a Mediterranean leap to the past

3-31-2011 Thu. chilly,rain


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with wheat gluten sauteed in confit vegetable broth
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- (at Oreste and Francesca's) Pomodorni Ripieni: cherry tomatoes stuffed with spices, garlic and bread | pickled lemon, Lupini beans and Egyptian green olives | Wine: Falanghina from Campania, a region of Naples || Pasta e Fagioli alla Toscana: thick soup with Roman beans, pasta rosmary, garlic, and spices | Wine: Chianti Classico || platter of Mediterranean cheeses with homemade Mediterranean flat bread | Wine: Salice Salentino, from Apulia

• a meal of recipes and wine with trace back to ancient Mediterranean. the Tuscan bean and pasta soup is made by Oreste a slightly Mexicanized version. the Italian crushed red pepper and the smoked bacon are replaced with smoked Mexican peppers which have much more balanced spiciness and a beautiful smoky scent. there are also interesting small dishes such as pickled Mediterranean lemons, pickled Lupini beans, and Egyptian aged buffalo cheese.
  

confit vegetables

3-30-2011 Wed. chilly, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried chicken and onions
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- salad of marinated jellyfish, chayote and radish with citrus dressing | Lebanese-style confit vegetables: carrots, spring onions, shallots, mushrooms, tomato, garlic | scrambled eggs with Chinese flat leaf chives | rice | wine

• confit is a great way to bring out flavors from various vegetables, and keep vegetables intact with smooth texture the same time
  

Kung Pao chicken

3-29-2011 Tue. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed snow peas and shrimp
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Kung pao chicken | sauteed young mustard green | rice | wine

• the kung pao chicken did not fair well this time, meat was a bit dry and bland, the whole dish somehow tasted too salty the same time. sauce is off, plus chicken breasts not as good as chicken legs
  

Rapini

3-28-2011 Mon. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at G. J. Deli ) pastrami sandwich | curly spicy fries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- stir-fried shrimp with snow peas and Thai basil | sauteed rapini with garlic and shallots | rice | wine

• rapini is a kind of Italian greens similar to Chinese broccoli, bright green and a little nutty.
  

Huevos Rancheros

3-27-2011 Sun. cold, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Norwegian pancake with apple | pomelo
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- Huevos rancheros : | puffy pita bread | re-fried black beans | Mexican rice | fresh salsa | sunny-side-up fried eggs | wine

• a family supper before sundown, old fashioned and delicious.
  

octopus, jellyfish, trout and lentils

3-26-2011 Sat. chilly, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | cocnut cream bread | scallion pancake | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- salad of jellyfish, chayote and arugula with citrus dressing | Lebanese-style lentils simmered in spiced vegetable broth with tomatoes and red onion | sauteed baby octopus with spring onion and ginger | baked whole trout with thyme and olive oil | white wine

jelly fish, chayote and arugula

lentils

• a happy meal of seafood and vegetables
  

Mostly plants

3-25-2011 Fri. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- black tea
LUNCH --- rice with tong-hao porridge
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- kale chips | asparagus soup | homemade pizza : sweet onion, black mushrooms, cherry tomato and arugula, all with Asiago cheese | wine || fresh mango with raspberry sorbet

kale chips

arugula and tomato pizza

• leaves can take many shapes, tastes, and texture. baked kale chips taste similar to toasted Nori, light, a little bitter sweet.
  

black and white mushrooms

3-24-2011 Thu. chilly, gray sky.

BREAKFAST --- English breakfast tea
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bean sprouts and flat-leaf chives (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Tong-hao green porridge with crushed peanuts | pan-roasted jalapeno stuffed with minced lamb and red onion | stir-fried smoked tofu, red pepper, black and white mushrooms | rice | wine

• Tonghao greens has a fresh scent like pine tree. black and white mushrooms share a similar impression of woods in the spring.
  

Green, green, everywhere

3-23-2011 Wed. chilly, cloudy.

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns with filling of mustard green and daikon
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- pan-fried Brussels sprouts | scrambled eggs with flat-leaf chives | sauteed flat-leaf chives, smoked tofu and bean sprouts | green curry taro roots with Thai basil | rice | wine

• temperature goes down again with chilly wind, spring stays with us in the color of green in every dish this evening. scrambled eggs with finely chopped flat-leaf chives is a Chinese classic dish for the season of spring
  

a big soup bowl with everything

3-22-2011 Tue. mild, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- a big bowl of soup dumplings and egg noodles, with shrimp, chicken, bok choy, bean sprouts, taro roots, Thai sweet basil, and Cantonese sausage | wine

• very homey and satisfying big bowl soup with everything
  

Open the door, let the spring in

3-21-2011 Mon. warm, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- risotto with asparagus (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of chicken, shittake and bok choy | marinated jellyfish, arugula and chayote salad | wine

• new grows of herbs in the pot
  

Green risotto

3-20-2011 Sun. mild, sunny.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | scrambled eggs with Cantonese sausage | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | taro root with dried shiso flakes
DINNER --- poached Swiss chard and pomelo | cumin spiced lentil salad with olive oil and lemon juice dressing | asparagus risotto | wine

hazelnut blossoms from the garden

• celebrate the first day of spring, risotto is cooked with vegetable broth and asparagus, whole process took about two hours.
  

Pizza with a crust too thin

3-19-2011 Sat. mild, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cram bread | chive turnover | apple | fermented sweet rice dumpling soup
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
BEFORE-CONCERT-DINNER --- ( at L.T.) fried Brussels sprouts | stuffed red cherry peppers with goat cheese | oven-roasted olives with bread | pizza: smoked red- pepper and smoked gouda cheese , pepperoni and tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and prosciutto | house draft beer

fry-browned Brussels sprouts

cute sweet piquante ( Peppadew jarred )

crust too thin and too dried out

• L.T. serves Italian/new American with a few South African ingredients thrown in. the Pizza got so-so score from a couple of experts ( including an Italian) at the table.
  

Brazilian dinner

3-18-2011 Fri. very warm, sunny.



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with chicken curry
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- (at Solange's ) Brazilian cheese | spicy sardine dip and banana chips | zucchini souffle | Brazilian beef fillet | fried banana | chicken sausage | salsa | cooked milk skin tart | wine

• a carnival of color and flavor
  

Indian curry

3-17-2011 Thu. mild, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- egg noodles with sauteed greens | steamed vegetable buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
BEFORE-CONCERT-DINNER --- chicken curry with greens and Garam Masala | sauteed canola greens | rice | wine

• there are so many different kinds of spice mixtures for curry, it will need a series of experiments to explore.
  

Cantonese wonton soup

3-16-2011 Wed. chilly, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed winter greens (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- salad of chayote, jellyfish and arugula with Japanese citrus dressing | Cantonese-style shrimp wonton and egg noodle soup with greens | sauteed canola shoots

• learning a thing or two from XO Chinatown about the Cantonese wonton soup, thin and crispy egg noodles, plump shrimp wonton, full body chicken broth and a little greens.
  

stir-fry and re-fry

3-15-2011 Tue. chilly, rain.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- Mexican rice ( leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- re-fried bean curd with Vietnamese chili dipping sauce | salad of chayote, marinated jellyfish and arugula | sauteed Chinese winter greens with fermented black beans | stir-fried red pepper, bean sprouts and cured pork. | rice | wine

• Chinese cooking seems to use "shallow fry" a lot instead of "deep fry"
  

Mexcian all the way

3-14-2011 Mon. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with garlic scape and pork ( leftovers )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Wolong tea | apple
DINNER --- salsa | Mexican rice | sauteed tender kale greens with Mexican spices | refried black beans | sunny-side-up ranch eggs | homemade baked tortillas | wine

• everything turns out well, egg is rich, bread is puffy, black beans are velvety, rice is firm and fragrant, salsa is hot and spicy, kale is fresh.
  

light on Sunday

3-13-2011 Sun. chilly,sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | pomelo | raspberry | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- confit vegetables | sauteed french beans | pasta with garlic scape and Chinese BBQ pork

• lose one hour, lose some appetite as well.
  

Lebanese-style Mezza at home

3-12-2011 Sat. mild, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | scrambled eggs with Cantonese style sausage | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | apple
DINNER --- manila clams with lime juice | baked sweet potato fries | Lebanese style confit vegetables with olive oil enriched pickling liquor ( anise liquor, lemon juice, fresh thyme) : spring onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, baby potatoes, shallots | Chiche barak: Lebanese-style lamb dumplings in yogurt soup with garlic scape | wine

• these small dishes actually take lots of ingredients and spices, more detailed preparation and longer cooking time. the results are delicious food packed with rich flavors.
  

go aroud Mediterranean

3-11-2011 Fri. cold, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with tomato sauce
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Greek olives and boiled egg salad | sauteed French green beans | pan-fried baby potatoes | baby octopus braised in sweet soy and wine with lemon peel and fresh thyme | white wine || cannoli | Benedictine

• thinking of the sunny land and warm sea of Mediterranean, Greece, Italy, Southern France, and Spain.
  

pasta 101

3-10-2011 Thu. chilly, rain.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with ma-po tofu and roasted jalapeno
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | apple
DINNER --- sauteed kale and shiitake | salad of par-boiled Swiss chard and marinated jellyfish | pasta with homemade tomato sauce | wine

• it becomes a routine to make tomato sauce at home.
  

hot and cool

3-09-2011 Wed. chilly, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with tong-hao porridge
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- salad of arugula, chayote and jelly fish with citrus dressing | ma-po tofu | pan-roasted jalapeno stuffed with minced chicken with sweet and sour sauce | rice | wine

• these jalapenos are decent hot, jelly fish salad is the perfect thing to cool it down. arugula adds a new interesting flavor to the salad with a subtle bite.
  

Tuesday rush

3-08-2011 Tue. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- Tong-hao porridge with crushed roasted peanuts | stir-fried shrimp, garlic scape, black mushroom and winter bamboo shoots | rice | wine

• another quick meal menu, tasted rather good.
  

a purist approach

3-07-2011 Mon. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pizza with black mushroom topping
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- vegetable soup: winter greens, winter bamboo shoots and winter black mushroom | steamed dumplings with boy choy, shiitake, and chicken fillings | wine

• when comes to prepare dumpling fillings, to hand-chop-mince or to use food processor, that is the question. It is all hand today, it does taste different, more moisture retained in the mixture, good texture as well
  

a portrait of green leaves

3-06-2011 Sun. chilly, rain.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | goat cheese | apple | sweet rice dumpling soup AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- eight greens soup with winter bamboo shoots and bonito broth | homemade pizza: black mushroom, caramelized onion, tomato sauce and arugula | wine

clockwise from left:
kale, Tong-hao, cilantro, arugula, shiso,
chard, bok choy, Thai basil

bonito and dried shrimp

eight greens soup

• a nice sampling of greens for the week, each one has its own particular flavor and texture.
  

Squids will be squids

3-05-2011 Sat. warm, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | scallion pancake | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | wasabi fried peas
DINNER --- sauteed fresh squid with winter bamboo shoots and Thai basil | fresh razor clams poached in wine, scallion, ginger and lemongrass broth | stir-fried garlic scape with fermented black bean sauce | french country bread | white wine

• an adventure into sea world. fresh squid is relatively easy to handle, remove the back cartilage, peel off the thin top skin, and marinate in rice wine. It is more work to clean and prepare razor clams.
  

sure you'll find something to cook

3-05-2011 Fri. not as cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- gnocchi with ragu sauce ( leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | Shanghai salsa | Shanghai-style seasoned rice with greens and cured fish | sauteed Swiss chard | wine

• refrigerator is almost empty by the end of week, nevertheless a three-course Shanghai-style meal was made out of one piece of smoked tofu,one slice of cured fish, one sweet potato and a small bunch of winter greens.
  

Improving homemade gnocchi

3-03-2011 Thu. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried chive flowers
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- sauteed Swiss chard | homemade gnocchi with vegetable ragu sauce | wine

• gnocchi was made last night with egg, potato and flour. soaked in ice water immediately after cooked al dente in boiling water, then mixed with a little olive oil and stored in a covered bowl overnight. Before dinner time today, gnocchi was heated up in a sauce pan with ragu sauce. The texture of gnocchi is significantly improved and the shape is held better.
  

green curry

3-02-2011 Wed. not as cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with B.B.Q. chicken wings and eggplant
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- green curry shrimp with Thai basil | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu with fermented black beans | sauteed bean sprouts and jalapeno | rice | wine

• try out green curry of Thai food, Thai green chili, shallots, garlic, and a handful spices of the usual suspects of curry family. it is hot, intense, and flavorful, and somehow tastes totally the opposite of Japanese curry.
  

In like a lion

3-01-2011 Tue. cold, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed mustard green and tofu | lemon plum
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER ---broiled spiced chicken drumlettes | stir-fried Asian eggplant and shiitake with Thai basil and chili sauce | Mexican rice with mole adobo | wine

lemon plum

• all spiced up to warm up, the first evening of March.