Wednesday, December 11, 2019

not a boring steak - part 2



I don't cook with a recipe. If I do is just a vague idea in the head as that I plot base on what I have on hand, and what I think would work. I shop ingredients for what look good and never rigidly for a dish that I have in mind. For this streak dish, I did shop for some root vegetable, a half pint of cream, and the steak. The rest are just what are on hand at home. A New York Steak with oyster demi-glace and scallops is born.

Monday, December 9, 2019

a tale of a piece of cod


This is a tale of a piece of cod that was utilized to the fullest. It is a piece of Alaska lingcod that I bought from an Asian market. I have long since given up buying frozen cods as they are always disappointing, in that the precious fish is wasted. It has been more and more difficult to buy good quality fish. I only know of one shop in Portland that I can count on now. While grocery shopping I bought a piece that is slightly over 2 pounds taken from the tail section.

slack season’s danzi noodle 度小月擔仔麵 - part 2



Today I put a little more effort into making my reinterpretation of this delightful snack. Again I have no intention to replicate the dish but to be inspired by it, and using the ingredients that I happen to have. The main difference of today's bowl is I made a proper but simple broth from a piece of Alaska cod bone left over from filleting. I also collected some shrimp shells and thew them into the stock too. It is just a little quantity of stock.

slack season’s danzi noodle 度小月擔仔麵


One interesting little bowl of noodles that I encountered in Tainan is slack season’s danzi noodle (度小月擔仔麵). The origin of this bowl of noodle snack piqued my curiosity. The restaurant that I first came across it prepare the noodle in the open, as a showcase which it built its fame. It claims to be the original invention of the dish.

a month in taiwan, 2019 - part 1


Part 1 was in Taipei, arrived from a flight from Portland, connecting in Vancouver to Taipei via Air Canada. This series of posts are foodie photo heavy, and light on text.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

taiwanese beef soup noodles - part 1


I just spent a month in Taiwan, and covered all the main cities. Call it around Formosa in 30 days if you would. As with most trips I took advantage to explore the countries cuisine. I had been to Taiwan before but only on a business trip. You cannot go to Taiwan without trying their noodles dishes and beef soup noodles is one.