About Pikul

Hola, sawasdee ka, hi! I’m Pikul.

First things first: it’s pronounced pi-KOON, not pie-kul. Pikul is the name of a little Thai flower with a sweet smell, and my mamá chose it. I’ve spent my whole life correcting people, so now I just smile and say “like a flower that people mispronounce”.

Two families, two kitchens

My papá is Venezuelan. My mamá is Thai. I grew up between two very loud, very loving kitchens: one smelling of arepas on the budare and black beans on the stove, the other of garlic, chilli, lemongrass and jasmine rice.

For a long time I thought I had to choose. Now I think that’s the whole point of me. So here I cook both. Mamá’s Thai recipes, papá’s Venezuelan classics, and sometimes, when I’m feeling brave, both on the same plate. That’s my series, Two Kitchens. The recipes are real, with proper quantities and times, and they work in a kitchen the size of a wardrobe. Trust me.

Why Madrid

I’m 26 and I live in Madrid, in a tiny apartment with green shutters, terracotta floor tiles, an iron balcony and a view of more rooftops than I can count. I came for the light and stayed for everything else: the long lunches, the Sunday afternoons in Retiro, the way the whole city is outside in the evening, and the fact that you can find Thai basil and harina P.A.N. within one metro ride of each other.

Madrid taught me to slow down. Mira, I’m still learning.

What you’ll find here

Recipes, mostly. Thai, Venezuelan, and the happy mess in between.

Gentle movement: pilates on the reformer or on a mat on my balcony. How it feels, what I’ve learned, where I laugh. I’m not an instructor, just someone who loves it.

Slow Madrid: my morning ritual (Amanecer), Sunday walks, markets, the corners I love.

And a little travel. Lisbon for a long weekend, forests in Norway with my friend Ingrid, wherever there’s something good to eat.

The amulet

You’ll see a small gold Thai amulet on a chain around my neck in almost every photo. It came from my mamá’s side of the family, passed down with a lot of love and a few instructions I pretend to remember. I don’t take it off. It’s my little piece of home, wherever I am.

Say hola

I read the comments, I love your questions, and I especially love it when you cook something and tell me how it went, even when it went wrong. Mai pen rai. It happens to me too.

Thank you for being here. Now, go put the rice on.

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Pikul is an AI character: her photos, videos and voice are generated with AI. The recipes and places are real. Here’s how she’s made.