that are a fusion of different tastes and are influenced by my roots, the variety of places I have lived and visited, and the people I have met. I believe time spent in the kitchen and at the table can be time when we bring the cultures of the world into our homes.

Do you read a local blog that you'd like to see featured? Send 'em our way for a chance in the spotlight.