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Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
Sigh, why is it that every time somebody mentions my pets, a reference to eating them is not long in coming?
Robyn, you must meet them in person some day!
Tiny Table of Food
I'm so glad you posted this. I collect food miniatures and everyone I know thinks I'm insane; this gives my hobby some semblance of legitimacy...
If anyone is interested in collecting mini-food that doesn't cost $90 per fish, Toy Tokyo in NYC's East Village sells boxes of Japanese Re-Ment (the foremost miniature brand) for $4-5 per meal set. Of course, it's plastic, not clay or bone china. I have some pictures of my collection here: http://finefuriouslife.com/2008/06/18/the-best-things-in-life-are-wee/
Dinner Tonight: Strained Spinach Soup
Maybe if you pureed it before straining it would have a little more body? Seems odd to dollop a light broth with sour cream. I think I would like this soup, since I like consommes, but the instructions don't seem to add up...
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
Interesting take--I've never thought of pandan as "Asian vanilla".
Kaya is heaven. I've actually been known to mix kaya and peanut butter together on the same piece of toast. If I'm not mistaken, you can actually order this combination in cha chaan teng in Hong Kong.
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
Sigh, why is it that every time somebody mentions my pets, a reference to eating them is not long in coming?
Robyn, you must meet them in person some day!
Tiny Table of Food
I'm so glad you posted this. I collect food miniatures and everyone I know thinks I'm insane; this gives my hobby some semblance of legitimacy...
If anyone is interested in collecting mini-food that doesn't cost $90 per fish, Toy Tokyo in NYC's East Village sells boxes of Japanese Re-Ment (the foremost miniature brand) for $4-5 per meal set. Of course, it's plastic, not clay or bone china. I have some pictures of my collection here: http://finefuriouslife.com/2008/06/18/the-best-things-in-life-are-wee/
Dinner Tonight: Strained Spinach Soup
Maybe if you pureed it before straining it would have a little more body? Seems odd to dollop a light broth with sour cream. I think I would like this soup, since I like consommes, but the instructions don't seem to add up...
What is the most vile dish you have ever created?
Actually, last week I blogged the top 10 worst things I've ever cooked:
http://finefuriouslife.com/2008/09/29/the-ten-worst-things-i-have-ever-cooked/
One of them was this "wonderful" idea I had of deep-frying a bunch of sugary dough, neglecting the fact that the burning point of sugar is about 100 times lower than flour and eggs. So I ended up with blackened beignets with completely raw insides, and an apartment that smelled like ash.
The saddest part of this story is that I used to work as a pastry chef. I honestly had some kind of a brain freeze that day.
Got any kitchen magic that sets your cooking apart from others?
Timing makes the biggest difference in my cooking, I think. This comes from restaurant training. Everything that can possibly be done before guests arrive is parcooked a little in advance and then finished in the oven (or by whatever method is applicable) once they get there. That way I'm not a stressed-out basket case who has to get up from the table every two seconds to chop something or take care of something on the stove.
Favorite Noodle Soup Toppings?
Thanks, this is all extremely helpful. There's some overlap with my existing database, obviously, but I'm adding tons of stuff: chopped fresh chilis, Japanese curry base, tempura, baby spinach.
I guess I screwed up when I originally posted the link, it should be NOODLR.NET
Please let me know your thoughts :)
How far off-menu should a restaurant be expected to go?
I don't think it's an artistic issue so much as a practical one. Cooks come in hours before service to prep all their sauces and garnishes. Their stations are set up to streamline service. If they have to break from a tight rhythm to make something unexpected and from scratch, it's not impossible but neither is it fair on the establishment. I think substitutions are only reasonable in the case of allergies, and even then, it is preferable to either call ahead or consider something else on the menu. In an era in which most restaurants post their menus online, why not research your options before you choose your establishment?
Why do people feel so entitled?
Grapefruit Shiitake Zaru Soba
Click on the photo to be taken to the post.
La Nacional: The Best, and Quirkiest, Spanish Restaurant in New York
I've eaten here a couple of times and have never seen the sign about membership. This must be a new development, or at least not one that they enforce.
How to Make Homemade Bomb Pops
I love this! The parchment cones are especially awesome.
Starbucks' Vivanno Vs. Jamba Juice Smoothies
My main problem with the venture is the absurd pseudo-Italian names Starbucks insists on assigning to its distinctly non-Italian products. "Vivanno" sounds retarded; "venti Vivanno" is borderline tongue-twister (not that I have ever had occasion to order venti anything).
Nancy Silverton's New Book: Canned Heat
Well, I don't think this book is being marketed as canned goods alchemy or 3-star trailer cooking :) Canned pears, store-bought biscotti, dried dates and tinned anchovies are all things that keep pretty much indefinitely and make good foundations for dishes when dressed up with fresh stuff. That's all. I think the point is that in most gourmet cookery tomes, anything pre-made, store-bought or otherwise not perfectly farm-fresh is kind of taboo.
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@lo - Haha. Totally have that song in my head now. Poor persecuted witches.
Starbucks' Vivanno Vs. Jamba Juice Smoothies
I 've had the banana chocolate smoothie many times and I think it's delicious! And I think that everyone who thinks that the vivanno nourishing blends don't taste very well, I simply don't understand what they don't like about it. But, overall it's not a milkshake...it's a smoothie. And at starbucks they're trying to make it as healthy as possible. I think it's a great healthier choice to try out.
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
yummy..slathered on a piece of toasted Asian style white bread with a cup of Singaporian syle coffee and a soft boiled egg.
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
I just eat it with a spoon. Delicious!
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
Last year for an international food fair thing at my college, my group of friends and I made kaya from scratch.. after a lot of stirring it still looked hella lumpy so we put batches of it into a regular blender and just blended it some until it smoothed out. Looked a lot prettier and didn't throw the taste off or anything.
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
Luther: I'm sorry, I should have been clearer in my description =p I think of the pandan leaf as "the Asian vanilla" because of its uses in both sweet and savory dishes (more in next week's post), as well as the distinctiveness of its scent. It's intriguing that you mention it tastes funny, as I've always found it to be a scent more than a taste!
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
Most vanilla comes from China, India, and SE Asia, so it doesn't really make any sense to call pandan leaf "Asian vanilla." Also, it tastes funny.
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
my mum always reserves a bowl of green kaya for me, before adding caramel to get the brown kaya (see above). ohhhh i miss it so much!
Grocery Ninja: Kaya, Coconut Egg Jam
Kaya is great, but pandan kaya is even better. It's one of my favorite comfort foods and scents.
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@hellojodi... fiver? hmmm..Watership Down maybe? ; ) one of my favorite books from way back in middle school, i still bring it our every once in awhile to read it.
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@Dee--wow. *shudder* That clip gave me the worst case of the creepy-crawlies.
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
Anya and her bunny phobia was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this post! Glad to know it's not just me!
@luxie--buffy is still alive and well on DVD. I've been through the series wayyyy too many times. Gee, I bet nobody can tell I'm a Buffy fan.....
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
Bunbuns!
@sfred-Yup, I remember Bunnicula. I didn't know there was more than one book!
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@frenetica: YES, PLEASE, I WANT TO SEE THE BUNNIES.
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@lo: i thought the same!!
oh, how i miss buffy!
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
a-freaking-dorable
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
did any one read the bunnicula books when they were younger? that's pretty much what this picture reminds me of....the bunny would break into fridges and suck the blood (color) out of the veggies....if i remember correctly....my goodness i'm getting old!
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@lo82070 - Thank you so much. Now I'm going to have Anya's voice running through my head all evening. Wonder if I can convince the hubby to watch "Once More With Feeling"...
And... Squee!! Bunnies!!!
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
@hellojodi...welcome...glad you stoppped lurking & jumped right in!
We have rabbits as well, they are vegan...we control their diets pretty good because they have to spend more time in their large cages than out...we also have cats.
I do have friends who had a rabbit that was like yours though...she had the run of the house, and would beg and eat anything offered her...included M&M's...and pizza! Her mistress also gave her baked goods on a regular basis...she grew to be a very large bunny!
I've found our rabbits love nearly every veggie offered...especially brussel sprouts...but are not wild about fruits.
Great pic!
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
Oh man that is so cute! That'll get me throught the rest of the week.. bunny power
Photo of the Day: Rabbits Eating Lettuce
Bununnies! Yay!
Starbucks' Vivanno Vs. Jamba Juice Smoothies
Here is a great article about saving money on your Starbucks' coffee. Check it out:
Tiny Table of Food
@frenetica! - I totally collect Re-Ment stuff also. I buy whole collections thru J-List. Loved the shots of your groovy pieces!
Tiny Table of Food
aww i want that 5 yrs ago for my barbies;
thats freekin sweet
Tiny Table of Food
Eh they got nothing on Lester Freaman...
Recent Posts
Cold poached asparagus, red pepper emulsion and garlic chips
Posted by frenetica, July 11, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Savory Mille Crepes In Stop-Motion Animation
Posted by frenetica, July 10, 2008 at 4:30 PM
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About frenetica
Website: http://finefuriouslife.com
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Interesting take--I've never thought of pandan as "Asian vanilla".
Kaya is heaven. I've actually been known to mix kaya and peanut butter together on the same piece of toast. If I'm not mistaken, you can actually order this combination in cha chaan teng in Hong Kong.