For the past 30 years, she has taught cooking classes across the United States and in mainland China. A former correspondent for Gourmet, she has also contributed to The New York Times, Cooking Light, and Health, among other publications. Simonds is the author of nearly a dozen books on Chinese cuisine and culture, including A Spoonful of Ginger, which won both the IACP Cookbook Award and a James Beard Foundation Award. She lives in Salem, MA.