chiense taco bun

2-28-2013 Thu. cold, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
BEFORE-CONCERT-DINNER --- steamed Chinese taco bun with twice-cooked pork shoulder, caramelized onion and cilantro | napa cabbage  soup | wine 

 

• add smoked pimenton to caramelized onion 
• concert : Mozart- Requiem 

steamed dumplings

2-27-2013 Wed. chilly, rain. 



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed mustard greens 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of minced chicken, shiitake and bok choy | wine

 

• dumplings are back

scrambled eggs with tomato

2-26-2013 Tue. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with red pepper sauce 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- scrambled eggs with tomato and cilantro | sauteed mustard greens | sauteed bitter melon and shittake | rice | wine 

 

• quick meal, comfort food

red and green

2-25-2013 Mon. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with simmered spicy eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pasta with roasted red pepper and hot chili sauce and black olives | sauteed radicchio and artichoke hearts | sauteed mustard green | garlic bread | wine 

 

• sweet pepper and hot chili blend well into red pasta source

More Nordic Cool

2-24-2013 Sun. chilly, sunny. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | bread and cheese | apple | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- sauteed shrimp with snow pea and okra | simmered spicy eggplant |  sauteed Chinese greens | rice | wine 

Laser-cut Veryround chair by Louise Campbell 

 

• some cool designs at Nordic Cool. Danish architect Bjarke Ingels gave a talk about " Hedonistic Sustainability", for example some CO2 puff off from a waste-treatment plant chimney like giant smoke ring.

sea bream

2-23-2013 Sat. chilly, rain.  


WEEKEND-BREAKFAST --- coffee |  Limpa bread | Norwegian goat cheese | grapefruit
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  tea
AFTER-CONCERT-DINNER --- baked whole sea bream | steamed and pan-fried  Brussels sprouts | garlic bread | wine 

 

• busy evening

D day

2-22-2013 Fri. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with Kao-fu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- garlic bead | steamed and pan-fried Brussels sprouts | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | wine 

 

• D is for .... 

Kao-Fu

2-21-2013 Thu. cold, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- simmered kao-fu with wood-ear, lily buds, shiitake, and winter bamboo shoots | sauteed Chinese winter greens | spicy eggplant with shallots and cilantro in fermented fava bean sauce | baked Japanese  sweet potato fries | rice | wine 

 

•   kao-fu is like sponge absorbing flavors.

metamorphosis at Nordic Cool

2-20-2013 Wed. cold, windy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee 
LUNCH --- rice with spicy eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
BEFORE-THEATER-DINNER ---  pastrami sandwich | rice soup || (after) Chinese sweet rice dumplings with fermented rice broth 

 

• Kafka's Metamorphosis transformed onto stage by an Icelandic theater, at Nordic Cool.

team-up gingko seeds and celery

2-19-2013 Tue.  chilly, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pounded rice cakes with vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- sauteed celery, winter bamboo shoots and gingko seeds | braised eggplant with fermented fava bean sauce | chickpea and roasted red pepper salad | rice | wine

 

• the chickpea salad is prepared for an office party. the eggplant dish is getting better and better, full of flavor and almost creamy without losing color and shape.  gingko seeds go very well with celery.

Shanghai style

2-18-2013 Mon. cold, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | afghan sweet bread | limpa bread and Norwegian goat cheese | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- Shanghai style pan-fried lotus root stuffed with minced tofu skin and shallots | threaded carrots with tuna and egg |  Shanghai style braised short ribs | Shanghai style pounded rice cake with vegetables | wine 

• homey and casual

spring rolls before Metamorphoses

02-17-2013 Sun. cold, windy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | grapefruit
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
BEFORE-THEATER-DINNER --- fried spring rolls ( filling of bamboo shoots, shiitake, smoked tofu, yellow chive, snow pea, twice-cooked pork, dried shrimp  and napa cabbage ) | congee 

 

• the spring roll filling is terrific with eight ingredients cooked separately and mixed at final stage. the wrap is  too thick, a wrong brand this time. 

• Metamorphoses  at Arena Stage, a good show with a good deal of water splashing.

Indo-Italian-Colombian/Caribbean

2-16-2013 Sat. cold, snow flakes.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | Afghan sweet bread | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- ( at Oreste's ) Indo-Italian-Colombian/Caribbean

Indian Appetizer by Francesca
- Tikka Paneer (Paneer sauted with the traditional Tandouri spices)
- Chikpease Chat (a chickpease salad with masala)
Wine: Marsala Martini (a cocktail with Dry Marsala, Dry Vermouth, and Gin

First Course (Italian)
- Spaghetti alla panna doppio peperoncino. 
Spaghetti in a creamy sauce with  blended fresh red chillies

 an additional very hot sauce on the side, done with dried hot peppers.
Wine: Dry Rose` (Malbec-Syrah blend) from Argentina

Main Dish (Colombian/Caribbean)
- Traditional meat (soy in our case) baked dish, stuffed with medium hot peppers and
Colombian cheese, cooked in a tomato/rhum gravy, with side of baked sweet potatoes with epazote
(a Colombian herb),  and different pepper sauces on the side
Wine: Dry Rose` (Tarragona) from Spain

Dessert (Italian)
- Crespelle alla  marmellata di arance candite in salsa di cioccolata.
Italian crepes with pickled (organic) orange peels and chocolate sauce 

Haitian Rum and cocktail (orange+spiced Rhum+blue curacao)

 

• a true feast, three continents, old and new world

stir-fry and pounded rice cake

2-15-2013 Fri. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stuffed gluten puff 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- stir-fried Chinese pounded rice cake (nian gao) with napa cabbage, chive flowers smoked tofu, shiitake and twice-cooked pork shoulder | wine 

 

• belated "Year cake" for the Chinese new year

Rabbit brain?

2-014-2013 Thu. chilly,  sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed lotus root and greens 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER ---  simmered  wheat gluten puff stuffed with minced chicken, roasted red pepper, parsley  and onion | stir-fried eggplant with fermented fava bean sauce and shallots | rice | wine 

 

• someone calls it " rabbit brain"

pasta and radicchio

2-13-2013 Wed. chilly, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed greens
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pasta with radicchio, black olive, parsley, smoked mussels and smoked salmon | wine 



 

• one plate of everything

a winter day blessed with vegetables

2-12-2013 Tue. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed mustard greens 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- sweet and sour lotus root and shiitake | sauteed Chinese broccoli | simmered Japanese winter squash with onion and parsley | rice | wine 

 

• texture in contrast

leftovers

2-11-2013 Mon. chilly, cloudy. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with sauteed chard
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple  
DINNER --- toasted bread with Dijon mustard and smoked salmon | sauteed mustard greens | steamed short ribs | rice | wine 

 

• quick and simple

squid will be squid

2-10-2013 Sun. chilly, sunny. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | bread | grapefruit 
DINNER --- Thai-style hot and sour squid with winter bamboo shoot and Thai basil | sauteed re stem chard with garlic | rice | wine

• in need  of low-calorie meal

For the Snake Year

2-09-2013 Sat. chilly, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and jam | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- ( at Sharon's )  roasted pork shoulder | baked fish | buk choy | pea leaves | stir-fried shrimp | steamed short ribs | flatbread topped with gigante, smoked scallops and roasted red pepper paste | stir-fried beef cubes with green beans | rice | wine 

 

• very impressive big piece of pork, roasted golden with crispy skin.

Linguine con le vongule and Goulash

2-08-2013 Fri. chilly, rain to cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with tong hao porridge 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER ---linguine fini with fresh manila clam and clam sauce | wine || (at Sonia's B- party) Austrian Goulash | cheese | bread | tons of wine 

• many hours of talking and drinking.  the Goulash is very good.

no time for dinner

2-07-2013 Thu. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
BEFORE-CONCERT --- ( at NMWA reception) hors d'ouevres | wine 
AFTER-CONCERT-DINNER --- tofu with shrimp and minced chicken | Chinese sweet rice dumplings in fermented rice broth | wine 

 

• rushing across the town for a reception of Freya's art show and a concert of Sibelius' 

steamed buns and dumplings

2-06-2013 Wed. cold, cloudy. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee 
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | tong-hao porridge with crushed peanuts |wine 


 

• a therapeutic  routine of making  dumplings

a super bowl of noodles

2-05-2013 Tue. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with winter vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- mutsuzaka noodles in beef broth with baised beef brisket, thai basil, winter bamboo shoots, tong hao leaves, green chili and bean sprouts | roasted garlic bread | wine 

• rich, hearty, without grease

vegie night

2-04-2013 Mon. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with simmered winter squash and shor ribs
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine 
DINNER --- sweet and sour lotus root | stir-fried winter bamboo shoots, wood-ear, smoked tofu and shiitake | steamed and pan-fried Brussels sprouts | rice | wine 

 

•   chop, stir and fry.

where have all the chicken wings gone

 2-03-2013 Sun. cold, snow.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | orange bread | bread and cheese | grape fruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- simmered spicy peanuts | stir-fried fresh tuna and lightly pickled mustard green | sauteed lotus root | stir-fried eggplant and green chili | rice | wine 

 

• super bowl

albacore tuna

2-2-2013 Sat. cold, snow dusting. 



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread with cheese | orange bread | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 

DINNER --- bruschetta with eggplant spread | red wine || marinated and pan-seared albacore tuna | simmered Japanese winter squash | stir-fried bitter melon | tong hao porridge | wine 

 

• there was a guy at the market carving a whole albacore tuna. got a couple of steak cuts and a piece of  belly. marinated with miron and sweet soy, ginger, white pepper for a hour, then pan-seared for a two minutes per side. it tasted very much like chicken.

can you pronuce Sardou, Etouffee, and Beignets

2-1-2013 Fri. cold, high wind.  

BREAKFAST --- tea 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- milk and egg
DINNER --- ( at Marilu's) crab meat Sardou with artichoke and creamy spinach | shrimp Etouffee  with brown rice | sweet potato tart | Beignets with Chicory coffee 

 

• New Orleans cuisine. the best part is Beignets= fresh doughnuts