Signed by the Author With Kelis's diverse background - her mother is half Chinese, half Puerto Rican and her father is African-American - her food is a melting pot of Southern soul food, Caribbean and Asian cuisine. She also experiments with spices and exotic seasonings, influenced by her travels while supporting her albums. 'My Life on a Plate' features a range of recipes and flavours. Kelis says, 'As much as my music is who I am, so is my cooking. Food has become such a way of life, sort of like what you listen to, who you're with, what you're wearing. My character comes through in my cooking.'