December 4, 2020 In All recipes, Vegatables

Long string beans stewed in Thai curry tomato sauce

"  the devil lies in the impromptu dollop of Thai red curry paste, which I consider a tragically unrealized soulmate to tomato sauces  " [ezcol_1half] This may not look much.  It was an accident really, the kind that perhaps only landed so simple and good because of. Yes I said "good", to a vegetable.  What is happening to me?  In a household where most end up rolled out of the fridge only for postmortems and the rest consumed only in repentance instead of joy, this dish received an unexpected broad spectrum of endorsement.  Even though it may be deemed as a mundane green beans stewed in tomatoes - and you're not wrong - the devil lies in the impromptu dollop of Thai red curry paste, which I consider a tragically unrealized soulmate to tomato sauces.  Its magic locked within the pulverized lemongrass and galangal was freed by sizzling olive oil, casting this old red sauce in a spell of lemony gingery fragrance and warm heat.  Of course such motherly sauce would've gladly taken any displaced vegetables under her wings, but I took a particular liking on her behalf to long string beans because of - other than the make-believe resemblance to spaghetti -

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July 25, 2019 In All recipes, Seafood, Snacks, Vegatables

Spicy mussel and burnt mushroom toast w/ broth

overcooking mussels is not a victimless crime.  do not engage. [ezcol_1half] Amongst all the abundant obstacles in between humanity and happiness, I am perhaps most snuggly and intimate with one in particular.  Jealousy.  I am jealous a lot, both in frequency and of subjects.  If you had just crossed my path in a white linen dress resting around a decently shaped neck, chances are, in the privacy of my somber awareness, I hated the shit out of you.  I don't want to.  But it doesn't matter what I want.  I am betrothed to my involuntary raid on all signs of missing things. What does this have to do with mussels or mushrooms, or toasts for that matter?  Well, for it stands as a mascot for a particular specimen of humankind - one of many others of course - who consistently requests for my envy in every encounters: Self-enjoying party hosts. [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end][/ezcol_1third_end] [ezcol_1half] Who are they and which planet do they come from?  And are we going to see a lot more of them after the storming of Area 51?  Because let's face it, in what is inarguably a highly stressful and - don't deny it - hostile environment where any number of guests has

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June 5, 2019 In All recipes, Meat, Vegatables

COOKBOOK PRE-ORDER AND PREVIEW: MAPO TOFUMMUS

"IN 2012, IN A FORM OF SELF-ABANDONMENT, I STARTED THIS FOOD BLOG. SEVEN YEARS LATER, I AM ABOUT TO PUBLISH A BOOK ABOUT THIS JOURNEY." [ezcol_1half] I sat here for hours struggling with how to begin the sentence. Stranger things have happened in this world I'm sure, I mean I could swear I saw a sea creature that looks like a glowing condom on the internet, but from where I stand, it doesn't get more inexplicable than what I'm feeling right now. It began in 2012. It was just about two years into our miserable six years-long residence in Beijing. In a form of self-abandonment almost, I started this food blog. With no enthusiasm or objectives, setting out more to be a concession than a declaration, I did what I thought was throwing the white flag to all my other grander ambitions in life, that I was going to be that person, "a blogger", a non-job made up by people whom I judged, past tense, to be minimally interesting that they had to put themselves on speaker. It wasn't brave. It wasn't inspired. It was never expected to arrive anywhere. I was standing on the edge

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August 23, 2018 In All recipes, Seafood, Slider Sticky, Snacks, Vegatables

POTATO LATKE WAFFLE FRIES

THE PERFECT HOMEMADE FRENCH FRIES ARE, ACTUALLY, NOT FRENCH FRIES.  NOT ANYMORE. [ezcol_1half] As a "foodie", for a lack of better words, I hereby acknowledge and accept all ramifications of these following confessions: Despite the inexcusable amount of opportunity and close proximity in the past couple decades, I have never, until last Wednesday, had a Shake Shack burger. That is correct.  Never wanted one.  Never needed one.  I suppose as a food-blogger who's supposed to know these things, that oozes the same level of non-credibility as a cityscape Instagrammer who hasn't been hit by a car  — judgements ensue.  But what can I say, because to me, burgers are like children.  Despite the high hopes and dreams every time you wanted one, let's be honest, most of them turn out to be a disappointing investment with negative returns.  So as a general rule of thumb, I avoid both equally at all costs.  Having said that, I have to admit that my first Shackburger experience — an honest portrayal of a classic cheese burger yet of high caliber — was undeniably satisfying.  But blah blah, who cares, because today's subject has absolutely nothing to do with burgers. Instead, it has more to do with Shake Shack's equally

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October 10, 2017 In All recipes, Vegatables

POMELO AND THAI HERBS SALAD

[ezcol_1fifth]  [/ezcol_1fifth] [ezcol_3fifth] THE EXPERIENCE IS BETWEEN EATING A SALAD AND DRINKING A COLD GLASS OF GATORADE I don't eat salads. I think that's quite self-evident on this blog.  But even a non-salader like me feels a tinge of excitements as pomelo season approaches, the citrus giant with enormous and voluptuous pulps that burst with sweet, floral and faintly bitter juices resembling a lemony grapefruit.  For the record, I'm not a fan of grapefruit, which is why I'm not particularly excited about pomelo's potential as a stand-alone fruit course.  But what gets my buzz going is its potential to be a fantastic savory treat. Pomelo is rarely too sweet, and it carries an uniquely floral and bitter note that blends wonderfully with other more robust or rich-tasting ingredients that seek a refreshing medium.  Take herbs salad for example, flavorfully too sharp and aggressive most of the times to be a dish on its own, but together with pomelo, it becomes a juicy and rounded symphony tapping on all the right notes in a cascading, orchestrated tempo.  First thing that hits the senses is the pungent saltiness of the fish sauce and shallots anointed with olive oil, which escalates along the individually distinctive sharp bites

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July 27, 2017 In All recipes, Soup, Vegatables

PAPPA AL KIMCHI POMODORO, KIMCHI TOMATO BREAD SOUP

[ezcol_1half] A HYBRID BETWEEN THE CLASSIC TUSCANY BREAD SOUP AND KIMCHI JJIGAE, SERVED HOT OR COLD If you follow my Instagram, you'd know that I have a barking barfing fur-child to attend to (yes, still).  So I'm quickly leaving you this recipe, which is a fantastic way to use up any day-old breads, or any over-proofed-thus-deflated breads in my case, which happens a lot these days.  It's a hybrid between pappa al pomodoro, the classic Tuscany bread soup, and kimchi jjigae, the national anthemic stew from Korea.  You can serve it hot with the AC blasting, or chilled and cold at the next rooftop party ya'll kids are so good at throwing nowadays.  Relaxed, soothing and comforting, unlike my life as we speak.  So go now.  Have some fun for me. [/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][amd-zlrecipe-recipe:156][/ezcol_1half_end]

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March 21, 2017 In All recipes, Vegatables

SWEET POTATO TAPIOCA GNOCCHI, GLUTEN-FREE

[ezcol_1third] SOFT BUT PLEASANTLY CHEWY, THAT IT FROLICS IN BETWEEN EVERY BITE WITH THE UPMOST PLAYFUL RESISTANCE [/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end][/ezcol_1third_end] [ezdiv id="" class="ezcol-four-sixth" style=""] Light.  Airy.  Delicate.  Cloud-like. See, surely these are rules best to dictate cotton candies and runway models. But, in my opinion, not for gnocchi. I know, I know.  Who am I - an Asian who grew up in North America - to judge gnocchi, an inarguably Italian prerogative guarded by some very defensive if not hostile Italian grandmothers.  To some, if I am ever entitled to an opinion then it should only be on chop suey or somethin', certainly not this heritage pasta sacredly given by the ancient Roman Gods.  Hey, I know!  I agree!, or at least I used to, which was why I never complained every time I was served with a plate of texture-less and borderline-mushy "clouds", in Rome or Nice and etcetera might I add, and nodded in compliance like a team-player.  "Yes, Mandy.  These mashy semisolids are intentional and authentic.  Now shut up and eat them.  Gollum Gollum".  I truly tried. You see, close-minded it may seem, but I come from a place where any flour-involved, savory carbohydrates have to have, a chew. Whether it's hand-pulled xi'an noodles, the delicate wrappers of dim sum dumplings, or

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