SHABU SHABU

one of my favorite ways to eat food is to cook it as i eat it... doesn't get any fresher than that. my sister and i usually save it for the coldest winter nights here in Pennsylvania which is often.. shabu shabu is what i'm talking about. if you havent tried it.. then you should after you read the blog. shabu shabu is the Japanese name for the dish. but there are many different asian versions of how you eat it and what you call it depending on where you go. the basis is always a hot pot of broth in the center and thinly sliced beef, seafood and veggies that are raw to be cooked in the broth as you consume it. plus an array of dipping sauces that can be customized to your liking. I'll look into where it originated but nonetheless its a fun way to eat with family and friends. 

I've gathered some pictures from flickr since i have yet to take any pictures of my home shabu shabu experience. but there is something about cooking and eating food with your close family together and watching the food cook that makes it a nice experience. hot it goes into your mouth and sometimes too hot, but that's the fun of it. in monterey park, ca there is a place that has outside seating where you can eat it in a large table with your family in a circle. they have Chinese herbs in the broth and that make it taste great perhaps even good for you. the broth as you would imagine gets tastier as you cook more and more different veggies and meats. so in the end drinking the broth with some rice noodles is just a nice treat. some places have split pots with spicy broth and regular, we make that type at home since not everyone can eat as spicy as my sister and i can. but its nice to have options. this is perfect for the picky eater as they can just cook what they want to eat without any worry. we usually have thinly sliced beef, shrimp, squid balls, meat balls, fish balls, napa cabbage, tofu, taro, egg, scallions, mushrooms... and rice noodles.. but sometimes we add more things, it just dependent on how many options you want to give yourself.  i love options... there is just something about sitting in a circle with your friends and family making food together that i think is special. i always end up full and happy. perhaps it takes us back to our ancestral roots of the hunter and gatherer stage of human civilization, were food was a ceremony and part of a community building ritual. 

i hope that everyone tries shabu shabu one point this upcoming year and see how fun it is.. i think it beats out fondue cheese any day. but i like having noodles as an option, which makes me biased on that opinion. don't be scared, if you think the beef isn't cooked all the way through you can just leave it in a bit longer, no pressure, and if you like it a bit medium that works too, there is not right or wrong when it comes to shabu shabu and what you eat. 

eat extraordinary everyday 

Food Snob...

I've come to the realization that I may have a little problem sometimes when I become a food snob. It comes out only when someone who clearly doesnt know anything about food says they have great taste. for me, to earn my respect in food talk, you must eat everything, try, and second chances. you learn by eating. and you are open to eating... a true foodie is the best ambassador of all cultures, in my opinion. yes i like art but i feel that since everyone must eat, food and taste is a cultural connection that humans have with each other from all around the world. 

I wont be in los angeles for a while, but the memories of my spots are coming up. when i get home sick i think about a perfect day. and today Cafe Laurent came into mind. this is a little place that i kept passing by, but one day a friend took me there... and i made it my place by the end of the year. its a little cute daytime cafe in culver city, ca. it is so cute! there is something about a place that doesn't bullshit and is right around the corner that i love. it took me just about one meal to fall in love with this place, its the perfect place to go alone or with a good friend. the food is good once you know your own taste. its nice because there is a variety of things to choice from. you cannot really go wrong with anything. i have my favorites... the bistro club.. that's one of the permanents on the menu. but heres the secret, go for the specials, for the most part every special i've had has blown my mind away. the crab cake burger! the dressing on that salads! and dessert.... *i'll get back to. 

At Cafe Laurent, most of the time there is a beautiful french manager who knows her food. I have become friends with her, i adore her because she actually knows a thing or two about living life and eating food. from her recommendations i've come to do a full three dishes when i'm there sometimes. the mushroom soup is good, its thick and creamy-comes with toasted baguette slices of course. Move onto the sandwich of the day. pick anyone but my favorite so far is the curried turkey salad on the special bread. the sandwich itself might be the most colorful and yummy looking thing you will ever see on a plate. and it tastes even better than it looks. most sandwich plates are served with the scalloped potatoes and salad with house dressing.. very delicious. and dessert is just great. this is the only place where i will have bread pudding, well they have a chocolate one... thats the kicker. although the top top dessert you will have to get here is the chocolate pecan torte. and dont forget the espresso or cappuccino. 

a perfect day is nice lunch with the newspaper/gourmet magazine at cafe laurent then a nice stroll along venice beach... 

giving Thanks.. .

I started work at a place where we sell everything you need to cook with. so of course an ideal place for a foodie/chef like myself. I am able to help so many people with their thanksgiving meal planning. thanksgiving is a very interesting day. historically it has been associated with an American tradition in which we give thanks to the Native Americans who helped the first settlers survive their winters in the new land. as a history major, I know the background and think its all nice. but the day has warped into a monster. families overeat and watch sports and shop. children cringe at the idea of what their parents do on this week, for some lucky kids they actually get to enjoy the day with their family and good food. I think that we should somehow turn this day more into a family day more than about the food or the sports or the shopping that we can done on black friday. the family unit has changed so much over the years that its been diminishing in the values that people hold. i think food traditions are a great way in which families can build memories as well as spend quality time together. people need to get the whole family involved with cooking and the food the consume and pay attention to give thanks to the little luxuries that everyone has in their lives. 

This week, women and some brave men take on the challenge of preparing a turkey for the feast. there are so many things that need to be thought out when taking on the task of preparing the historic and tradition filled meal. there are so many things that could also go wrong. I love making thanksgiving meal. i think the fact that there are SO many required traditional tastes involve i get to make a ton of different dishes for a lot of people. sadly this year i will not be preparing a turkey. but i am okay with that.. working I've been smelling and selling the flavor of thanksgiving that i'm a bit burnt out on turkey day. 

my first real thanksgiving... well the one were i made food... i had asked my father if we could do an American style thanksgiving and he said yes. i went on ordering food ( i was in high school at this time, i only knew to order food so that i wouldn't mess up.) but my father took the American thanksgiving to anther level and perhaps sparked my cooking passion. he came home with a freshly killed *the bird was still warm* 13 lbs. turkey. it was the scariest thing my father has ever made me touch/cook. i panicked. the next day i went to school and gathered as much turkey advice as i possibly could. i ended up recruiting my best friend to help me with the meal. we went on to making everything, garlic mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, steamed green beans, crescent rolls, steak, salad and probably some more stuff that i cannot remember. we made so much food. i couldn't taste anything either... the stress of cooking got me sick so she had to taste everything we made. but it came out perfect. without the ability to taste, i was still able to pull off a tender turkey. i was amazed at myself. i guess that was when i realized i had some type of skill or talent in cooking. 

since that thanksgiving in high school, i've been able to make about three more turkeys for friends and family. it has been great. i've tried many ways and of course had many other thanksgiving turkeys that was so dried that all the sauce in the world would not save it's flavor. since i wont be making turkey this year. i wanted to at least go ahead and give my thanks. 

i am thankful: for the fact that i am able to eat the foods that i do, that i have a full stomach, that i have a family that is healthy, that i have friends that are funny and kind, for a boyfriend who loves food as much as i do, for life and to be alive despite the hard times, organic foods, farms/farmers, traditional ways of prep for food, cook books.. so much to be thankful for. 

eat extraordinary everyday! 

trust me. .

'trust me'
that's what omakase means in Japanese. its when the chef is trusted by the diner to be fed nothing but the best. or perhaps you've heard 'its up to you' all in the same... trusting someone to feed you without you ever knowing what comes next. 

well i've always thought highly of my palate and my judgement of a great dining establishment. i've always recommended people to places to eat and tell them truthful about the experience. if i love a place you'll know. if i hate a place, you'll know for sure. so for the summer i worked at a place that i loved eating at. that was a complete fluke. i didnt think they were hiring or even needed anyone, but after dinner i was asked if i was interested and ended up joining the team within 24 hours. it felt right. and when i was able to eat more and see more of the food being done and served out i really wanted all my friends to come and experience the food as i had. sushi that isn't pretentious but is actually mind blowing. but no one ever came. maybe a few friends. i had a couple come in and said it was on the top with the best sushi places in Hollywood. i said it was better. but recently i guess I've been given satisfaction. 

Phillip *papa san boss man. was challenged to a throw down with bobby flay. wow.

i was SO excited when it was confirmed that it was a throw down, Phillip said he wanted a chance in kitchen stadium to prove himself against the iron chef on a bigger arena. wow. if the food network showcasing your favorite place on a episode of throw down isn't proof that you have good taste i don't know what is. I'm just waiting until the magazines start up on it. 

hell I'm starting to think i should write an article for them and submit. who knows. they might like it. speaking of which i'm trying to up my writing portfolio of food things. so we'll see what happens. i know that my blog isnt the biggest or the most popular, but for now i'm writing for my friends to read. and just to get my thoughts out there. where this passion of food will take me, time can only tell. 

i cant wait for the show to air. i'll let everyone know. until then.. 

eat extraordinary everyday! 

**the photos are of the fish TAI, American name SEA BREAM. 

udon...

well like most people when i don't have time or company to go out to grab some food, i tend to attack the kitchen on a mission to make something to eat. when you're bit of a foodie/cook, you tend to make things a bit more extreme then the normal person.. not just a simple grilled cheese sandwich. for one thing i always have stocked in the house is udon noodles. 

udon noodles are one of my favorite types of noodles. its big and white, soft and filling and just happy. they remind you of just the simplicity of good slurping times. when i'm sad, there is nothing as delightful then a big bowl of noodles just waiting for you to slowly or quickly enjoy. on a cold day a bowl of udon noodle soup is just great. although i am not of japanese background, i adore these noodles. they are happy. having them in stock is amazing, stir fry or just in soup base, its just delicious treat.  

when i started this blog i did not think of putting my recipes, and i'm still having to deal with giving recipes out or sharing them. so with the indecision, i will not yet or for now put my recipes up. but i made some great noodles last night. simple, fresh ingredients are the key. hot wok, onions, mushrooms, garlic, beef slices, black bean sauce, sesame oil and of course udon. and you get something amazing. this is one of my favorite after school snack when i was younger, when i didnt have anything to make anything else. but now i realize that what i eat at home is never on the menu of some places so its a special treat. of course i'm one of those odd people who have home made kimchi stocked at all times and i love my sister for that. and serve a little spicy kimchi with your beef stir fry udon noodles and you have a delicious treat. 

i think everyone has a favorite type of noodle. i mean the Italians have pasta and the Chinese with noodles.. so many forms but all the same comforting feeling. 

eat extraordinary everyday. 

we're cookin!

when you're a foodie., you become very particular in how your food is prepared. and in my case both myself and my significant other of a dining partner are very big on food. so when it comes time to decide what to eat and where,  we both need plenty of time to pick a place. but the other day i decided to go to a new place. the idea is Japanese BBQ. kinda very similar to Korean BBQ.. 

its a little place off of Sawtelle- now if you know this street you know that all the good Asian foods are here. well specifically Japanese food. and great karaoke there too! its a great hang out if you don't want to drive down to the San Gabriel valley.. or Korean town or Japanese town...

 so this is a great place to go if you live on the west side and hate traffic... 

so we order a little of everything.. beef tongue, prime steak, squid, veggies and two bowls of rice for the entree. then we have a nice seaweed salad and ox tail soup to start.. and of course a side of mixed kimchi veggies to go along with the food. and yes.. i always eat this much, perhaps its training for the food critic in me. anyhow.. like I've sad many times, you must try a bit of everything to get the full experience of the food.

one of the great things about cooking your own food is that its quick! The waiter turns on the fire as soon as the order is taken and the food comes out in minutes from the kitchen. so the hole in the middle is hot and you get excited.  so the soup is great and the salad is so simple i have to adore it even more with every bite. there isn't a lot of prep work done in the kitchen except for making sure its sliced thinly for quick cooking. so the excitement comes out faster as you finish the appetizer. its so great.. i love seeing raw food ready to be cooked. and when it comes to beef you get to control how well cooked the food is... total control freak i know.. but its the sure shot way to love the food that is placed into your mouth.

the food itself is not mind blowing, it is what it is, a good meal. the wait staff is amazing and the head chef/owner is walking around making sure everyone is happy. that always gives you a good feeling about the place. no crazy or shady things happening if the boss is there checking up on the guests and the food. its actually reassuring. its a very cute and quaint place to have a quick meal with a little fun. you do leave smelling like food but if anything that's a really good smell to have, who doesnt love food smell? but overall i think this is a great place to eat. and that everyone should go and try it out. and one of the best things is the gum they give you for dessert. and yes its telling you exactly what to do with that piece of gum! 

 eat extraordinary everyday!

a romantic dinner for two..

one of my favorite places to go dine at in Los Angeles is a little place not known to many. its called the little door. its gained much popularity due to the opening of 'the little next door', right next door that sells lunch things during the day, since the little door is closed during the day. its really great. the little door that is. the service is amazing. very helpful and the food of course is just darling. the food itself is something worth investing some time into learning and experiencing more. I've been to this place countless times and tried many of the different staples of the menu. the dessert there is also just spectacular. everything that you put in your mouth has color and visions when you close your eyes, as the flavors sing you a song and paint you a painting. Needless to say that this place is not just for a dinner for any occasion. its best experienced with a loved one, a good friend and or anyone who appreciates fresh flavor and great atmosphere. this place has the perfect combination to make a dinner into an adventure into a new world. 

as you walk in, you see a green background of plants and flickers of soft candle light, i recommend a dinner near the time of sunset.  you notice the lush foliage in the whole space. you see that there are candles starting to be lit and the white table cloths give you a sense of fine dining. you are greeting with a smiling face. sitting outside is a different experience than that of the inside. but for the romantic dinner outside on a summer night, i really do suggest the outside. during the colder nights i would say the blue room where they have a beautiful fire place and a whole new decor that makes you just feel comfy. back to the outdoors, you'll start to notice that everything is a bit slower in pace, the feel of everyone is very relax and enjoyable, setting a nice tone for how you should take the little door in. order some wine, they have a great selection to choose from and if you like beer they have a smaller choice of beer but

 nonetheless have a cocktail, even if you do not drink, it does add a bit of an element to the whole meal. trust me. 

i always do a three course meal. always. i like to think that having a bit of everything is really getting the true experience and taste of what each restaurant has to offer and as a foodie, i like to taste as much as possible. appetizers are a great way to see how concisely creative the chef can be. its like the opening pages of a book, can the chef take the simplest and freshest ingredients from the season and show you how well the farmers have grown the food?

 can you taste the earth? can you really taste whatever that ingredient is? i find myself often

 disappointed when all my senses are not evoked in the appetizer. you'll get there, the first flavors should make you excited for what you really ordered. at the little door they keep it simple. they use the best produce and amazing cheese. so fear not. 

during my romantic dinner we ordered two very different things, my boyfriend ordered the duck duo. and it was simply amazing. my boyfriend, i must admit is not one to suggest any cuisine outside of the Asian continent, but he trusts me. and thus finds himself amazed as he smells the different sections of the plate blending harmoniously together. he was doubtful when there was prunes and star anise in the description of the duck, but i assured that this place was really good. and indeed it was perfection. 

as for myself, i ordered the scallops. i enjoy my seafood raw on the regular basis but when I'm out at place where I've eating all the protein, i try to venture into the seafood world to make sure the whole menu is great. there is a fine line between which seafood like scallops may be cooked before they are ruined, i am always in awe when a place can actually deliver a solidly cooked seafood entree to the public time and time again. our entrees were just spectacular, every thing just enhanced each ingredient's individual flavors. it was wonderful, so good that there was not much conversation at the table but just sounds of utter enjoyment of food, as all dinners should be like. we shared a few forkfuls of the entrees and with trying the other's plate you just realize how much fun you're having just simply eating. not being gluttonous but truly appreciating life. of course there is always the problem after you finish your entree. it comes in the form of dessert. 

thankfully i did not have to make that horrible decision of what to pick for dessert, as our server who happen to be a favorite customer of the sushi restaurant, he had selected a dessert trio for us to enjoy. and boy oh boy was it just magical. chocolate, creme brulee and cheesecake. life could not get any better than the sight that was in front of us in the form of confectionery

 delights. i love chocolate and as with all true chocolate lovers, we like dark and bitter sweet and at the little door, the chocolate is always just right. not so sweet that you cannot taste the true cocoa flavor and just rich enough to make your tongue twirl around a bit. and next the classic. the creme brulee. nothing in this world is so simple and so special at the same time as this dessert. there are only what? five ingredients that go into making this, and of course the sugar crackle on top just makes it so simply amazing to bite into. the contrast of the soft custard and the hard sugar top is just so much fun to eat. i have never met anyone who didn't like it, its so comforting. and the cheesecake. . . it was coconut with a passion fruit sauce. o my.. it was just brilliant in the tropical flavors. i happen to be a fan of passion fruit and the combination of the coconut and the cheese i was just a happy girl. the flavors reminded me of sunsets and beaches. i never thought that i was able to finish the desserts but with hard work and careful breathing, we were able to finish most of the trio placed in front of us. 

i must recommend that everyone at one point should visit the little door and do the whole dinner experience that i have described. i have gone to a lot of restaurants but there are only a few that i continue to go to. i make it a point to go once a year, if i am lucky more but i find it that its special enough to look forward to once a year. it is definitely a place that is worth every penny and worth the special place in my list of places to dine. going with friends, family and loved ones just keeps the little door a special place in my heart of sure shot great dinner experience. 

eat extraordinary everyday

Ribfest...

So i went to a football game the other night, without any knowledge of the Rib festival that was there.! 

Anyhow..since we're doing the low carb or no carb * thats the one she's doing. I'm doing the as limited amount of carbs for an Asian noodle head.. carb cautious eating.. life is interesting. I haven't had noodles in a while maybe since I've left Los Angeles. I try to eat only salads  that is loaded with everything. although i enjoy a simple salad with few ingredients, i LOVE salads that are filled with a bit of everything-because the right variety of flavors in the salad makes it -sans dressing healthy. so now everything goes on it-sunflower seeds, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, edamame, olives, avocados, almond slices, hard boiled egg, chicken, ham... just about everything goes on it and good amount of salt and pepper. then eat away... its great and no dressing with old is needed and all the salad is raw so every vitamin goes into your body... 

so now that i have demonstrated my appreciation for things green and healthy i will go into my deep admiration for ribs and b.b.q. A few days ago, i was invited for a kick off game for the steelers. as we approach the field from our far parking spot, i started to see smoke... good smoke- the smoke that has flavor in it. I saw the sign "Rib Festival 2008" and my eyes were filled with a gaze that could not be unlocked from the smoke. but my healthy minded roommate said "no" and that it would ruin our healthy day of working out and eating light. I was heart broken. just sad. but after the game i convinced myself that ribs were good since they were not carbs and if i didnt lick the sauce i should be okay. but of course its a Rib festival who am i kidding, there were award winning teams with their stands there waiting for me to love my life even more. so i get in line and get the teaser. so g

ood. so good. life was great. i love festivals and vendors who can actually deliver the flavors and food they claim. 

no carb, low carb.. wtf

upon coming back to Pittsburgh.... I had planned to try to trim down and lit a bit more lean for a wedding that I am attending in September back in Los Angeles. So it wasn't a big deal to know that I would have to cut down on my junk food (everything) consumption and focus my sustenance on healthy things... I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, since I had spent my whole summer eating everything I desired. And now I have to be very careful of everything that I am putting into my mouth. It is Very Very Hard. but I think I can get through it. 

My roommate does this NO Carb thing and she eats like one meal a day... which to me both are crazy... first of all.. I LOVE NOODLES. ask anyone.. my family, my friends, my boyfriend... its one of the only things I could eat everyday. And of course its not allowed in the house.. so now I have to think of more clever ways to fulfill my stomach and my mental well being for food while keeping a good caloric count. Of course I'm going to try to work out way more (which is a first) since my school schedule is so lax this semester.. I'll be trying to work out most of the days.. like  5 and my roommate is ready to do the same with me.. so now on top of working out i have to think of new ways to eat and get my taste buds happy with the new diet. 

So now the snacks are Edamame. I like them salted and cold. its a great snack to have while playing video games or watching television. hopefully i keep them stocked so that I don't go for bad things. healthy eating is tricky if its not on the books already in your mind. but i think i can do this.. I'm sure I'll find really cool things I can eat without become a bear getting ready for hibernation... 

lets hope for the best healthy eating for this year.. but of course I'll be doing carb..after all i am Asian.. i need my rice and noodles... I'll keep it light of course.. 

eat extraordinary everyday. 

its a chirashi ... and the tartare..and so much more.

my newest crush... the chirashi bowls... its just regular rice with sashimi on it.. and my goodness can they just make it beautiful...sometimes too good to eat..

another thing that i've been into is the many ways one can plate and prepare a simple tar tare. its on countless menus all over the globe but most aren't as great as they look. which is a big problem. the presentation needs to be equal to the taste. we are creatures who eat even better when the visual senses are heighten.

so a word to the sushi eating crowd out there make sure it tastes as great as it looks...

eat extraordinary everyday.

the good stuff

there are some things that cannot be found anywhere else but the special places that i go to. and for sushi.... its rare to find a place with quality and fish of this rate. it took me a million times to my spot to finally get the special aji bones.... aji is Spanish mackerel. and the fish itself in sushi form is great, but if you're lucky and knowing.. you can get the bones fried up for you with a sauce and eating the whole fish makes you really appreciate the flavor and the moment.

so aji is close to the top of the best foods that you can have for sushi...

next... i need to express the wonders of the salmon belly... actually the belly of any fish is crazy good. you thought the salmon sushi was good... if they have salmon belly its the whole fish in your mouth that you cannot get enough of. the color of the belly is a delight orange of yumminess. its melts in your mouth... i insist on everyone trying it out. and yellow tail belly is yummy as well.

tools... standing behind the sushi counter not as a customer has given me more insight on the preparation of sushi and of course a greater appreciation for when i do get to eat it. i've fallen in love with the usage of the blow torch.... especially on the ika (squid) they do its special like that at the place i work at... but in general the torch gives whatever its used on a great smoked flavor... i got some action shot of scallops being torched with spicy mayo on it.

i hope everyone enjoys the pictures i've taken at sushi central. where i am currently hanging out at for the summer. "crack fish" pictures are on its way...

eat extraordinary everyday!

.... summer time..

i just wanted to warn everyone that in the next few days... a new blog post will include some amazing food/sushi porn with great insights into the world of food. so watch out... its been cooking in my head for a while now..

culinary boners for all... hehe i love top chef.

sushi ... part deux

so I'm back in Cali... the wondrous ways of the sunshine really makes my day a bit better even if i am not doing anything special. yesterday i had a few hours to kill and lone behold i was at sushi central in the west side. amazing.. i was fed some amazing stuff.. Ono...scallops... Spanish mack.. and some other good stuff i have no clue at this current moment to their names.. but it was just amazing. i spent roughly 3 hours there and just had a blast sitting. its one of those places that you can just eat great food and be happy. and surely it makes me smile every time i have something new placed in front of me. i like going to places where i can just sit in confidence that the food that is coming out is going to be great every time.

finding a place that you love is key to being a happy eater. not only does the food need to be great, but the space itself needs to be welcoming. and nothing makes me happier than seeing the faces of people who love to make and eat food just as i do. when you go into a place where instantly feel much better, you know good times will come of it. since being back in Los Angeles I'm just glad to be able to have the options of going to my favorite places to dine. its great to be able to just eat well. once you live in a place where there is nothing but fast food you start to appreciate the small family owned joints that you see all over Los Angeles.

so everyone go out and have some sushi... and btw.. don't eat bluefin tuna/toro*... its getting on the endangered list actually extinction list.. so as consumers you stop ordering it, the chefs will stop buying it and the fish will get a chance to reproduce and not be over fished. we humans have a responsibility to replenish what we eat and be aware of the way/things that we consume for our pleasure. ..speaking of pleasure.. i need to get some oysters up in my tummy ... nothing like fresh raw oysters to brighten up my day...

eat extraordinary everyday.

*correction to the blog. i was corrected by the trusty sushi chef i work with on the daily basis... so eat all the other types of fish you like.

PHO?? what?

wow.. 

never in my life did i ever think that the wonders of my childhood foods would come full circle.. these days all types of people are asking me about the foods of my family. they ask because they know i am part Vietnamese. its so odd to hear that, considering while i was growing up i wanted to try something different, anything that wasn't what was for dinner in my home. Italian, fusion, french, Mexican, Japanese were all so unique and different. and i just thought home food was just ordinary, because everyone else was having something else for dinner instead of me. i always had something odd in regards to everyone pasta/pizza/burger night. i remember at one point in school my Asian teacher asked me to share what i eat for dinner and i cringed at the idea of revealing what i was eating... beef/tripe carrot stew with rice noodles.. or mustard greens with shrimp.. 

how do i explain that i like tripe? it dawned upon me that Asian foods isn't that bad in regards wit all the other foods out there, its actually pretty damn good. historically its up there with them frenchies... (i love the customs of french gastronomy) As i started to eat more foods from other cultures and read about the foods i have yet to eat, I've learned that all cultural foods use the whole animal and so tripe isn't that bad after all.. and thank god morrow is making a big come back into good light, cause I'm pretty sure my parents have a picture of me eating bones and sucking out morrow at the fun age of five.. but I'm glad that the public is starting to be curious about the foods of Vietnam. for me curiosity opens doors for people to try something new.. perhaps fall in love.. I'm excited. 

anyhow... now that the world is somewhat ready for Asian and i mean REAL Asian food i guess its time for me to review my childhood flavors. this summer i will be jotting down all the family recipes and perhaps share them with the world. for some odd reason the flavors of my childhood are so dear to me that I'm a bit afraid to share them with people, but i guess is kind of  like art, made to share to the world to reflect upon a time/culture/people/lives. maybe i could ask the food network to have me teach some Asian foods.. well i better get to getting those recipes down... real vietnamese food.. the broths the simple flavors the lightness.. its gonna be amazing.. get some pho if you don't already know what it is.. 

eat extraordinary everyday! 

omg.. i made it..

actually that title is perfect for this blog. you just wouldn't believe. it all started with developing a summer grilled corn salad... side dish ideas.. anyhow.. i started to make a dressing.. mind just wandering about and just adding stuff.. then i started to finally think it was coming together and then i taste. and o my o my... i made the dressing just like my favorite dressing at Houston's. i think it goes on their grilled chicken salad.. but the dressing is just amazing.. makes you just want to drink it up.. and when i used to frequent that spot i would.. 

anyhow i made the dressing and was jumping for joy. sadly no one in the nearest 100 miles would know what i was jumping about. but that was really excited.. 

then part deux .. pastry.. i decide to make beignets... i remember having them when i was little with my grampa.. which for a Vietnam resident for much of his Chinese heritage, the french colonialism gave us some great treats. and aside from my favorite banh mi sandwiches i love the beignets with french drip coffee... here would be a great time to say i might be a bit favoring towards the french due to my childhood favorites have direct influence from them via Vietnamese family. 

sadly no pictures of this great moment of mine. but the fact that i can just whip those out at the parties now is just a great thing as well... yay. 

food is suffereing and we did it.

my summer reading so far has consisted of only art history books and food books. As well as all the current issues on food around the world. Keeping up to date with the many new food trends is really hard but what is even harder to deal with is the war on food that is occurring right now in our world. prices of food has sky rocketed in the last year and the food isn't even real!!

organic foods. i encourage all people to buy when they can the best quality of food. you don't want to be putting junk into your body. it is so easy to drive up to some place order something that taste okay for the moment and then the long haul comes and you're sick. it happens to me every time i go to the golden arches. i actually get a bit sick. cramping in the tummy. i guess it could be mental. but i like to think i eat pretty good. i like to make most of my food and of course dine out as often as my purse allows but i take my food seriously. i see how people shop at the store. i see the prices take over their ability to let their own common sense decide whether the food they are about to buy good for their bodies... but i guess the pocket book does have a large affect on how people consume. is it just that though? or can it be lack of knowledge/time/skill? I really don't know, but I'm going to find a way to help.

my sister told me the other day that out mother had instructed her to go out and store up on rice. and then i spoke to my mother asking her about it and she told me that people were trying to Asians how to use more potatoes in their diet instead of rice... and after hearing that i was a bit upset. the rice shortage is because of horrible weather in the growing regions that are probably a result of the global warming and weird weather.


so we're to blame for everything. We drive the cars/planes/ships for our own materialistic morals, we mess up the ozone/environment/air/pollute/seas and then that carries onto the food/farms/animals and when we consume we get cancer/allergies.... karma is a bitch! wow. if we had stuck to the old traditions of taking only what was needed and giving back to earth what we have taken we all would be eating great food and enjoying life. lack of morals/tradition/education/love the people of our time are going to pay for it. mother earth is pissing and we're to blame. i hope people are able to see this cycle soon and try to change/respect/act. Cause if not we're all going to hell all them levels in the inferno... seriouso.
we should 'check ourselves before we wreck ourselves'. so let go plant some more food and take care of them instead of letting chemicals do it, the care we give in nurturing the earth will return to our bodies keeping them strong.

eat extraordinary everyday!