seeconrun: food

Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

pad thai pandamonium

Does anyone have suggestions for where I can find tamarind paste in the city? B and I spent a good days worth of searching in Chinatown, bustling through the crowds, investigating the aisles of sauces, spices and pastes, talking to shop owners and clerks (or at least trying to given the many language barriers), and even getting ripped off! They charged me $1.15 for my tofu when the sign read 95 cents. When I tried to explain to the lady that she mischarged me, all I got was an astounding, "NO." Errr..ok. And it happened again at another market. Granted the produce is cheap, but still I'd much rather pay the advertised 45 cents/lb for my peaches than the 55 cents that was rung up!

Exhausted and annoyed, B and I scooted home, picked up some peanuts and a lime at Whole Foods and settled with a jar of "pad thai sauce." It was too sweet for my liking (surely not the authentic pad thai taste I was hoping to recreate myself), but with a little mix of fish sauce, hoison and siracha, it was pretty yummy.

Friday, August 13, 2010

a soup and salad kinda day

[gallery]

Monday, August 09, 2010

one fishy weekend

[gallery][gallery]

Thursday, July 22, 2010

colors of caprese

On top of being simple, really fresh and flavorful, I like my meals to have a lot of color. A caprese makes for just that- red and orange heirloom tomatoes (I did a quick google search on orange heirlooms and found they have fun names like hillbilly, gold dust and hawaiian pineapple)-- tossed in with fresh basil and bite-size pieces of mozzarella. With the accompaniment of fine olive oil and balsamic vinegar to drizzle, and even better, a freshly baked rustic baguette to serve.. Alas, summertime is here.

Then again, I could eat this anytime of the year.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

it's a noodle soupy day

This an Asian fusion of sorts. Japanese rice noodles, Korean fishcakes, Chinese-Vietnamese mother's cooking advice and broth recipe with lots of garlic, cilantro, green onions and bean sprouts. And there you have it, a savory noodle soup to comfort you in what seems like winter weather in the Bay.

Friday, July 09, 2010

pizza for two, please

Having grown up on Pizza Hut, Papa John's and fortunately, Petrillo's in my hometown, I had a liking for thick oily cheesy pizza. I mean pizza is pizza, and for the most part it's really good. I thought I knew pizza and what I liked and didn't, which included Little Cesars and Domio's..

But as I've been making my way around pizza in the Bay-- North Beach's Golden Boy, Pizziaola in Oakland, Baretta in the Mission, Gialina in Glenn Park, Zuppa in SOMA, and Pizza Delfina in both the Mission and Fillmore, I've become a different kind of pizza lover, connoisseur and maybe even snob of sorts.

I've discovered that I love high quality, thin-crust Neapolitan style pizza. Pizziaola (although hella expensive) and Gialina are a couple favs that make just the right crust, thin and crispy with still a bit of chew. Zuppa serves neoplitan style pizza and has a cool industrial decor, but their pizza is a bit too soggy, oily and bland for my liking. Quite disappointing given its convenient downtown location. Golden Boy's quick takeout or eat in on a barstool--although not neapolitan with their crisp and fluffy insides is still addictive at any time of the day, as a lunchtime snack or a late drunken night eat.

Alas, it was time to make my own restaurant quality pizza--well, partially. With that dinner time urge, B picked up some freshly made dough to go at Goat Hill in Potrero and as fast or slow as we could, we topped the rolled out dough with marinara sauce, fresh slices of mozarella and heirloom tomatoes, sprinkle of basil and red pepper flakes and ta-da..party dance! Beautiful fancy shmancy pizza.

Ready to go in the oven set at 450degrees for ten minutes.

Monday, June 28, 2010

lazy pasta dinner

I don't like spaghetti much because I ate too much of it in college and as a kid, but in wanting a quick fix, I put together the leftovers I had sitting in my fridge--chard, kale, pesto and slow roasted tomatoes and made this mix. The pinenuts fancied it up a bit, and made this lazy pasta dinner a complete meal.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

basil, mozarella and tomato

my new name for the caprese (said with a heavy italian accent) and current favorite sandwich is the BMT. basil, fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomato on a rustic baguette finished with a light drizzle of olive oil (believe me, this finish will do you good especially if it's quality olive oil).

i scarfed down two halves of the BMT in relatively the same amount of time it took me to prepare them. very unhealthy, i know, but oh so fresh and delicious. all i need now is to be sipping a spritz..

Sunday, June 13, 2010

quinoa in the summertime

Quinoa is super light and yet filling, easy to cook and goes with almost anything you've got laying in the kitchen waiting to be eaten clean. In this rendition, I added some lightly oiled summer squash, which my roommate brought home from the farmers' market. Benning's green tint squash as they're called. (I learned that by googling 'flying saucer squash' because that's what they look like.) They taste and share a similar texture to the Italian zucchini. Tossed in some halved grape tomatoes, red onions, pinenuts, mint and cilantro and then drizzled in a little bit of olive oil, vinegar and grape seed oil. Full of color and perfect for a summer afternoontime lunch.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

roomies are the best

memorial weekend breakfast

raspberry multi-grain pancakes made with love from roomie Seb
and complemented with fresh fruit, apple butter and plum jam
with some orange and carrot juice
health nuts, no?

Sunday, February 22, 2009

mac and cheese

i have the most bizarre cravings. they inspire me to cook and bake. this time it was breaded mac and cheese. back in the fifth grade or so my mom sent me to this after school program, it was more of a thing to keep my brother and me busy, also in hopes of making us smarter (thanks, mom). really, i think it was a big waste of money. however, one of the few fond memories i have is of the baked and breaded mac and cheese my writing instructor made, i think it was a last day of class celebration. it was so cheesy and gooey and warm and oh, so comforting, so much the opposite of those prep programs. in celebration of my GRE exam coming up on tuesday, i wanted to bring back some of that warm gooey deliciousness.

i burnt a little of the top, but it was all the more homier. i cut this epicurious recipe in half, substituted milk for soy mlik and added my own touch with a hint of thyme, tarragon and oregeno in the macaroni (i used shells :), and a pinch of chile to spice it up a bit. i also used my magic bullet to grind 3 slices of earth-balance butered toast and a small piece of leftover garlic bread to make the bread crumbs. the breading is what ultimately makes this mouthworthiness.

Monday, February 02, 2009

happy february, celebrating loves and dreams

it's been a while since i've written a personal post, and i'm feeling a little inspired so here it goes..*deep breathe*

well, for starters, i had a wonderful winter holiday back home in san gabriel and (i suppose, the surrounding LA area.) every time i revisit, home has become more meaningful, and because i'm unsure of where i'll be post graduation-- in sf, across the states or in a foreign country, i'm cherishing each moment i have with my fam and friends. i'm learning to live in those moments and not take them for granted. the highlight: talking to my little sisters, britt and tiff about their first kisses, frequenting buddha bar, magnolia and bodega wine bar in pas with jen, the eldest sis, the yummy food my mom makes, my favorite noodle house kim ky, deep convos about life&college with cat, drinks @ the standard's rooftop bar w/rei, and seeing the rose parade live for the first time with natalie, my beautiful friend from Cal, ( she's from pasadena; it was like having a little piece of berkeley back home with me.) oh, and also being able to talk back to papa, in a polite, respectful, yes, i know i'm your daughter, but you're wrong, kind of way. :)

the weather in berkeley has been gorgeous. a few weekends ago i rode my bike down to the marina, and it was ahhhh, so serene and spectacular, just like it should be in this chaotic mess we call life. stumbled upon vik's, indian restaurant that makes delcious savory crepes and creamy mango lassis; i almost want to say it's the best in berkeley, but i always have cravings for naan n' curry's veggie tiki masala and garlic naan so there will be no debate.

i love living a life centered around food.

and good health. went to yoga to the people last night. operated by donations and with a mission to make yoga accessible for everyone, (indeed making it a a snug fit in berkeley), i LOVED it. i introduced myself to one of the volunteers and said it was my first time, and that it had been a long time since i practiced yoga. she was so sweet and friendly, she even instructed me on the basics before class, and thankfully, she did because i probably would have been lost in the class! sunday nights the class is candlelit, but don't let that fool you, that was one of the most sweaty and intense yoga experiences i've had, and it was so rewarding. after that one hour session, i felt so energized and ready to take on anything.

over dinner last night, my dearest friend tammy inspired me to create a "fantasy-make-reality to-do list" and the first to be added to that list, might i share (brace yourselves), is to be drawn nude. yup, that means naked. another, which i've added today is to move to london and/or paris and work for a pastry chef, inspired by these goddesses who make divine treats at chocolate & zucchini and coco and me.

yummy-ness of the day : roasted peppers and goat cheese on a toasted rustic baguette. my friend kelly made it for one of her parties last year. it was so delicious i recently had the craving, scrambled for memory and so the story goes.

other news, i didn't get either luce scholars program or the fulbright fellowship. suprisingly, i'm not as bummed as i had expected, that's probably becuase i never planned for the reaction post-acceptance/rejection. i'm actually really looking forward to the future, and thinking about what it is that i really want to do, what kind of life/style i want to create for myself. there are so many opportunities. i'm excited to choose "the one," or the many. like usual, i'm pretty optimistic.

good day, lovelies.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

love of food

the year has been amazingly delicious, cooking good food and sharing with good friends. what could be better? the after-dance party comes close.

the latest party menu:

butternut squash and heirloom tomato purée (with carmelized onions and a kick of chile)

jicama avocado and corn salad

baked sweet potato fries

the guests' favorite, quinoa black bean and mango mixed in w/ pomegranates

and for starters, mom's spring rolls w/ my personal tough..tofu!

i even made my own peanut sauce.

it was only fitting to make mint mojitos.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

top (college) chef, in the making. i wish.

some kids drink to relieve stress.

i cook. also, because i like to eat.

LOVE to eat.

and pair the two with some friends and sangria.

you've got a splendid time!

in the meantime, savor the pictures.

chocolate raspberry cookies,

in honor of one of my favorite quotes:

"life's short. eat dessert first."

vegan dinner party (menu) : chickpea cutlets w/tahini dressing, quinoa salad with black beans and mangos, lemony roasted potatoes and lentil salad; to drink, dennie's white wine sangria ( non-vegan dessert: brownies with chocolate & vanilla ice cream from rainbow's)

last night's din din: potato & kale enchiladas with cilantro sour cream, mexican millet and to drink, plum & pomegranate sangria

quick lunch bite: grilled potatoes, cabbage and corn salad tacos with sliced avocados

and sunday's paper

*i'm in love with my new cookbook, veganomicon. it's the best by far.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

my new favorite food

quinoa

pronounced keen-wah

oh so fluffy, full and full of protein. the alternative to rice and beans.
the other day i made a black-bean mango quinoa salad. end result. pure deliciousness.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Follow the One Dollar Diet Project

i think this is really cool...

from Ode Magazine:

More than 1 billion people live on $1 or less a day. Christopher Greenslate, M.Ed. graduate of the Institute for Humane Education (www.humaneeducation.org) and his partner Kerri -- both social studies teachers -- have embarked on a project to each eat on a food budget of $1/day. As they say in their first post:

"When we first started talking about doing this, we didn’t really have an agenda, or any developed sense of why we wanted to do it. It just seemed like an interesting challenge; one that would force us to see things differently.

"We are interested in many of the strands related to this experiment; food choices, consumerism, waste, poverty, social psychology, etc., and this experience may provide insights that could help us better understand and teach about a variety of concerns."

Follow their journey on the One Dollar Diet Project: www.onedollardietproject.com

Thursday, June 05, 2008

late night espresso

after five shots of espresso i'm feeling a little wired and a lot nauseous. i couldn't help it, the cute barista at silver lake's swanky laMill talked me into trying his favorite, café con leche (concocted with four shots!) the fifth was on the house. oh boy. i'd say college and my momma made me quite the coffee lover and aspiring caffeine connoisseur. it was yummy and beautifully crafted with a thin layer of caramelized brown sugar and finished with a leaf blooming from the (soy)milk foam. i couldn't help but smile. i thought the café was a bit too sweet, and surprisingly i enjoyed rei's vanilla latte much more. could have been the "madagascar vanilla bean-infused syrup" as detailed in the 10-paged menu.

prior we dined at cru's for their raw vegan cuisine. i thought i'd challenge my friend rei's meat and potatoes ways in his own hipster hometown. i started with a watermelon granita, mm was it yummy. so refreshing and simple. watermelon blended with ice and agave, just a tad sweet with the perfect amount of blend that produced this creamy wonderful texture. and the pesto ravioli--the filling made of modestly spiced cashew cheese snugged in thinly sliced jicama and atop, a light drizzle of homemade pesto. and oh so delicious with a light crunch and a lot of comfort. of course it wouldn't be a complete meal had there not been the chocolate brownie á la mode. without a stove and oven who would have thought possible?

update: other yummy eateries in la.
buddha's belly, LA:: their tofu steak. perfectly seared and smothered in a really sweet and tangy black bean sauce.
alcove, silverlake:: the french toast was light and airy and with crème fraîche and a compote of silced banana, orange juice and rum, it was heavenly.
susina, LA:: chocolate raspberry cake. three oh so mouthwatering layers of chocolate devil’s food cake brushed with berry liqueur, filled with chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries and covered with dark chocolate curls.
one word. orgasmic.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

change we can stomach

in the heat of international food crises and skyrocketing oil prices, Dan Barber, chef and co-owner of Blue Hill in N.Y. gives us some food for thought.

COOKING, like farming, for all its down-home community spirit, is essentially a solitary craft. But lately it’s feeling more like a lonely burden. Finding guilt-free food for our menus — food that’s clean, green and humane — is about as easy as securing a housing loan. And we’re suddenly paying more — 75 percent more in the last six years — to stock our pantries. Around the world, from Cairo to Port-au-Prince, increases in food prices have governments facing riots born of shortages and hunger. It’s enough to make you want to toss in the toque.

But here’s the good news: if you’re a chef, or an eater who cares about where your food comes from (and there are a lot of you out there), we can have a hand in making food for the future downright delicious.

read more here.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

football and cheeseball

my super bowl XLI observation--
watching the game is not nearly as much fun as eating the food. it's not every day you get the excuse to put ten different kinds of dip on the table.

Friday, January 12, 2007

not just a hole in the wall

No one really knows about the place on N. Lake Ave. but those who do know that Orean's is great! Their food is wholesome and healthy, cheap and served on-the-go. Grubbin' on this fast food never tasted nor felt so good. Reccomendation: try the African burrito! I've made a note to try something new every time I go, which I can tell you will be often.