After one of the most fabulous getaways to the Island of Gods – Bali, I came back refreshed, more open minded, and… happily satisfied with Indonesian food. There are three words that come to mind when thinking about the essence of Indonesian cooking: rice, spicy, fragrant. Here is a photographic journey to Bali. Rice Rice Paddies –> Planting...
This is a variation of one of my favorite dishes growing up. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside – it’s amazing how delicious tofu can be. For a quick weekend dinner, I made this and a chicken pepper stirfry, served with jasmine rice – quick and easy! Oh, and this recipe...
I know I’m a week late… but! Happy Chinese New Year and the Year of the Snake! It’s time to eat some good food for good luck this new year, and wontons definitely represent fortune. The reason why wontons and dumplings (larger and thicker skinned than wontons) bring luck and fortune is because they look...
Thanks to Serious Eats, I found this cookbook sitting in my mailbox over the holidays. I must admit that I was a complete stranger to Burmese cuisine. That is… until I got Burma: Rivers of Flavor. I really enjoyed going through the book because it teaches you about local culture and lifestyle, including local...
Want to hear the story of that chubby baby Yukon Salmon? Wild Yukon River Salmon has been unavailable to us (in the United States) for all those years, until now. The Japanese always bought (hogged) them all, leaving us with little to none. With the Japanese economy on a decline, we are gaining access...
Considered to be one of the world’s best street foods, Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich introduced by the French. Banh Mi really just means bread, but usually you will find a Banh Mi with meat (pork belly), pickled carrots/daikon, cilantro, with chili sauce or mayonnaise. It is extremely difficult not to like a...
If you think that steam = flavorless, think again! It’s all about the ingredients you bring along in your steaming that allow flavors to mingle. This steamed halibut is steamed with wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, and ginger. Steamed Halibut with Ginger, Scallions & Jalapeños Adapted from Food and Wine Ingredients Vegetable oil,...
With summer fast approaching, heavy dishes and heavy meats just don’t seem appropriate anymore. Craving fresh and simple dishes, like this spiced scallops over cilantro. I served it with a chicken meatball minestrone. It’s the perfect summer dinner idea for two! Spiced Scallops over Cilantro Salad Adapted from Bon Appetit Ingredients Spice Oil 1 tsp...
Our 5 Star Makeover theme this month is ‘junk food’, or featuring ‘junk food’ in a dish. A junk food that stirred up memories for me was Wasabi Green Peas. Have you ever had them? Usually the first thing that crosses anyone’s mind is, “why on earth would you want to snack on wasabi?”...
This is the perfect cold weather cleanse. Chef David Chang’s Shiitake & Swiss Chard Soup with Hand-Cut Noodles uses the rich flavors of shiitake and kombu (dried seaweed) to make the soup base. I never knew that a clean, meatless soup could taste better and more complex than my favorite soups that were made from...
