Thai Food, What Else???

Published by Saveur

Steak all the way!

Published by Saveur

Food... Japan...

New York Times Magazine

This article made me want to go back to Japan. I haven't been back since 2000. Next time I go back, I would like to go and check out Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto....

Donguri

Another birthday meal... we finally decided to go eat at Donguri. Donguri is a block away from our apartment, but we somehow managed to always just pass by but not eat there. Eddie, Miyuki, and Mike were nice to join us. Sashimi was absolutely fresh and other dishes were very good.

Portions were very small; however, fresh wasabi gave this restaurant 5 plus points (which Nobu didn't have...)

Reservations are recommended as this restaurant only fits 24 people.

Donguri

NOBU - Birthday Present

For Christoff's birthday, I decided to treat him to a nice meal. 2 years ago I decided to take him to Nobu, but couldn't get a reservation on time. This time I found out that there is a new location on 57th Street.

Maguro sashimi was amazing.
Black cod with Miso was good, but other things that we ordered didn't live up to our high expectations.

Our waiter was nice to enough to work on Christoff' birthday treat - Warm Chocolate Fondant Cake... yum...

Nobu

Valentine's Day

Christoff made an amazing meal for Vanelentine's Day!
The 5 course meal will be remembered!!!

Uniquely Singapore Again!

Thanks to Darren, I was able to visit Singapore to see Michelle & Darren. This time I was alone, without, Christoff, but I was still determined to eat everything that Singapore had to offer. I had a list, and... I think I ate everything on my list.



Breakfast, Singapore Style... Foodcourts are the perfect place to be. When it's hot outside and when you are hungry, but don't want to decide what to eat yet??? Foodcourts are there for you!!!
It's also a perfect place for someone who can't decide or someone who has ADD. You can't decide? You want to eat everything? That's OK. Because you just can get everything...

Kopi and Kaya toast was my first Singaporean style breakfast. But why don't we get everything else??? We did, just because we could...



Singaporean sweets... Red ruby was not my favorite first time around... but I liked it this time.


Fried Tofu - Indonesian style, "Tahu Telor"
I couldn't look at the fried tofu the same way anymore.... yum...


A visit wouldn't be accomplished until you had Chilli Crab!
"No Signboard" restaurant was much more than what I expected. Pepper Crab and Chilli Crab were amazing. Can't you tell? There is no picture of myself... I was a mess by the time I was done eating.

And my new-found favorite: Morning Glory...

BBQ or NOTHING!

Back in Korea again...
This time, Christoff was only staying for 2 nights, and I was staying for 3 nights (plus one more night on the way from Singapore), so Christoff wasn't going to compromise... His request was BBQ all the way! AND his request was granted.

My mom and my stepfather took us to this BBQ restaurant. The quality of meat was amazing... but we found out later that 1 order was 45,000 WON (almost USD45 per order and we ordered 4 orders). The most expensive meal we have ever had in Korea! But the best part of being in Korea.... We don't have to pay for it!!!

This place had the best Makgulli! And it was nice to meet my junior high friends!

More BBQ! This time, Mayumi (from Japan) treated Jennifer who was nice enough to let us stay with her.

On my way from Singapore, I had another stopover in Korea. I treated Jennifer this time. This restaurant served 20 different kinds of vegetable. It was soooooo goooooood....... Next time in Korea, I am totally going back to this place.

Transit

On my way to Singapore (and coming back from Singapore) from Korea, I had to transfer in Narita. Traveling alone is a different experience. You get to watch people and read more.

This time, I decided to take advantage of traveling alone by 'eating.'
Surprisingly, there was not a lot of option, except for Sushi. I was a bit afraid to eat airport sushi, but I was shocked! Sushi was good and affordable (yes, compared to quality and price of sushi in New York).

Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, Beijing

After watching Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservation" on TV, we were determined to find Li Qun Roast Duck Restrauant. We even decided on our hotel, besides the fact that it was right next to a subway station, based on the fact that it was close to Li Quan Roast Duck Restaurant.

We invited my dad to come along to Beijing with us; however, due to my illness, he didn't really get to enjoy time with us. So... we decided to take him out to a nice meal...

I had the address, so we asked a staff member at hotel to point us to a right direction. He marked it on our map, so we thought... 'that's easy.'

Well... we found the intersection, but the direction that we were looking at - there was nothing. Then a group of French people who also looked lost were coming to our direction. As we suspected, they were looking for the same restaurant. I started talking to them thinking they could help us. I decided to go into a little hair salon nearby to ask for a direction. A girl there pointed me to a direction where there is nothing around except for what it looked like a construction zone. As we started walking, they also followed.
Then we started seeing signs that said, "Li Qun, 500 m away."

Without getting a thanks from the French, they also walked into a restaurant first and got a table before us. How rude!!!

But the food at the restaurant made everything worth a while - the adventure & rude people...
I was told that this is one of few restaurants that still use the traditional oven to make Peking Duck. Plus the crepes, green onion, and hoisin sauce make all the difference!

Christoff 20 years later

Anthony Bourdain, a person who enjoys food, alcohol, people, and travelling!

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes, it hurts; it even breaks your heart. But, that’s ok. A journey changes you. It should change you. It leaves marks on memory, on your consciousness, your heart, and on your body. Take something with you; hopefully, leave something good behind.” Anthony Bourdain in Malaysia

Otafuku

This place is for someone who's from Japan or for someone who's been to Japan. The taste of takoyaki, yaki soba, or okonominaki brings you right back to the street of Tokyo.

Otafuku

236 E. 9th Street

New York, NY 10003

(212) 353 8503

Combination of Tokoyaki & Yakisoba at USD8. They only have a bench outside, so be prepared to eat it on their trash can (as seen above) or on the curb. If you are thinking of taking it home... don't do it. Takoyaki is not good unless it's eaten right after it's made.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/32895095/new_york_ny/otafuku.html

Finally... Ramen

Yes, we finally found it. Best ramen in town! Come on in... you are going to feel as if you were in a little ramen shop in Tokyo!

Rai Rai Ken
214 E. 10th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 477-7030

CASH ONLY

It looks like they just got a slice of Tokyo and dropped it off in Manhattan.

The Best ramen broth in the New York City... Get we get the whole pot to go, please???

Fried rice is not recommended... but their ramen has to be the best Japanese style ramen in town.

Asian Shrimp & Sugar Snap Peas Stir Fry

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon peeled and minced gingerroot

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 pound sugar snap peas, ends trimmed

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Combine chicken stock, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch and sesame oil in small bowl; mix well and set aside.

2. In large skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat; add garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

3. Add shrimp and sauté until pink, about 3 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Add sugar snap peas; sauté 3 minutes.

5. Add stock mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until liquid has thickened and is no longer cloudy, about 3 more minutes.

6. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

Makes 4 servings.

Pork Chop with Grilled Peach & Scallion Rice

Use 3-4 peaches for four servings, cut them in half and drizzle 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar.
Grill cut side down first.

Marinate 4 pieces of boneless porkchops in for an hour or two:

• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice
• 3 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme
• salt & pepper

reserve 1 tablespoon of mix - later drizzle arugula with the mix before serving

Porkchops are supposed to be grilled 3 minutes on each side but I put them in the oven and finished in the broiller.

Serve porkchop on arugula with peaches

Green Onion Rice
In medium heat, with 1 tablespoon of oil, add 4 thinly sliced green onion for 3 minutes
Add 1 & 1/2 long-grain rice / 1 can of chicken broth / 1cup of water
Season with salt & pepper
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer

Cook until rice is tender and liquid is gone (about 15 minutes)
Remove from heat covered for 10 minutes, add chopped cilantro.