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Seriously Asian: A Guide to Dashi
great write up! so many people think it's hard and resort to MSG ladened packs of instant "dashi" powder. We just made dashi too, following similar recipe and used it to make tsukumi style udon, with poached egg.
What do you think about my cooking blog? I need your opinions!
maybe a nice header for the title would be nice, but otherwise a good start! Having a second blog as a test site for widgits is also helpful.
Be warned, some might think you're advertising your blog and not take a liking to this topic...we posted something similar asking some suggestions for a blog name and got a whopping 64 interesting responses!
Good Luck and have fun!
Ravenous Couple
Seriously Asian: All About Dumplings
great article on the texture of the dumplings, which can't be emphasized enough. In addition to standard flour/wonton style wrappers, some Vietnamese dumplings such as banh bot loc are made from tapioca flour which can be steamed or boiled, but results in a clear translucent and slightly chewy texture that you can't get from wonton/flour wrappers.
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Recent Posts
Vietnamese Caramelized Braised Pork Belly and Eggs
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 31, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Vietnamese Shrimp Salad Goi Tom
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 28, 2009 at 1:55 PM
See more posts by ravenouscouple »
Recent Favorites
The Great American Food & Music Fest Is Today!
Posted by Carey Jones, June 13, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All
Posted by Ed Levine, June 14, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Lemon Garnish: Fish with a Twist
Posted by ravenouscouple, June 12, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Hoisin Glazed Barbecue Pork Ribs
Posted by ravenouscouple, June 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM
See more favorites by ravenouscouple »
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
Vietnamese iced or non-iced coffee (cafe sua da or den) is classically flavored with chicory and is also a more medium coarse ground--too fine a ground and it will fall through the filter. Cafe Du Monde or Trung Nguyen are our favorites. You can also adjust the strength of the coffee by making minor adjustments to the filter.
Seriously Asian: A Guide to Dashi
great write up! so many people think it's hard and resort to MSG ladened packs of instant "dashi" powder. We just made dashi too, following similar recipe and used it to make tsukumi style udon, with poached egg.
What do you think about my cooking blog? I need your opinions!
maybe a nice header for the title would be nice, but otherwise a good start! Having a second blog as a test site for widgits is also helpful.
Be warned, some might think you're advertising your blog and not take a liking to this topic...we posted something similar asking some suggestions for a blog name and got a whopping 64 interesting responses!
Good Luck and have fun!
Ravenous Couple
Seriously Asian: All About Dumplings
great article on the texture of the dumplings, which can't be emphasized enough. In addition to standard flour/wonton style wrappers, some Vietnamese dumplings such as banh bot loc are made from tapioca flour which can be steamed or boiled, but results in a clear translucent and slightly chewy texture that you can't get from wonton/flour wrappers.
The Nasty Bits: Pig's Skin
looks so crispy and tasty! Vietnamese cuisine often uses pig skin in the broken rice dishes called com tam--also eaten with grilled pork chop and a pork custard.
Serious Heat: Sriracha Hot Wings
Our FAVORITE method now is the Korean Fried Chicken Wings with spicy soy ginger glaze ala kyochan/bon chan and numerous other joints. The secret is the double fry with a very light batter rendering the crispiest and tastiest wing!! Not messy or soggy and no marination necessary!
Serious Heat: The Quickie Banh Mi
Great quick version of banh mi! if you're interesting in a more traditional version, try our banh mi thit nuong (BBQ Pork) or Banh Mi Nem Nuong (Grill Pork Patties).
Is there a better cheap eats list besides New York Magazine?
one of our favorite cheap eats in NYC is mooncake foods Great comfort food with Asian flair. not sure if they still do, but have grilled lobster tail specials for $16!
Food photographers: which lens to get for low light conditions?
The prime fixed focal length lens are great. At restaurants we never use flash and there is typically with low lighting, so also bump up your ISO.
We use the a 50mm 1.8 and for most applications. Occasionally, we use sigma 30mm 1.4. Both are also small and not too big to be over ostentious in restaurants.
Check out our reviews of Mo Chica Peruvian, LA and Animal, LA using the 50mm 1.8 lens.
Dinner Tonight: Meatball Sub
this looks good! but also try the Vietnamese sandwich banh mi version, banh mi nem nuong
What all can you flambe?
we love to do peaches and berries such as rasberries, blueberries or peach. Also, a nice trick is to sprinkle cinnamon while the flame is still going to get that sparkle effect.
Xie Xie: An Asian Sandwich Shop (What a Concept)
wow..talk about taking a concept and making it his own...the cha ca sandwich is something else...i'm not sure whether i'll like it or not, as the orginal cha ca dish that we make goes so well with vermicelli, loads of fresh herbs and a special shrimp paste sauce, mam nem.
good eats near new york hospital (68th and york)
i used to live on 66 and york. Pio Pio was a favorite for Peruvian chicken..think it's on 89th?
Matsu sushi on 68th and 1st was also good for local sushi joint.
Moderately priced NYC restaurant for dinner
L'ecole! L'ecole! L'ecole! at the French culinary institute. If that's your price range for entrees...i'm assuming you're not talking about drinks, desserts and apps.... so for 40 prix fix you can get a 4 or 5 course meal....fantastic food and service!!!
4th of July: What's on Your Menu?
Lamb burgers with Chimichurri Sauce: a fantastic combination!
What to do with 12 naked lemons?
make any one of the great ideas above, then present it with a lemon fish garnish sculpture like we made :)
Grilling: Vietnamese Meatball Banh Mi
Great recipes! Otherwise known as "nem nuong," these grilled pork meat balls/patties are used in some really classic Vietnamese dishes. Other great ways to use the grilled pork is in spring rolls, called nem nuong cuon.and with vermicelli noodles, bun nem nuong. To take spin off of the Kogi fusion craze, we made nem nuong sliders with kimchi. Really really versatile.....
How to Politely Take Food Photos in Restaurants
Great topic now with everyone seemingly food blogging or yelping away...including us! We definitely do not use flash. Use the highest ISO setting and use the fastest lense possible F1.2 to 1.8 range and try to limit myself to only 5-6 shots...
mayo-free slaws
try vietnamese style slaws (goi) using nuoc mam (dipping fish sauce)..you can make it out of cabbage or in our case, goi hoa sen (pickled lotus roots)
Help naming a blog!
We came to this board 2 months ago with this same question and it caused quite a stir with some members! But yes, come up with some ideas or key things you want to be included in your concept and the members her will have lots of suggestions. We also blog as a couple and ultimately went with none of the boards suggestions, although some were very good. We're always hungry for food, recipes etc so we called it Ravenous Couple. White on Rice Couple has a list on their site with blogs written by couples. After you come up with a few, google it and make sure no one else has it.
New York Vacation - Where to eat
L'ecole, the French Culinary Inst. Restaurant in SOHO. FANTASTIC food and service (sommelier was very helpful)... for a great price..dinner 4 or 5 course for $42, which usually also includes an amuse and some baked goodies to go! You can not beat this price for a great foodie experience.
Cafe Habana, also in SOHO. Cuban sandiches and must have cuban grilled corn on the cob.. great stop of lunch. (see my rendition of their grilled corn below)
Hong
Ravenous Couple: Cooking up Life
Serious Grape: Gewürztraminer, the Spicy White Wine with the Difficult Name
Trader Joe's has a decent JW Morris Gewurtz for only 3.99! Can't beat that!
NYC Food Events for the Weekend (and Beyond)
We highly recommend seeing FOOD, Inc... saw it at the LA screening and it's an eye opener...
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
Cafe = Coffee
Sua = Milk
Den = Black
Da = Ice
Khong = No
Thus, "cafe sua da" = the "traditional" Vietnamese coffee (as served in America) which is "coffee milk ice." Or "cafe da den khong sua" = "coffee ice black no milk," which one must often repeat two or three times because "da den khong sua" is not the default Vietnamese coffee in the USA. If you get that you must add your own sugar (or not), which is usually at the table.
By the way, when you say "In my dreams we'd all make our own sweetened condensed milk," just a note that in Vietnam there is no fresh milk to be found in the normal grocery market. the word "sua" (milk) is almost synonymous with the stuff sold in cans.
Poke around here, Vinamilk is Vietnam's largest milk provider:
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
"It was very clear that my version would've been nearly undrinkable without the milk"
Not true! Vietnamese coffee is also deeeelicious black. I think it's the lack of acidity - it's still wonderfully smooth even without milk. Try it!
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
iced coffee is prepared like this in thailand as well! try O-lieng, it is a brand of pre-mixed dark coffee + sugar. mmmm. thai angel in chinatown makes a great thai iced coffee with milk (and not to mention penang curry) too.
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
@buddha ... My companion had her first ever Vietnamese experience that day. Clearly so glad I took her--and that we found this place, because everything was amazing. The spring rolls were so fresh, and the folks sitting at the table with us (2 people) had 4 orders worth! I've converted her. :) Next time, dessert.
@ravenouscouple .. I like how the filter almost acts like a cross between a pour over filter and a French press, with both the drip and the length of time it takes to drip from the filter... must be why the coffee is so potent!
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
You guys should do a review on the food at this restaurant. I've been going there for over 10 years and everything I've ever had there has been really good. The Pho is some of the best I've ever had, and their apps are really good as well. You can't go wrong with their Cha Gio (Vietnamese Egg Rolls), Fried Chicken Wings with Garlic Butter, Crispy Tofu, BBQ Beef etc. The family that runs it is amazing as well. I've been to plenty of Vietnamese restaurants in the city, but I still prefer this one. I think I might have to take a trip up to Rockland this weekend!
Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist
I remember the first time I had this at a place called Van Loc in Houston. I was instantly hooked.
Serious Heat: Sriracha Hot Wings
Sriracha sauce is simply genius.
SE'er Food Blogs
www.economybites.tv its a blog and a cooking show! You'll LOVE it!
Seriously Asian: A Guide to Dashi
The base for a perfect Miso Soup. Down with instant packs of "dashi" powder!
Helpful Hint: for those looking for a place to find Bonito flakes and Kombu. Take a look at finding a Ranch 99 market in your area. It's a great place to find many unique and common Asian ingredients (japanese, thai, chinese, korean and indian as well). i get my kombu and bonito there.
SE'er Food Blogs
Why not - my blog is Tamarind and Thyme: http://tamarindandthyme.wordpress.com and I'm based in London.
SE'er Food Blogs
It is great to see and meet some new cooking faces.
My wife and my blog is Cocina Savant at http://cocinasavant.blogspot.com/.
SE'er Food Blogs
What a fun thread! Mine's still in its infancy, and most of it links right back to stuff I like on SE, but here it is: http://neverturndownacupcake.blogspot.com
SE'er Food Blogs
I've been writing Croque-Camille: Food adventures in Paris for a little over a year and a half, and I just started a mini-blog called Seasonal Market Menus, which is all about cooking from my CSA share.
http://croquecamille.wordpress.com
http://seasonalmarketmenus.wordpress.com
SE'er Food Blogs
I write about the DC-Metro area's restaurants and also my almost-daily bentos and recipes @ discojing.com
SE'er Food Blogs
there are a lot of great blogs here - i subscribe to a few already. i am not surprised they are SE readers.
i started both of my blogs last april. they are about pickling & jamming and also local, seasonal, and organic eating.
http://www.tigressinapickle.blogspot.com
http://www.tigressinajam.blogspot.com
have a look!
SE'er Food Blogs
Here I chronicle the rolicking ride that is my relationship with food! (And family, with some book reviews thrown in)
http://thesugarfiend.blogspot.com/
Look, all of us want more blog traffic, and there is no way we can read all of our collective blogs, but we should really make an effort to check out at least other 5 SE's blogs if we post our own in this thread --after all, not fair to 'shill' if you don't help others out!
SE'er Food Blogs
Updated daily, emphasis on eating in Southeast Asia, but also extending into enjoying the finer things in life. Accidental Epicurean - http://accidentalepicurean.com
Paul
SE'er Food Blogs
My almost-annually updated blog is http://overservedinmilwaukee.blogspot.com/
SE'er Food Blogs
I post my neurotic food adventures at www.postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com
SE'er Food Blogs
My blog is unvegan.com and I write about eating without vegetables. It's pretty funny, so check it out!
SE'er Food Blogs
Hi, my blog is at http://soupbelly.com and I blog whatever I feel like cooking that day. I have a background in photography so my site focuses on that as well. Please check it out!
SE'er Food Blogs
My food blog is at http://www.simplecomfortfood.com and I tend to focus on easy, family style comfort food with somewhat of an ethnic focus.
SE'er Food Blogs
So wonderful to have so many fellow writers! I actually have two blogs to share. One is my personal blog: www.thedilettantista.wordpress.com which covers, well, EVERYTHING, cooking, restaurants, movies, etc. I started it this summer when I was living in New York City for an internship, so it is especially heavy on NYC eating.
I am also a contributing writer to Carpe Durham, a food blog that focuses on eating in Durham, North Carolina. The blog was started a few years ago by Duke law students, and I am a newer writer. The blog is a great source if you live in the Triangle area!
Serious Heat: Sriracha Hot Wings
In our house wings are always unbreaded. My hubby hates breading. I just roast them naked, just a bit of salt and pepper, maybe a drizzle of oil, and then coat them well in a sauce when they get out of the oven. I've done garlic oil, I've done ketchup and a miriade (sp?) of sauces. I've also done the classic butter and Frank's or butter and some other hot sauce. I have never tried Sriracha on them. Got to try this. Thanks for the inspiration.
Recent Posts
Vietnamese Caramelized Braised Pork Belly and Eggs
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 31, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Vietnamese Shrimp Salad Goi Tom
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 28, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Banh Day - Vietnamese Rice "Burger"
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 18, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Udon with Prawns and Poached Egg
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 11, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage, Shrimp and Chicken
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 11, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Caramelized Chicken Vietnamese Ga Kho
Posted by ravenouscouple, October 3, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Ga Roti Vietnamese Roasted Chicken
Posted by ravenouscouple, September 26, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Vietnamese Iced Coffee - Cafe Sua Da
Posted by ravenouscouple, September 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Bun Moc Pork Mushroom Noodle Soup
Posted by ravenouscouple, September 15, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Korean Fried Chicken Wings
Posted by ravenouscouple, September 11, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Pork/Chicken Liver Pate for Banh Mi
Posted by ravenouscouple, August 28, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Banh Mi Nem Nuong Vietnamese Sandwich with Grilled Pork Patties
Posted by ravenouscouple, August 21, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Ca Kho To - Vietnamese Braised Fish in Clay Pot
Posted by ravenouscouple, August 13, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Bo Luc Lac - Vietnamese Shaking Beef
Posted by ravenouscouple, August 12, 2009 at 7:55 AM
Vietnamese Bo La Lot - Betel Leaf Wrapped Beef
Posted by ravenouscouple, August 9, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Bun Thang (Vietnamese Vermicelli Soup)
Posted by ravenouscouple, July 30, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Watermelon Steak or Seared Ahi Tuna?
Posted by ravenouscouple, July 18, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Recent Favorites
The Great American Food & Music Fest Is Today!
Posted by Carey Jones, June 13, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All
Posted by Ed Levine, June 14, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Lemon Garnish: Fish with a Twist
Posted by ravenouscouple, June 12, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Hoisin Glazed Barbecue Pork Ribs
Posted by ravenouscouple, June 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Japchae (Korean Stir Fried Cellophane Noodles)
Posted by ravenouscouple, June 3, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli with Vietnamese Grilled Pork)
Posted by ravenouscouple, May 21, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Grilled Lemongrass Shrimp Skewers
Posted by ravenouscouple, May 20, 2009 at 7:55 AM
Vermicelli with Vietnamese Grilled Pork (Bun Nem Nuong)
Posted by ravenouscouple, May 17, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Vietnamese Grilled Pork (nem nuong) Sliders, Kimchi & Sriracha
Posted by ravenouscouple, May 15, 2009 at 1:55 PM
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About ravenouscouple
Website: http://ravenouscouple.blogspot.com/
Location: los angeles, CA
About: Vietnamese and Asian food...Inspired by mom, powered by passion.
Favorite foods:
Last bite on earth:
Vietnamese iced or non-iced coffee (cafe sua da or den) is classically flavored with chicory and is also a more medium coarse ground--too fine a ground and it will fall through the filter. Cafe Du Monde or Trung Nguyen are our favorites. You can also adjust the strength of the coffee by making minor adjustments to the filter.