Author: La Vie Partagée

Nils Holger Moormann’s Micro Cube Living

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I recently discovered Nils Holger Moormann, a German design company named after its founder that offers amazing modern interior ideas and furniture. In order to address the rising cost and decreasing size of living space for the new generation, Moorman created Kammerspiel. This is a cube with a room-within-a-room concept. The cube is meant to fit in a middle of a square studio size dwelling where each side of the cube represents a living area. This prototype can be the model for the next generation of micro living. The lofted bed takes advantage of the high ceiling and the stairs double as storage space. Side 1 contains the storage staircase to the loft and also an additional closet. Side 2 houses a bike in this version. This can easily be converted into additional storage or a mini office space. Side 3 of the cube acts as a living space with a built-in sofa.There is additional storage underneath the seat. You can simply add two folding chairs and a coffee table to create a living room when you have guests. Side …

Sautéed Cabbage with Shrimps

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An easy dish that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare is sweet cabbage sauteed with jumbo shrimps. This dish is served with a side of rice for a satisfying and healthy meal. Difficulty: Easy / Serving: 4 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 10 jumbo shrimps 2 lb. of cabbage 6 tablespoons of diced yellow onion 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper 1/2 + 1/4 teaspoon of sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon powder 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth 3 stalks of scallions Vegetable oil Directions: Cut the cabbage leaves into 2 inch squares. Dice 1 whole onion. Cut 3 stalks of scallion into 2 inch segments. Remove the shell while keeping the tail  and remove the veins from the shrimps. Butterfly the shrimps without cutting completely through it. Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the cabbage leaves until they soften. Season the shrimps with 2 tablespoons of dice onion, 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt, 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder, 1/4 teaspoon …

Taro and Ribs Soup / Canh Khoai Sườn

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Winter in the northeast is especially harsh so my body craves comfort food. One healthy and simple dish is taro and ribs soup or canh khoai sườn. Marinated pork ribs and taro are boiled in water and chicken stock until they are tender and juicy. The result is a deep yet healthy soup that is simply eaten with a side of rice. Difficulty: Easy / Serving: 4 / Time: 45 minutes Ingredients 1.5 lb. of pork ribs cut in 2 inch segment length wise 1.5 lb. of taro cut into 1 inch cube 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper 1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic 1 tablespoon of diced onion 1/2 teaspoon of fish sauce 3 rock sugar 2 cups of low sodium chicken broth Cilantro (garnish) Green onion (garnish) Directions Start by cleaning the ribs. Boil a small pot of water with 1 tablespoon of salt. Once the water comes to a boil, blanch the ribs so that the outside are cooked. …

Tiny Homes Trends

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Tiny homes, which are defined loosely as a dwellings that are approximately less than 900 square feet, have been increasingly common over the last few years. This movement is driven by concerns for the environment and a desire for financial security and greater freedom. The size of a tiny home contrasts with the average American house at approximately 2,000 square feet or more. Tiny homes also come in various shapes and sizes but are generally less than $100,000. The price tag depends on whether the structure is built by the owner or by another builder and by the quality of the materials and finishes. The movement has been so popular that there are endless YouTube videos and TV shows that showcase these small spaces. Some key trends have emerged over the past few years. There is usually a lofted bed area but most have eschewed the ladder system for smart built-in stairs with storage solutions. The second trend has been to have multi-functional furniture or transforming furniture. This allows for the resident to maximize the …

Essential Stock: Pork Bones

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Pork bone stock is one of the most versatile building block of Vietnamese soups. This stock takes less than 1.5 hours to make and freezes well. It is advisable to make big batches of this stock to put in the freezer. When you are ready to make soups such as Phnom Penh Noodle Soup or Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang, defrost the stock and this will cut your cooking time in half. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: Approximately 7-8 quarts depending on the evaporation / Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes Ingredients: 8.5 quarts of water 3 lb. of pork neck bones 1 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons of rock sugar   Directions A. Prepare the bones (5-10 minutes) Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the pork bones. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add the pork bones and cook for 5 minutes so that the impurities and blood can be drawn out of the bones. Remove the bones and rinse clean. Discard the water. B. Prepare the stock (1 hour) Fill a large …

Xôi Bắp / Sticky Rice with Hominy Corn

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Xôi bắp or sticky rice with hominy is an everyday staple in Vietnam. It is such an every man dish that you cannot find it at the restaurants, but rather you would have to find a traveling peddler to purchase this dish. As Vietnam’s economy continues to grow, traveling food peddlers are increasingly a thing of the past. It is now more important to learn how to make this country side dish to preserve the culture. Sticky rice with hominy is a mild dish that goes well with any topping. Traditionally, it is topped with mung bean paste, shredded coconut meat and a salty and sweet sesame peanuts mix. This is a great recipe to serve a large crowd and it also freezes well. Difficulty: Medium / Serving: 6 / Time: 5 hours soaking time and 1 hour to cook Ingredients: 1 cup of peeled split mung bean 2 cups of sweet rice 3 15 oz. cans of Goya white hominy 1 package of frozen shredded coconut meat 1/3 cup of unsalted roasted peanuts 1/3 cup …

Bánh Canh Cua Giò Heo / Crab and Pork Hock Tapioca Noodle Soup

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Bánh canh cua giò heo  or crab and pork hock tapioca noodle soup is a typical dish in central Vietnam. Bánh canh noodles are similar to udon noodles except they are typically made with a combination of tapioca flour and rice flour. The noodles are translucent and have a chewy consistency. The stock is based on a simple pork bone stock and this recipe takes approximately 1.5 hours to prepare. If you have frozen pork stock, then this recipe takes only half an hour to create. For those that do not like pork hock, we also offer substitution for those items. You can easily make this a simple crab noodle soup as well. Either way, it is another delicious noodle soup that is not typically offered in Vietnamese restaurants in the United States. Difficulty: Medium / Serving: 6 portions / Time: 1.5 hours Ingredients: 2.5 lb pork neck bone 2.5 lb of pork hock slice 1 inch lengthwise (substitute with other cuts of pork or pork neck bones) 1 pack of cha or pork meatloaf (substitute …

Where to Find Vietnamese Pantry Items

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Vietnamese products are easier to find today than when my parents first immigrated to the US in the early 1990s. With a click of a mouse, we can find and ship certain items easier with the addition of Amazon and other online retailers. I was very surprised to see that even Walmart.com sells Viet Huong 3 Crabs brand fish sauce. In today’s post, I will highlight a few vendors, local and online, where one can pick up the essentials. NYC – Chinatown There are two Vietnamese markets located near each other in Chinatown by the Grand Street subway station. 1. Tan Tinh Hung Supermarket This is a small and well organized supermarket that has most of what one would need to cook Vietnamese food. 2. Ken Hing Food Market Inc. This is a smaller of the two Vietnamese grocery stores that has crammed everything you may need into the small space. Outside of NYC 1.  Kam Mam Supermarket Kam Mam is a regional Asian supermarket with locations in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Chinatown NYC. This is …

Caramelized Shrimps / Tôm Rim

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It is possible to make the most mouth watering dish with just a few simple ingredients. Caramelized shrimps is one of those dishes. All you need are jumbo shrimps and coco rico soda for a sticky, salty and sweet delight. The best part is mixing steaming hot white rice with the leftover sauce for a delicious treat. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 4 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients 15 jumbo shrimps (approximately 1.5 lb.) 4 tablespoons of Coco Rico Soda 1 tablespoon of fish sauce 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt 3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of sugar 1 teaspoon of diced onion 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic 1/4 teaspoon of ground annatto 2 scallions (garnish) Thai red peppers (optional) Vegetable oil Directions Use kitchen scissors to cut off the legs for each shrimp. Cut into the shell along the back of the shrimp to remove the guts. Keep the shell on the shrimp as it helps retain a lot of flavors. Marinate the shrimps …

Lounge Review: Louis’ Tavern CIP Lounge – Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Concourse F with Vietnam Airlines

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I had the opportunity to fly business class from Bangkok, Thailand to Hanoi, Vietnam on Vietnam Airlines. With a premium ticket, I received access to the Louis’ Tavern CIP Lounge at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The lounge is located air side in Concourse F, Level 3 (West Side). This is a small lounge that is open 24 hours. The lounge was not crowded when I arrived and there were limited food, beverages and amenities. I received a piece of paper with the internet login upon arrival. This may be one of the most limited business class lounge that I visited in Asia. This lounge reminded me of a US domestic lounge, but it was still adequate for a brief rest before boarding my flight. There are also restrooms available at this lounge. I researched online for other Louis’ Tavern lounges in the airport and this may be the smallest one available. You can pay to enter the lounge if you do not have a premium ticket, but I do not think this was a good deal unless you wanted a quiet …