April 23, 2018 In All recipes, Condiments, Noodle/Pasta/Rice, Poultry, Seafood

Singapore hawker marathon: Coconut rice part one, tomato chili sambal and lemongrass ricotta

[ezcol_1fifth]  [/ezcol_1fifth] [ezcol_3fifth] An incredibly fragrant coconut rice cooked in pandan extraction, a tomato-based chili sambal boosted with Italian anchovies, and a lemongrass-infused coconut milk ricotta crumbled with thinly sliced shallots and bird's eye chili marinated in fish sauce WHAT:  Nasi Lemak, Malay's signature fragrant coconut rice cooked in coconut milk and served with a spicy and sweet chili sambal. WHY:  You haven't really had rice until you've tasted nasi lemak.  And if you have tasted nasi lemak and consider this statement grossly exaggerated - as I once was - then it's highly probable that it's because you haven't had this nasi lemak.  Best yet, most components can be made days ahead of time. HOW:  Let's face it.  There are a lot of underwhelming nasi lemak out there.  And I say this with the full acknowledgement that it's an explicitly personal opinion resulting from my deeply rooted disagreement with more than one of its traditional, possibly beloved, practices.  The coconut rice, without any dispute, is the heroine of the entire dish.  We should all agree that if this part isn't done right, then none of the others shall matter.  But in my three to four encounters of nasi lemak in Malaysia and Singapore, more often than

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April 16, 2018 In All recipes, Meat, Noodle/Pasta/Rice

Book announcement + Singapore hawker marathon: Tai Hwa pork noodle

THE ONE MICHELIN-STARRED HAWKER NOODLE FROM SINGAPORE, NOW AVAILABLE AT YOUR NEAREST CONVICTION. AND BTW, I WROTE A BOOK. [ezcol_1half] Wow, it's been awhile.  I know I tend to say that a lot here, but this time, it has really been awhile. The reason why I haven't posted a single word on this blog for almost 2 months, or really, my general absence from this space for the past whole year, hasn't exactly been a secret.  I've mentioned it briefly once or twice before but there hasn't been an "official" announcement of any sort, so I guess, I'm making it official today. In a nutshell, I wrote a cookbook. Or more precisely, I have just finished the manuscript of my cookbook, which is scheduled to be published around October 2019. I feel strange announcing this with such formality, maybe because the notion of a cookbook, for better or worse, has become quite a predictable outcome in the food-blogging community, sometimes a sorely needed contribution, but sometimes, let's be honest, a bit not.  From a personal standpoint, I feel strange parading with what could be perceived as an unnecessary accessory, regardless of how excited I feel about what I wrote.  I guess it's a mixed feeling, and to

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February 23, 2018 In All recipes, Dairy, Sweets

Simplified, tall fluffy pancake, stuffed with cheese

NO SEPARATION OF EGG WHITES AND YOLKS, NO WHIPPING THE WHITES AND FOLDING IT BACK IN, AND YEAH, NO MAYONNAISE EITHER. [ezcol_1fifth]  [/ezcol_1fifth] [ezcol_3fifth] If you use the internet, you've probably seen this.  This super lofty, tall and wiggling souffle pancake, said to have originated from Japan, that will surely tickle the feathers of anyone who has a soft sentimental spots for stacked fluffiness. I, for one, am not a pancake person.  Or at least, not in its traditional form.  But over the years, I've been patiently waiting for a game changer that would summon my inner fluff-craze that has been dormant inside my cold, pancake-less heart, and I thought, maybe, this is it. Well, not quite. Upon further investigation, I realized that the recipe for this pancake requires violating one of my many holy baking commandments - Thou shalt not ask for the separation of egg white and yolks, separate whippings, and folding them back in.  I am not thy bitch. - carved into a plastic chopping board and hung onto my fridge in permanence to remind me of the gods' wrath against disobedience.  So typically, if I see such thing, I just walk away.  But something, a small voice inside my head, an imploding

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February 12, 2018 In All recipes, Meat, Noodle/Pasta/Rice

ONE-POT SICHUAN SAUSAGE (OR ANY SAUSAGE) RICE W HERBS SALAD

[ezcol_1third] THE ABUNDANT FAT AND JUICES FROM THE SAUSAGE WILL DESCEND GODLY AND SEEP DOWN THROUGH THE RICE BELOW, FLAVORING AND AIDING THE FORMATION OF THE HEAVENLY BOTTOM CRUST [/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third] If you follow my Instagram, then you'd know that I'm head-deep in rushing towards the finishing line on my cookbook.  Yeah, I'm writing one, and this is probably the first time that I'm mentioning it on the blog, all very anti-dramatic and all.  But I promise to talk more about it when the time comes. For now, let me quickly leave you with a recipe, well more like a technique almost, that I think everyone who struggles with weeknight meals (or writing a book no less) should have in their repertoire.  Inspired by claypot rice, here's how to turn any type of fresh sausages and a few cups of rice into a one-pot, steaming, savory, fluffy and crispy wonder.  If you have a few minutes to spare, you can prepare this sichuan-inspired sausage thoroughly studded with fatty guanciale bits (Italian cured pork jowl), burning with toasted chili flakes and tingling wtih sichuan pepercorns.  Or, you can use any other types of your favorite, fresh sausages like sweet Italian, spicy Italian, or fresh Mexican

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December 27, 2017 In All recipes, Poultry

THE INCREDIBLE CHICKEN TOFU – FROM THE MIND OF A CHEF

[ezcol_1half] TENDER EDIBLE CLOUDS MADE WITH CHICKEN BREASTS?!!  WHAT IS THIS WIZARDRY, DANNY?! [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] Holy shit, did you watch Season Six of Mind of a Chef with Danny Bowien from Mission Chinese Food? Did you see where his mentor Yu Bo, in episode two, turned a puddle of pink chicken-slush into pillows of fluffy-looking curds, something they call, chicken tofu?! Did you gush outloud, tender edible clouds made with chicken breasts?!!  No special curd-forming acid or salt required, virtually fat-free, and answers the prayers of millions of suffering souls of how to triple the volume of two pieces of chicken breasts without adding much more calories, but more importantly, transforming its woodsy nature into custardy, melt-in-your-mouth, weightless pillows of savory delights?!!! Did you close your eyes and imagine exhaustively of what it's like to cuddle the impossibly light and quilted bodies in between your tongues, a dream that feels unreal but known to be true?!! Did you marvel?! Did you cry?! Did you say oh please baby Jesus dear Lordy, can someone please tell me how this wizardry is performed?!! Well, guess what, you're welcome. And the spicy version drenched in chili oil, you're double welcome. [/ezcol_1half_end] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end][/ezcol_1third_end] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end][/ezcol_1third_end] [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:163]

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December 11, 2017 In All recipes, Meat

Roast pork butt sandwich

[ezcol_2third][/ezcol_2third] [ezcol_1third_end] A couple weeks ago, I wondered my way into a small break from cooking.  For no particular reason than because, over one morning coffee, I felt it was called for.  People talk about the ferocity of love and passion a lot, in all forms and sizes that drives humanity for what it's worth, rising in salute for its consuming, inconvenient, majestic torment and glory.  But what fuels it, what fuels love and passion, is often less marketable. At certain points, what fuels passion is simply absence.   THE AU JUS

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October 30, 2017 In All recipes, Meat, Seafood

BEEF TARTARE WITH SEA URCHIN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD

[ezcol_1half] IT HAD ME AT HELLO [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] Oh geez, in between life in general and an unexpectedly eventful visit to my OBGYN which involved an adorably named chocolate cyst, I'm going to quickly leave you with, nonetheless, a recipe for my favorite thing to eat these days.  This is a dish inspired by a restaurant called Neighborhood in Hong Kong's central district, which serves predominantly French bistro-style dishes with a spritz of Japanese infusion, and in this case, classic beef tartare served with fresh sea urchin roe on top.  For the record, I have NOT had this particular dish at the restaurant.  It wasn't offered on the menu by the time I visited, and so I created my own rendition at home.  The major difference is that their standard beef tartare is mixed with chopped raw oysters, which I omitted because fresh oysters just isn't something that Hong Kong markets excel at, and for the many times that I've pushed my luck, I wish I hand't, so. But, having said that, you've got to try this.  I would want to sell you on how the creamy sweetness and foie gras-like richness of the sea urchin blend almost biblically beautiful with the irony savoriness of the

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