January 24, 2017 In All recipes, Meat, Soup

ALMOND SOULONGTANG /KOREAN OXTAIL SOUP

ASIAN SOUTHERN ALMOND MILK, WITH THAT DISTINCTIVELY FLORAL AROMA AND REMEDIAL RICHNESS THAT WORKS SO FLAWLESSLY WITH THIS TRADITIONAL SOUP, ELEVATING IT TO NEW HEIGHT [ezcol_1half] I've always pondered about almond, well, not specifically about what this word would mean to most of you, which is probably something like American sweet almond, with narrow leaf-drop shape and minimum coolosity inside what is already not-so-exciting trail mixes. But I'm talking about what is also called "almond" in Asia.  Same name, but entirely different characteristics.  Asian almond is much smaller with flat heart-shaped profile, but most importantly, an immediate, elegant and floral scent separates itself from the American variety.  You could identify that scent/flavour if you are familiar with almond extracts or some marzipans, unique, subjective, and hard to describe.  Why both "almond" and yet so different?  Well, because they aren't the same thing to begin with. American almond is the kernel of a fruit in the drupe family (Prunus dulcis) (see comments for extra information), whereas Asian almond is actually the kernel of apricot.  And it's extremely important to note that in Asia, even the word "almond" comes in two different, and mostly, dangerous distinctions.  Southern almond (Prunus armeniaca L.), sweet, floral and nourishing, is the common ingredient we consume in both dessert

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January 10, 2017 In All recipes, Meat

THE PLAIN GENIUS OF MENCHI KATSU SANDO

IT HITS JUST THE RIGHT SPOT, ONE OF THE FEW LEFT IN OUR HYPER-STIMULATED MINDS THESE DAYS, WHERE IT STILL ACCEPTS OR EVEN CRAVES PURITY [ezcol_1half] As we know that there are plenty for the taking, but this is perhaps - as far as I know and hopefully true - Jason's most obsessed of all perverse Japanese creations, the menchi katsu. Menchi, meaning "minced", and katsu, is anything "breaded and fried". It exists in many different forms and spirits, each and one of them equally bizarre to the conventional wisdoms of the west, but one in particular, the menchi katsu sando / fried ground pork patty sandwich, will send many scratching their heads inside a Japanese convenience store.  That is because its pure genius can only be realized upon one fateful encounter - one that reflects truly on its seemly simple but in fact, delicate preparations, and the childish yet complex satisfaction it plays on your tastebuds - which, unfortunately, can be a rare occurrence outside of Japan.  Actually, outside of Japan, this idea sounds more desperate than anything else.  Why do we want to fry a disk of ground pork - by the way, an almost comically massive disk of ground pork - then leave it with nothing else, and I

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November 22, 2016 In All recipes, Meat, Noodle/Pasta/Rice

Sichuan/Chongqing Little Slurp w meat sauce and chickpeas

[ezcol_1half] COULD THIS WORK? THAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST THOUGHT, BEFORE THIS BOWL OF MAGIC POTION SUCKS YOU INTO AN UNSTOPPABLE WHIRLPOOL OF HAPPINESS. [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] Sorry I have been absent. Boy, do I have a good reason. Recently, I believe, we've all been experiencing a kind of peculiar surrealism in life.  I don't know about you, but for multiples times during the span of my day, I found myself staring at the mundane occurrences of my perceived reality - the sound of cars brushing through the street

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August 26, 2016 In All recipes, Meat, Travel

FRANCE PART I, and Lyonnaise sausage w/ warm beans and sage butter

[ezcol_1half] All the best things in life are clichés. Paris, is a cliché. I've fought consciously throughout my adult life not to fall for it, or at the very least, say it out loud, fearing I'll sound like a girl wanting to model or a guy in a sports car. It oozes unoriginality. But in the end, excuse mine if you will, as we sat predictably at an open cafe at 6:30 am, watching this city in beige and pastel grey slowly waking up in a wash of golden summer lights, acutely aware of its both corny and extraordinary allure. Paris, I succumbed, is Paris for a reason. But I knew that four years ago, when I visited Paris for the time time. This time, I wanted more. And I didn't mean a private jet from somewhere like jettly.com to take me there (although a girl can dream, right?!). I wanted more not from Paris, but from the country that it has instilled great bewilderment for inside my mind. If that was Paris, then what is France? An embarrassingly stupid question no doubt, for a pre-middle age woman to ask but frankly, I'm too old to pretend that

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July 13, 2016 In All recipes, Meat, Snacks

SUMMER PHO BO ROLL

[ezcol_1half] In the walk of a cook who fancies herself a genius, there is no pain more excruciating than to realize when someone else has out-genius her.  If you were one of "her" (not saying that I am)(I mean genius?  Who?  Me?), careful, because this is gonna hurt. This guy, Tyler Kord, who wrote this book, A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches, is really pissing me off. Okay, fine, go have a super successful and ever-expanding sandwich shop all over New York City as if that was a dream of mine or whaaaatever.  Dream-stealer

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June 15, 2016 In All recipes, Meat, Noodle/Pasta/Rice

that spicy, sour Thai street noodle

[ezcol_1fifth]  [/ezcol_1fifth] [ezcol_3fifth] Just came home from an extra long weekend-getaway from Bangkok, my second time visiting this feasting sanctuary and wow, it is even better than I remembered.  I'm not going to play expert and include a traveling guide with this post because when it comes to Bangkok, I'm not, yet.  But I will however, include some links (with or without photos) to some of the memorable moments we experienced on this trip.  It's not a lot.  After all, it was a 2 1/2 day quickie.  Plus a noodle recipe that brings me back whenever I miss that city, which is to say, always. JUST STICK WITH THE DON AND THE HOLY FOURSOME   [/ezcol_3fifth] [ezcol_1fifth_end]  [/ezcol_1fifth_end] [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] [ezcol_1third] BOAT NOODLES [/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third] RICE VERMICELLI WITH PORK DUMPLINGS [/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end] DUCK NOODLE WITH CHINESE HERBS [/ezcol_1third_end] [ezcol_1half] T&K SEAFOOD [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] ANOTHER SEAFOOD JOINT ACROSS THE STREET [/ezcol_1half_end] PORK OFFAL SOUP WITH FLAT RICE NOODLE TOM YUM SOUP WITH RICE VERMICELLI SIAM PARAGON - shopping mall with an entire floor of food paradise KITCHEN SUPPLY STORE WITH UNIQUE FINDS THAT SPICY, SOUR THAI STREET NOODLE: Before you say anything, you're right, this isn't authentically anything.  It isn't a particular Thai dish, doesn't even have a real title (the fact of the matter is, I didn't have a clue what most of the dishes

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