octopus in pasta, duck with fig

4-03-2019 Wed. 


 DINNER ---  stir-fried Chinese silk gourd, Chinese yam, shiitake with curry leaves | pasta with radicchio, baby octopus, golden pepper | cured duck breast with fig and watercress 

• more than an usual weekday fare 

sweets from Columbia

6-28-2017 Wed.  


 DINNER --- simmered baby octopus with silk gorud and beech mushroom | sauteed mustard green | rice | salad | wine || Columbia sweets

•  d.d. carried back the condensed milk sweets 

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.
  

Braising, in olive oil or wine and soy

1-09-2011 Sun. cold wind, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | egg and milk | apple | scallion pancake
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | sweet lotus seeds
DINNER --- chapatti bread with California goat cheese | olive-oil-braised and broiled fennel bulb | quinoa with confit beech mushroom and cauliflower ( braised in olive oil) | baby octopus braised in rice wine and sweet soy with fresh ginger and green onion | sparkling wine with pomegranate juice

fennel bulb

quinoa and confit mushroom ,cauliflower

• thin sliced fennel bulb is braised over low heat in olive oil, then broiled over high heat. an experiment to get a texture toothsome and smooth with a crispy edge.
  

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.
  

Little octopus

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.
  

a Few of my favorite things

6-06-2010 Sun. hot, storm


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | cherries | lychee | scallion pancake
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- piadine flat bread | sauteed fresh peas with garlic scape and cured pork | teriyaki baby octopus | fennel salad | red wine

• a few of my favorite things gathered in this meal.
  

Casual feasting

5-16-2010 Sun. mild, cloud to sun

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | baguette | cheese | pâté | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | fried sweet rice cakes | tempura of fermented tofu | gyoza | eggplant tempura | cold soba noodles
DINNER --- Mediterranean rice bowl: sofrito, baby octopus & smoked mussels | garlic bread | avocado fennel tomato salad | almond brittle | wine | tea

• Baby octopus and small smoked mussels have become fast friends.