skip to main |
skip to sidebar
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.
11-28-2010 Sun. chilly, sunny.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | grape fruit
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | roasted Chinese wild walnuts
DINNER --- broiled chicken drumettes marinated with spices | tong-hao leaves porridge with crushed peanuts | rice | fennel salad | wine
chicken drumettes***
an exhibit on E. Saarinen at Finnish Embassy- lucky to have seen quite a few of E. Saarinen's masterpieces in the US. not so much luck to find out about Finnish food here, maybe similar to Swedish cooking?
11-27-2010 Sat. cold wind, sunny.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at S & I's reception) California cider | New Haven style pizza | Malaysian style chicken and noodles | Chinese style meat and vegetables | ice cream from Columbus, Ohio | carrot cake
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | clementine
DINNER --- baked and pan-fried butternut squash | steamed manila clams with lemon juice | cai-fan（菜饭） creamy rice with winter greens, winter bamboo shoot and cured pork in vegetable broth | wine
vegetables for broth, Egyptian rice, squash patty, crust of creamy rice
Chinese greens, bamboo shoots, cured pork and Mediterranean rice- a fusion of Shanghai-style Cai-Fan (rice cooked with greens and pork) and Mediterranean paella rice dish cooked with broth and olive oil. the broth is prepared with a long simmering of fresh vegetables with olive oil. Egyptian rice is short-grain creamy wholly absorbing the broth, the closest to the famed Spanish Bomba rice. Chinese ingredients of young mustard green, winter bamboo shoot, and Hunan cured pork add wonderful texture and flavor to the rice mixture.
11-26-2010 Fri. chilly, cloudy.
BREAKFAST --- coffee | apple
LUNCH --- miso soup with napa cabbage, mushroom and tofu
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- stir-fried chive flower buds and smoked tofu | sauteed mustard green | baked and pan-fried butternut squash | rice | wine
- in need of real vegetables in their original form and flavor.
11-25-2010 Thu. chilly, cloudy.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
THANKSGIVING DINNER --- ( at Rafael's ) turkey with traditional stuffing | mashed potatoes | beet dumpling soup | butternut squash soup | vegetables | three pies | sangria ||
( at Oreste's ) baked pasta with tomato sauce, ricotta and two sharp cheeses | Cuorm turkey stuffed with walnuts and cheese | wine
- had a good time with friends who invited us to their thanksgiving feasts.
11-24-2010 Wed.chilly, pale sun.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stew of wheat gluten and vegetables (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- chai
DINNER --- Chinese-style cured fish and pork | baked Japanese sweet potato | French onion soup | garlic bread | fennel salad | wine
Chinese cured fish and pork, Japanese sweet potato,French onion soup
- French onion soup is kind of like French baguette, basic French food, but not easy to achieve at the particular level as that in France. this time the soup is better than some earlier attempts. a vegetable broth ( simmered fresh fennel, carrots, celery, cabbage, radish and garlic ) is used in the place of beef broth. It is a good way to use leftover french bread, cheese to create a hearty and soothing meal.
11-23-2010 Tue. warm, light rain
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with shrimp and vegetables ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- white miso marinated and pan-fried Chilean sea pass with shiso and lemon juice | stir-fired red pepper and jalapeno | stew of wheat gluten with wood-ear, carrots, celery, and mushroom | rice | fennel and pear salad | wine
- Chilean sea bass was marinated in white miso for a sweet and salty flavor. a slow grill would be the best, here a low heat, very little oil careful pan-frying worked just fine as well.
11-22-2010 Mon. warm, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed napa cabbage and octopus ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed and sauteed Brussels sprouts | Chinese winter greens with mung bean noodles | stir-fried shrimp with red onion | pan-fried scallion and taro roots | rice | fennel salad | wine
- ad hoc Chinese home cooking usually works fine when putting together a meal with whatever ingredients one can find at hand.
11-21-2010 Sun. chilly, mixed cloud and sun.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Norwegian pancake | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | mandarin honey orange
DINNER --- tempura of fermented tofu with shiso dipping sauce | braised baby octopus in wine and ginger sauce | nabe ( hot pot ) of napa cabbage, leek, shiitake, Chinese winter greens, fried tofu, radish, red sweet onion, and Chilean sea bass | rice | wine
- the nabe broth is very flavorful thanks to all the fresh vegetables simmered together, even with a hint of spiciness from napa cabbage. Chilean sea bass is as tender as silky tofu when poached in this broth. when the content of the nabe is finished, the broth is finished up with a bowl of steamed rice.
11-20-2010 Sat. mild, sunny.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | grape fruit | Chinese chive turnover
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | mandarin honey orange
BEFORE-CONCERT-DINNER --- oysters with lemon juice, pomegranate juice and seeds | pale ale beer | Matsuzaka noodles in dashi broth with shiitake, winter greens, pearl mushroom, marinated radish, vegetable pickles and smoked mackerel 
oysters and citrus fruits
Matsuzaka noodles and mackerel- pomegranate gives subtle tangy kick to oysters, a trick learned from a restaurant in Oslo. Mackerel adds smoky flavor to the soup noodle. Ed joined us and enjoyed food and drink.
11-19-2010 Fri. chilly, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---rice with tong-hao porridge
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | apple
DINNER --- ( at Marilu's) Paneer ( Indian cottage cheese ) | white wine || shrimp patties | Malayalee ( Indian curry fish ) | sauteed snake gourd | lemon rice | red wine || sweet potato puran-Poli ( Indian sweet bread with sweet potato filling )
- Marilu's Indian dinner in her brand new kitchen and dinning room with everything glowing in a golden hue.
11-18-2010 Thu. chilly, clouds and sun.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed greens and ribs ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | sesame cookie
DINNER --- tong-hao porridge with crushed peanuts | pan-roasted Italian long pepper stuffed with leek, shiitake and seasoned tofu skin | rice | salad | wine
- the stuffing for the pepper has good consistency and flavor, just needs something to get a bit firmer texture when ground meat is replaced by tofu skin.
11-17-2010 Wed. chilly wind, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee | LU cookie
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bitter melon ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- tempura of stinky tofu with bonito dipping sauce | warm sake | lightly pickled and sauteed young mustard green and bean sprouts | Shanghai-style short ribs | rice | fennel and pear salad | wine
tofu tempura and sake
shanghai style ribs
- the trick to get melt-in-mouth ribs: low heat and slow cooking. braised in rice wine and spiced soy and sugar, it usually takes more than a hour on the stove.
11-16-2010 Tue. cool, rain
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bean sprouts | steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | sesame cookie
DINNER --- Tonkatsu ( pan-fried breaded pork chop) | sauteed bitter melon and mushroom with fermented black bean sauce | rice | baked Japanese sweet potato fries
- a fried pork chop top of a steamed rice bowl is a popular quick meal, Da-pai Fan in China, or Tonkatsu in Japan. it is a fusion food in the early days of western influence to the far east.
11-15-2010 Mon. mild, cloudy.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed string beans | steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple | LU cookie
DINNER --- mustard green wonton soup | sauteed octopus with mung bean noodles in ginger and garlic sauce | stir-fried bean sprouts and cabbage | rice | fennel and pear salad | wine
- homey Chinese food, cannot be found in any restaurant.
11-13-2010 Sat. warm, sunny.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | pan-fried little dumplings | coconut cream bread | apple and orange
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- baguette with butter | sauteed baby octopus in ginger and garlic sauce | sauteed snap peas with shiitake | rice | fennel and radish salad | wine
- little octopus comes back in season, only the price went up 50% in the local store.
11-12-2010 Fri. warm, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried cabbage and pork
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- roasted-then-fried butternut squash patty spiced with cumin and curry | marinated jelly fish threads with chayote with kelp paste | curried onion and string beans | rice |pear and fennel salad | wine
- quite a bit of spice and curry into the fall vegetable dishes
11-11-2010 Thu. gougers day, brilliant blue sky and sun.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at K. Izakaya and Sushi restaurant ) white miso soup | skewer of chicken, beef and duck sausage | hot stone ( grill on the table) wagyu beef, shishito pepper and gold ptotato | steamed rice
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
BEFORE DINNER DRINK --- frisco ( cocktail whiskey, benedictine, lime juice, lemon juice, slice of orange )
DINNER --- huevos rancheros: refried black beans | Mexican rice | fresh salsa of tomato, onion and cilantro | sunny-side-up eggs | wine 
a perfect fall day to visit Sidney's wood studio 
lunch at K. Lzakaya
kushiyaki
hot stone grill on the table- first visit to K. Lzakaya restaurant not too far from Sidney's studio, sit among all the sushi eaters and had smoke arise from the hot stone table grill. Wagyu beef is tender and juicy, only coarse sea salt and pepper are used, no dipping sauce. the white miso soup here is good with distinguished kelp scent.
11-10-2010 Wed. warm, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at J.G. Chinese restaurant ) sauteed mushroom and seafood | orange beef | rice AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of minced chicken and mustard green | pear and fennel salad | wine
- mustard green adds a little spicy taste to the dumplings. the texture could have been a little coarser, recalling how it is at the old neighborhood breakfast corner in Shanghai.
11-09-2010 Tue. chilly, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with ratatouille (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- stir-fried cabbage with fermented fava bean sauce | pan-fried thin breaded pork chop spiced with cumin and cayenne pepper | stir-fried sliced red pepper, jalapeno, with shiitake | rice | wine
- cooked under 30 minutes, tasted 3-course colorful and flavorful dinner.
11-08-2010 Mon. chilly, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with Tong-hao porridge (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- ratatouille (tomato, onion, eggplant, zucchini, red pepper and shiitake) | sauteed mushroom with tong-hao leaves | steamed stinky tofu | rice
chestnut turns golden in the garden- the onion and tomato are sauteed slowly in olive oil first, add it later to the diced vegetable mix pot to give ratatouille intense flavor.
11-07-2010 Sun. chilly, mixed sun and clouds.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- (1) oven-roasted Japanese sweet potato || (2) Iranian flat bread | goat cheese | wine || (3) Tong-hao and egg porridge with crushed peanuts | rice |
- three-tier dinner, separately prepared and served. Tong-hao leaves are in season, tender with strong scent, though not as fresh and young as those at markets in Shanghai. Tong-hao porridge goes extremely well with plain rice.
11-06-2010 Sat. chilly, cloudy.
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | scallion pancake | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- fresh water fish stew with tofu and shiitake | stir-fried eggplant in garlic and fermented fava bean sauce | rice | avocado salad | wine
- the fish stew broth is flavorful , so is tofu, but the fish meat itself lacks firm texture. a lot more to learn about fresh water fish, this one is called " bamboo shoot" fish, it is supposed to have a tender and sweet taste.
11-05-2010 Fri. chilly, cloudy.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- home-made wonton in dashi broth with spinach and egg
- so-called Shanghai big wonton is filled with minced scallion, shrimp and chicken. egg is cooked first like a thin pancake then cut into thin threads. dashi broth is prepared in the traditional way of using kombu ( dried kelp) and katsuo-bushi ( dried bonito flakes)
11-04-2010 Thu. warm, sunny to chilly, rain
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( on the plane ) Fuji apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
LATE-NIGHT DINNER --- tomato soup with mushroom and spinach
- fresh tomato soup is full-flavor and hearty, good for body and soul
11-03-2010 Wed. warm, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at the market ) Fuji apple of Washington State
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- tea and dried fruit
- after a couple of days of bad food, it is wise to take a break from any meals. You cannot go wrong with fresh Fuji apples in season
11-02-2010 Tue. warm, sunny.
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at Pear's in Seattle ) "downtown duck" burger | "fireside" beer
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- ( at Cutter's ) Manila clams in wine sauce with fries | soba with vegetables | mojito
- duck is dry and flavorless, clams are not fresh and overcooked, soba is mishandled by making into lo-mein like substence, mojito is sickly sweeter than Coke with hardly any trace of rum. a tasteless ( and not cheap) experience of Seattle down town food
11-01-2010 Mon. chilly, rain
BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at the hotel ) half of a chicken wrap | salad
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- the other half of the chicken wrap
- why hotel food is almost as bad as airline food, at least hotel has big kitchen.
fresh winter bamboo shoots
eats shoots and...
... leaves 
Japanese sweet potato fries without frying
chicken drumettes
an exhibit on E. Saarinen at Finnish Embassy
vegetables for broth, Egyptian rice, squash patty, crust of creamy rice
Chinese greens, bamboo shoots, cured pork and Mediterranean rice
Chinese cured fish and pork, Japanese sweet potato,French onion soup
tofu tempura and sake
shanghai style ribs
mackerel and piquillo
ragu bolognese
gnocchi from scratch
a perfect fall day to visit Sidney's wood studio 
lunch at K. Lzakaya
kushiyaki
chestnut turns golden in the garden
