There is no place like New York

12-31-2010 Fri. mild, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee | apple
LUNCH --- ( at Onya Japanese Noodle, NYC ) tempura: eggplant, shrimp, smelt, squash | chicken wings | udon noodle: Sanuki Kake udon, curry udon, chicken udon, cold Kijyoyu udon
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee
DINNER --- (at Sichuan Chili restaurant, NYC) Dan Dan noodle | Sichuan chilled mong bean tofu | poached chicken with Sichuan peppercorn and chili sauce | braised thin sliced pork belly with garlic paste || spicy fish and tofu | Hunan chicken | Chengdu shrimp and cucumber | cumin lamb chop | deep fried lotus root | rice
Count-down NEW YEAR --- (at M.M.'s) champagne | chocolate | Japanese sweets

lunch at a Japanese corner


Alexander McQueen's swan song


AB.EX.NY at MOMA


waiting for the New Year

• only on this island one can find all of these within a few city street blocks.
  

Lunch at del Posto

12-30-2010 Thu. chilly, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee | apple
LUNCH --- ( at del Posto, NYC ) Roasted Autumn VEGETABLES with Robiola Sformato & Truffled Hazelnuts | Warm COTECHINO with Umbrian Lentil Vinaigrette & Dried Fruit Mostarda | Lobster SALAD Fra Diavola with Broccoli Rabe & Dried Orange || GNOCCHI con Pomodoro| Whole Wheat TONNARELLI with Spicy Cicerchie, Fried Rosemary & Shaved Bonito | GARGANELLI Verdi al Ragu Bolognese | Seared DUCK Breast, Apician Spices, Savor alla Francescana & Lovage || SFERA di Caprino Celery & Fig Agrodolce & Celery Sorbetto| Butterscotch SEMIFREDDO Melon Agrumata, Crumbled Sbrisolona & Milk Jam | TARTUFO al Caffe with Dark Chocolate, Sant Eustachio Coffe & Candied Lemon || Montefalcone red wine |
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- espresso
DINNER --- ( at M.M.'s) congee | fried tofu | fresh soybean and mustard green | stir-fried snails in ginger and chili sauce

amuse

bread, lardo, butter from Italy

antipasti

primi & secondi


dolci

• elegant and smart Italian food at del Posto, creative as well such as celery gelato and bonito in pasta
  

the big apple

12-29-2010 Wed. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LATE-LUNCH --- fuji apple | sauteed spinach with rice vinegar dressing | rice | tong-hao porridge |
DINNER --- ( at M.M.'s ) clementine | apple | pita bread with baba ganoush

• to NYC for the new year
  

holiday leftovers

12-28-2010 Tue. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | apple
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato | tong-hao porridge with crushed peanuts | poached Chinese spinach with sesame dressing | broiled fish and chicken | rice

• a task of finishing up leftovers from a few holiday feasts
  

a fortress of dark chocolate

12-27-2010 Mon. cold, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- Irish cream coffee | croissant | scallion pan cake | apple | orange juice
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
LATE-BRUNCH-DINNER --- Mexican refried black beans with caramelized onion | Mexican rice | Mexican salsa ( tomato, sweet onion, cilantro, hot pepper ) | homemade pita bread | India Pale Ale || Shanghai salsa ( smoked tofu, cilantro and roasted peanuts ) | Shanghai stir-fried rice cake with chive flower buds and tofu skin threads | Shanghai eggplant stew with wood-ear, fried tofu and leek | Belgian dark ale || homemade chocolate cake | chocolate tequila cream coffee drink

• d.d. made the fortress chocolate cake and the hand-built ceramic plate with mysterious patterns, should have it with Lord of the Rings?
  

free style and ad hoc

12-26-2010 Sun. cold, flurries.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- Irish cream coffee | toasted Limpa bread | baguette | brie | gooseberry jam | apple | Oriental orange
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- chicken and green onion wonton soup | green tea
DINNER --- pickled radish jelly fish salad | soup of fried tofu and mung bean noodles in curried beef broth | Chinese taco with five-spice braised beef and cilantro | home-made pizza with toppings of mushroom, onion, and pepperoni | wine

• ad hoc but well done dinner, casual free style, served in the kitchen whenever the food is out of oven or out of the steamer.
  

Charlie Brown's tree, made of sushi

12-25-2010 Mon. cold, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- Irish cream coffee | croissant | baguette | brie | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- holiday snack tray (seaweed crackers, cream puffs, seaweed-seasoned fried dough twists, wild mountain walnuts, Oriental oranges ) | baked Japanese sweet potato | Japanese style grilled chicken wing lollipop | aonori and salmon roe sushi Christmas tree | pomegranate juice sparkling wine
DINNER --- simmered and marinated winter bamboo shoots | soft tofu and tong-hao leaves porridge with shrimp | beech mushroom confit and quinoa in thyme olive oil | miso marinated and broiled cod and lightly pickled radish | Shanghai-style fried spring rolls | wine || orange panna cotta | chocolates | coffee

• this sushi installation with aonori resembling pine needle greens and salmon roe like twinkling lights is our Charlie Brown's tree
• a few successful new stars: chicken wing lollipops ( marinated, broiled, then de-boned, skewed, twice-broiled); beech mushroom confit with quinoa ( in thyme olive oil, some drops of lemon juice); orange penna cotta ( boiled and chilled cream with oriental orange peel, set with tiny bit gelatin )
  
• about making vegetarian sushi at home: For Sushi at Home, Skip the Fish by the Minimalist
  

Quabili Pilau

12-24-2010 Fri. cold, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | toasted Limpa bread | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | Chinese fried rice cake
DINNER --- sauteed bitter melon and red pepper | Afghan baked rice with wine braised lamb shank, resins and carrots ( quabili pilau ) | wine

• Quabili pilau turned out very well, flavor and texture just right.
  

Salt-cured fish

12-23-2010 Thu. cold wind, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with green beans and baby octopus (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- steamed and pan fried Brussels sprouts | stir-fried potato threads with curry sauce | Cantonese-style fried rice with salt-cured fish, egg, green onion and red pepper ( 咸鱼粒饭）| wine

• the curing process for the salt-cured fish from southeast China is similar to that of prosciutto, with patience and precision, the taste is not 咸 ( salty) , but 鲜 ( tasty, delicious)
  

festive octopus

12-22-2010 Wed. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- steamed bun with winter green filling
DINNER --- sauteed green beans with fermented black bean sauce | baby octopus braised in sweet soy and rice wine with fresh ginger, shallots, lemon juice and shiso | rice | wine

• braised baby octopus had the just right chewy and crisp texture. after taking the octopus out, the braising liquid was further reduced to the glossy sauce, added to the dish later.
  

Mexican cooking at home

12-21-2010 Tue. cold, sunny. (lunar eclipse at 3AM)


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed napa cabbage ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | LU cookie
DINNER --- Mexican rice | refried black beans with caramelized onion | fresh salsa of tomato, cilantro, onion and hot pepper | sunny side up egg | home-made tortilla | wine

• there are similarities of Chinese cooking and Mexican cooking, use ordinary but fresh ingredients, prepare and cook according to what brings the texture and flavor out best.
  

Napa cabbage

12-20-2010 Mon. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee | LU chocolate cookie
LUNCH --- pasta with ragu sauce ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- sauteed napa cabbage , smoked tofu, and mushrooms | roasted baby potato, red pepper and sweet onion with olive oil and rosemary | scrambled eggs with cilantro | rice | wine

• napa cabbage is a staple of winter Chinese food, Shanghai-style saute with a little tapioca thickening adds warmth and smoothness.
  

full flavors from carrots and celery

12-19-2010 Sun. cold, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Norwegian pancake with brown sugar and apple | grape fruit
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- pasta with home-made ragu sauce | steamed and pan-fried Brussels sprouts | roasted and pickled red pepper | smoked mussels | wine | chocolate from the French laundry

ragu sauce

chocolate

• everyone chopped and chopped for the all vegetable ragu sauce, and it tasted fantastic.
  

homey Japanese soup noodles

12-18-2010 Sat. cold, cloudy.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( on the plane ) tomato juice
DINNER --- Matsuzaka noodles in bonito broth with napa cabbage, leek, radish sprouts, shiitake and fried tofu | sweet soy braised octopus | pickled celtuce

• back to home cooking, using bonito and a new set of small dishes found from Japanese market in S.F.
  

Xiao Long Bao in Chinatown, S.F.

12-17-2010 Fri. chilly, rain storm


BREAKFAST --- coffee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- (at Blue Bottle, Ferry Building, S.F.) cappuccino
DINNER --- ( at Bund Shanghai, Chinatown, S.F. ) Ma-lan leaves and smoked tofu salad with sesame oil dressing | sauteed silk gourd with dried shrimp | sweet soy and rice wine braised fish belly | mung bean noddle soup with fried tofu and greens | Shanghai soup dumplings with crab meat mixture ( Xiao Long Bao )| Shanghai stir-fried rice cake ( Chao Nian Gao ) | Shanghai spring roll | rice

the market in Ferry Building

Shanghai specials at Shanghai Bund

• got some plates from Japan, a design called Shiratama at the Gardener in Ferry Building, tried the coffee from Blue Bottle, and had a good selection of Shanghai specials at Shanghai Bund in Chinatown.
  

the French Laundry

12-16-2010 Thu. mild, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Bouchon Bakery of Yountville ) croissant | coffee
DINNER --- ( at the French Laundry, Yountville ) Chef's testing menu, regular and vegetable selections | = baby oyster, caviar, bay scallop, lobster tail pigeon, foie gras, beef =,= Yukon potato, Chinese eggplant, beet, fennel, Swiss chard, salsify, Cipollini onion, piquillo pepper, parsnip, Brussels sprouts, Belgian endive =,= granny smith apple, Asian pear, cranberry, bananas,persimmon, orange, pomegranate =,= black winter truffles, Chanterelle mushrooms, Matsutake mushrooms =,= Sicilian pistachio, almond, chestnut, walnut, hazelnut, cashew, pecan =,= cheese, sorbet, ice cream, chocolate =,= Margaine, " demi sec " , Villers-Marmery | Hirsch, Gruner Veltliner, " heiligenstein" | coffee

Yountville, a Thomas Keller' territory

the French Laundry!

today's dinner ...


food as art, serving as performance


a plate, not edible

• three hours, nine courses, three waiters, countless plates and silverware, one inch of eggplant, one inch of potato, one inch of beet, one inch of Matsutake mushroom... nevertheless, everything painstakingly done, worth the time and price.
  

Ramen, Banh mi, and Kalbi

12-15-2010 Wed. warm, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at the Ramen restaurant of Japan Town ) Ramen in sweet soy broth with pork and egg
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee | clementine | ( at Saigon Sandwiches ) Vietnamese sandwich Bamh mi
DINNER --- ( at K. food court ) Korean B.B.Q. short ribs Kalbi | rice | wonton noodle soup

• all day of Asian food sampling in S.F.
  

Vietnamese beef tartar

12-14-2010 Tue. mild, rain.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- cream puff | clementine
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee
DINNER --- ( at K. T. ) fried quails | beef tartar salad | steamed oyster with ginger sauce | stuffed fried tofu | sauteed tender pea sprouts | fish soup | rice

• another French influence to Vietnamese food, beef tartar.
  

Hors d'œuvre

12-13-2010 Mon. mild, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at K. food court ) Korean B.B.Q. short ribs | rice
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee
DINNER --- ( at H. hotel lounge ) Hors d'œuvre | white wine

union square

• Korean grilled short ribs from the food court are very good, but kind of heavy for lunch. so take a break at the dinner time...
  

Quails and pea sprouts

12-12-2010 Sun. cold, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- soup noodles with mushroom and napa cabbage
DINNER --- ( at K.T. Vietnamese restaurant in S.F.) fried quails | steamed manila clams | curried lamb pot | salt and pepper pork chop | sauteed pea sprouts | rice

tender pea sprouts

• San Francisco ! the pea sprouts are so tender and fresh.
  

sandwich for a working weekend

12-11-2010 Sat. chilly, mixed clouds and sun.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at Sharon's ) sandwich | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
AFTER-CONCERT DINNER --- broiled cod | pickled radish

• off the regular meal time all day.
  

joy cooking club

12-10-2010 Fri. a tiny of snow

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea and dried fruit
DINNER --- ( a dinner for the cooking group) sparkling wine with pomegranate juice | seaweed seasoned fried dough twists | adamame | baked Japanese sweet potato | Japanese style broiled chicken ball skewers with ginkgo seeds || winter bamboo shoots simmered in bonito broth and marinated with white miso | beach mushroom confit ( in thyme olive oil) | roasted piquillo peppers stuffed with smoked tofu, fennel, and crushed peanuts | threaded cuttlefish simmered and marinated in sweet soy and rice wine | wonton soup with tong-hao leaves, fried tofu and mushroom | white miso marinated and grilled cod | Japanese rice ball | lightly pickled radish | white wine || sweet fermented rice soup with tiny sticky rice dumplings and "silver ear" | almond crisps |

bonito, kombu, winter bamboo shoots, heavenly bamboo berries

Japanese style finger food

shoots and leaves


mushroom confit, piquillo, cuttlefish

wonton soup


white miso grilled cod


sweet fermented rice porridge

• little bit of many things, a lot of preparation work, a fun dinner
  

a variation of Huevos rancheros

12-09-2010 Thu. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed mustard green buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- fresh salsa | refried black beans with caramelized onion | Mexican rice | scrambled eggs with cilantro and smoked mussels | wine

• changed fried egg to scrambled egg, no tortilla this time.
  

Nobu cod

12-08-2010 Wed. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed mustard green buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple | roasted mountain walnut
DINNER --- chili pickled napa cabbage | Si-chuan style spicy eggplant with shiitake and tomato | miso and mirin marinated and broiled cod fillet | rice | wine

• Nobu did not invent the recipe of grilled black cod with miso, but made it hugely popular in the US. Black cod is not in the cod family!
  
• this experiment is done with regular east coast cod, a thinner part of the fillet near belly. the fillet is marinated in sea salt first for a couple of hours, then wrapped in the mixture of white miso and mirin and marinated for 2 days. since no slow grilling tool is available, the fish is broiled under high heat for 15 minutes till brown.the result is satisfactory, subtle salty-sweet flavor and firm-flaky texture
  

like a noodle stall, in home kitchen

12-07-2010 Tue. cold wind, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with bitter melon and chicken meat ball (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pan-fried pork chop | Matsuzaka soup noodles with winter bamboo shoot, shiitake, leek and napa cabbage

• dream to have some noodle stalls around the street corner, a big bowl of steaming hot soup noodles in such a cold day.
  

Meatball in "fried dough bubble"

12-06-2010 Mon. cold wind, sunny.

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with caramelized onion and carrots
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | clementine
DINNER --- tempura of fermented tofu with bonito dipping sauce | sauteed bitter melon and mushroom with fermented black bean | stewed chicken meatballs in "Shanghai-style fried dough bubble" with tomato and leek | rice | wine

• The golden colored bubble is a Shanghai special, very airy and hollow inside, crispy shell. meatball is stuffed inside and stew makes the shell shrinks and wraps the meat ball like soft skin.
  

a collection of root vegetables

12-05-2010 Sun. cold wind, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee with Baileys | grape fruit | pan-fried Shanghai-style soup dumplings | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | pomegranate
DINNER --- roasted Japanese sweet potato | wonton soup with fennel and shrimp | caramelized onion and carrots | rice | wine

• a winter meal with root vegetables: sweet potato, fennel bulb, onion and carrots
  

Delicate lemon sole

12-04-2010 Sat. chilly, sunny


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | Korean style turnover with chive filling | grapefruit | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- Gouda cheese, local artisan goat cheese with rye crispbread | pan-fried lemon sole in crusted spice paste ( sea salt, black pepper corn, fresh ginger, garlic, fennel seed, sumac, and mace ), with lightly pickled radish and pomegranate seeds | sauteed fresh fennel bulb, leek, winter bamboo shoot and snow pea | bulgur | steamed and pan-fried Brussels sprouts | wine

• lemon sole is delicious, tender and flavorful. The fresh homemade spice paste worked very well, the only technical challenge was to flip the fish in the pan without breaking the delicate fillet and losing the spice crust. The fennel bulb, leek, winter bamboo shoot served as a rich textured vegetable bed for the fish
  

Afghan food

12-03-2010 Fri. cold, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee | LU chocolate cookie
LUNCH --- pasta with ragu sauce ( leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- clementine
DINNER --- ( at F. Afghan restaurant ) Aushak ( scallion-filled dumplings topped with yogurt and meat sauce) | Pakowray Kachalu (fried slices of sweet potatoes ) | Bulanee (turnovers stuffed with spiced scallions and herbs ) | quabili pilau (braised lamb shank with carrots, raisins and basmati rice ) | fine-chopped sauteed spinach | wine | rice pudding | baklava ( phyllo dough with chopped nuts ) | espresso

bulanee, pakowray kachalu, & quabili pilau

• warm and hearty Afghan food in the neighborhood restaurant.
  

Vegetable ragu sauce

12-02-2010 Thu. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings | clementine
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | LU chocolate cookie
DINNER --- steamed and pan-fried Brussels sprouts | pasta with vegetable ragu sauce | wine

• five kinds of fresh vegetables in one sauce, done with fine chopping and low-heat simmering
  

switched fennel from salad to soup

12-01-2010 Wed. chilly, rain.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried cabbage and mushrooms ( leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | clementine
DINNER --- fennel soup with tomato and shiitake | steamed dumplings with filling of mustard green, shiitake and chicken | wine

• seasons change, fennel moves from crunchy salad to hearty soup.
  

the same old Tuesday

11-30-2010 Tue. mild, rain


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with tong-hao porridge and winter bamboo shoots
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- clementine
DINNER --- stir-fired cabbage with fermented fava bean sauce | sauteed mushrooms and cured tofu | pan-fried pork chop | rice | fennel salad | wine

• in a hurry the pork chop meal is ready.
  

eats shoots and leaves

11-29-2010 Mon. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried chive flowers and chicken
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | clementine
DINNER --- baked fries of Japanese sweet potato | sauteed tong-hao leaves, silky tofu and shrimp | clay pot stew of winter bamboo shoots, shiitake, leek, cured tofu and wood-ear | rice | fennel salad | wine

fresh winter bamboo shoots

eats shoots and...

... leaves


Japanese sweet potato fries without frying

• first of the season: fresh winter bamboo shoots arrive at the local market, and a fresh selection of winter greens