steamed dumplings

7-31-2011 Tue. warm, cloudy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with simmered eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | tomato and bok choy soup | fennel salad | wine 

 

• the long summer month of july is finished by the staple meal of dumplings

stuffed eggplant with lamb

7-30-2012 Mon. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta salad
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- sauteed young mustard greens and fresh soy beans | simmered stuffed eggplant with ground lamb, bacon and roasted red pepper | rice | fennel salad | wine 

 

• stuffed Italian eggplant with slits like grid.

Lobster Roll

7-29-2012 Sun. warm, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | bread | watermelon | cherries  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Luke's Lobster ) lobster roll 
DINNER --- five-spice simmered fresh peanuts | spicy pickled napa cabbage | pasta with artichoke hearts, olives, baby squid, celery and roasted red pepper | avocado salad | wine 

 

 

• juicy and sweet lobster roll at Luke's, a great outdoor spot for a sunny and breezy summer afternoon.

seafood soup

7-29-2012 Sat. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread | watermelon | cherries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | blueberries

DINNER --- stir-fried bitter melon | sauteed baby spinach | sweet and sour seafood soup: shrimp, baby squid, mussels, okra, tamotillo, wood-ear, beech mushroom,cilantro, green onion, ginger and garlic | rice | avocado salad | wine 

 

• a dozen ingredients for the seafood soup

ribs and chips for Olympics 2012

7-27-2012 Fri. very hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed green beans 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea 
DINNER ---  mojito | chips and guacamole | BBQ short ribs | white gazpacho |  pan-roasted new potatoes | chilled mung bean tofu with pickled chili sauce 

 

• London opening ceremony

fresh summer vegetables

7-26-2012 Thu. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea 
DINNER --- simmered carrots with bacon and herbs | sauteed sweet corn with roasted sweet pepper and shallots | stir fried green beans with fermented black bean sauce | rice | avocado salad | wine 

 

• plain looking, deep flavor and super fresh.

baked sole

7-25-2012 Wed. warm, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with kung pao chicken 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries 
DINNER --- baked sole filet with lemon and ginger sauce | sauteed mushroom, wood-ear, tomato and cucumber | new potatoes with rosemary | steamed eggplant with pickled chili sauce | rice | avocado salad | wine 

 

•   a bit deviation from Chinese food

kung pao chicken

7-24-2012 Tue. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- noodles with canton sausage and green onion 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER ---  kung-pao chicken | spicy cabbage | cherry tomato and lettuce salad | rice | wine 

 

• getting familiar with the new routine

mung bean tofu

7-23-2012 Mon. hot, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- chilled noodles with chili sauce 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea 
DINNER --- stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu |sauteed bean sprouts with wood-ear | chilled mung bean tofu with pickled chili and ginger sauce | rice | avocado salad | wine 

 

• dinner of four starts today

baked eggplant boats

7-22-2012 Sun. warm, cloudy



 WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | scallion pancake | watermelon 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea 
 DINNER --- sauteed mustard greens with green and red chili | baked eggplant with ground lamb and tomato |avocado and cherry tomato salad | basmati  rice | beer 

 

• a middle eastern dish:  Shakle-Meshi , eggplant made into a boat to hold lamb and it juice, topped with tomato.

Crab feast

7-21-2012 Sat. cool, rain 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread | water melon |  cherries  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea 
DINNER --- ( at Drew's)  Bay crab feast: a bushel of live blue crabs from the Wharf Captain White, steamed and grilled, with Shanghai ginger black vinegar dipping sauce and spicy butter sauce | Sichuan spicy chilled noodles | potato salad | green salad | cole slaw | poppy seed strudel | peach pie | cherry pie 

 

• a messy and fun party of a bushel of crabs, from Cpt. White on the Wharf

Sushi before the Dumb Waiter

7-20-2012 Fri. warm, rainy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries 
BEFORE-THEATER-DINNER --- ( at local Japanese shop Hinata ) sushi: mackerel fresh and lightly pickled, salmon, sweet shrimp, fatty tuna roll, salmon skin roll 

 

• it feels at home to have sushi at Hinata
• a local theater's preview of Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, great play, amateurish production

tomato with scrambled eggs

7-19-2012 Thu. hot, hazy, storm.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed tofu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine
DINNER --- stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu and fermented black beans | curried  potato threads | scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion | avocado salad |  rice | wine

 

• homey scrambled eggs with tomatoes

silken tofu

7-18-2012 Wed. very hot, hazy.  


BREAKFAST --- green tea 
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine
DINNER --- stir-fried cauliflowers with garlic scape and beech mushrooms | sauteed silken tofu with shrimp and ginger scallion sauce | rice | wine

 

• a very hot day.

steamy

7-17-2011 Mon. very hot, hazy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- new potatoes with tomato and onion 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with filling of bok choy, shittake and chicken | tomato and lettuce salad | wine 

dream of a farm home...

• always feel at home making dumplings

a long array of vegetables

7-17-2012 Mon. hot, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee 

LUNCH --- rice with sauteed vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
DINNER --- stir-fried string beans | sauteed new potatoes with onion and tomato | sauteed stir-fried eggplant with leek and canton sausage | sauteed bean sprouts and spinach with pad Thai sauce | cherry tomato and fennel salad | beer 

 

• relying on fresh vegetables, counts ten for a meal.

Hypnocoffee and drama in Shepherdstown

7-15-2012 Sun. hot, hazy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | baked sesame buns | bread with hummus | watermelon | grapes 
AFTER-THEATER-TEATIME --- ( at Hypnocoffee Roastery, Shepherdstown ) hand-brewed coffee
DINNER --- marinated spicy cabbage, eggplant, fresh peanuts, and pickled hot chili peppers | chilled cucumber and sweet corn soup | sauteed okra, fish cake, fried tofu and cauliflowers | rice | homegrown cherry tomato and lettuce salad | wine 

 Hypnocoffee Roastery, Shepherdstown

 

• Shepherdstown is a surprisingly charming small college town in WV, with two century old library, well-edited book store, a summer contemporary theater festival, and a  4-stool coffee house with seriously good coffee.

chili peppers, fresh and pickled

7-14-2012 Sat. hot, cloudy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | watermelon | bread with hummus  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums 
DINNER --- sweet potato chips and Cajun dip | spicy roasted peanuts || chilled cucumber soup: cucumber, green grape, green onion, tomatillo, spinach, jalapeno, shallot, Marcona almonds, and fresh herbs, with fig and rum quenelle | steamed and marinated Asian eggplant with pickled red chili | pan-fried new potatoes with rosemary | sauteed sweet corn with red pepper, green chili and shallots | roasted vegetarian duck | beer | Louisiana bread pudding with bourbon cream sauce 

 

• inspired by Cajun food, for vegetarian friends who love chili peppers and bourbon

new potatoes

7-13-2012 Fri. warm, cloudy. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed chicken
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine
DINNER --- stir-fried green beans | sauteed tofu with fish cake and  cucumber | sauteed new baby potatoes with onion and mustard | homegrown cherry tomato salad | beer 

 

• most from farm to table

it's time for sweet corn

7-12-2012 Thu. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- prosciutto sandwich 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- sauteed fresh sweet corn with shallots and mint  | sauteed fresh peas | stir-fried chicken with Thai basil, pickled hot chili, spring onion and carrots | homegrown cherry tomato and lettuce salad | rice | wine 

 

• a traditional meal, both in American and Chinese.

new potato and lamb ribs

7-11-2012 Wed. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- prosciutto  sandwich 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- sauteed baby spinach with garlic and pine nuts | pan-fried new potatoes | boiled lamb ribs | wine 

 

• spinach and potatoes are very fresh and taste good. tried lamb ribs the first time, the cut was not good, at least for for broiling.

Ceviche!

7-10-2012 Tue. hot, cloudy, shower. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with curried cauliflower 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- red snapper ceviche with tomatillo, green onion and jalapeno | vegetable ceviche: cauliflower, shallot, okra, carrot, red chili and herbs | corn tortilla | mojito | fennel and cherry tomato salad 

 

• lime juice for fish, dashi broth for vegetable, raw tomatillo adds interesting texture and refreshing flavor. 

curried cauliflower

7-09-2012 Mon. hot, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries 
DINNER ---  curried cauliflower | threaded chicken and mushroom | avocado and fennel salad | rice | wine 

•  back to work, ad hoc meal

Banh Mi in Brooklyn

7-08-2012 Sun. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | watermelon 
LUNCH --- ( at Hanco's, Park Slope, Brooklyn ) banh mi classic | bubble tea 
DINNER --- pan-fried scallion pancake | lettuce and fennel salad | beer 

 

• fresh baguette, juicy meat, crunch and spicy pickled vegetables, good lunch on 7th ave in Park Slope.

Izakaya midtown, Met uptown

7-07-2012 Sat. very hot, hazy. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | french toast | watermelon 
LUNCH --- chilled  mung bean soup 
DINNER --- ( at Udon West, NYC)  smelt tempura | fluke fin sashimi | summer vegetable in dashi broth | simmered  beef tongue | slightly pickled mackerel sashimi | broiled salmon jar | salad with fried sardine | soba | chilled udon | beer 

• good variety, good quality, casual and fun. West Udon midtown 

•   very hot day, stay cool with art in Met

 Ellsworth Kelly drawings

 porcelain art: Mary Rogers, Angela Verdon

sushi, ice cream and bookstores in Berkshires

7-06-2012 Fri. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- ( at coffee house Bantam, CT) coffee | almond pastry
LUNCH --- ( at Norimaki, Washington depot, CT) grilled  black cod | house-made sesame tofu in dashi broth | Tokyo style tariyaki shrimp and scallop | udon | sushi 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at the train station ice cream, Canaan, CT) ice cream 
DINNER --- ( at M.M.'s) steamed shao-mai | chilled mung bean and barley soup | egg drop soup with tomato and seaweed | homemade cha-shao pork shoulder | tiramisu 

 goma-tofu

 grilled black cod

teriyaki surf turf 

 looking for tadpole in a creek

old train station ice cream, covered bridge

 

•  a few loops in Berkshires, see woods, creeks, and old towns. Norimaki serves well-made expensive Japanese food next to an excellent book store, at the cross road of Washington Depot.