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Watercress and Beef Salad with Pan Juice Vinaigrette

One of my favorite vegetable dishes that my mother whipped up in no time is sautéed beef over a bed of pickled onions, tomatoes and watercress. She combines the pan juice with the pickling juice to create a refreshing vinaigrette that beckons to be poured over a steaming bowl of rice. Over the weekend, I asked my mother to help me recreate this quick and easy dish for our readers. With Fall in full swing, this is a refreshing dish to incorporate vegetables in your next meal.

This recipe is rated easy and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

1 lb of beef such as sirloin that would be good for sautéing

1 bushel of watercress

2 ½ teaspoons of soy sauce

Sugar

Salt

Pepper

½ teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder

¼ cup of vinegar

1 large tomato

½ of a yellow onion thinly sliced

¼ of a yellow onion diced

1/4 of a red onion diced

2 cloves of garlic sliced

1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon of olive oil

1 stalk of scallion for garnish

1 handful of cilantro for garnish

Source: laviepartagee.com

Directions

Thinly slice ½ of a yellow onion and rough chop ¼ of the remainder of the onion and set aside.

Source: laviepartagee.com

In a bowl, combine the thinly sliced onions, ¼ cup of vinegar, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Mix well and set aside.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Thinly slice the beef against the grain.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Season the beef with ½ teaspoon of pepper, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of sugar, ½ teaspoon of soy sauce, ½ teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder and the chopped red and yellow onion. (Reserve ½ tablespoon of diced onions for sautéing in the next step.)

Source: laviepartagee.com

Heat the pan on high and coat it with ¼ cup of olive oil or until the pan is coated. Brown ½ tablespoon of diced onions and 2 cloves of sliced garlic.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Add the beef once the garlic and onions are browned and quickly sauté on medium high heat for approximately 5 minutes or until the beef is cooked to your preference.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Add 1 tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce. Turn off the heat.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Assemble

Thinly slice the tomatoes in ⅛ inch rounds and cut the round slices in half.

Source: laviepartagee.com

On a large plate, place the watercress at the bottom and top with tomatoes. Add the pickled onions (without the juice). Add the sautéed beef on top but reserve the liquid from the pan for the sauce.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Sauce

Add the pan juice to the vinegar that is left over from the pickled onions and 1/2 teaspoon of lime juice. Whisk together.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Source; laviepartagee.com

Add 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Mix well.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Pour the sauce over the beef and watercress salad to serve.

Garnish the salad with cilantro and thinly sliced scallions.

Source: laviepartagee.com

For more recipes, visit our EAT page or Recipe Index.

Authors: Suong Tran and Chau Hoang

Words for Thought

Published by La Vie Partagée

An open heart is a happy heart.

Weekend Unexplored: Verona, Italy

Published by hoanth01

My first encounter with Verona is through reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. When I read the famous play, I often imagined what Verona would look like during that time. I had my answer when Hollywood decided to film the 2013 version in actual Verona, Italy and the surrounding areas.

Source: http://www.soundtrackmania.com/romeo-and-juliet-soundtrack-list.html

Earlier this year, I traveled to Verona for a few days and finally understood the charm and the seduction of this city in northern Italy.

Verona is a small renaissance city and will take only the weekend to see it all. The city is best to explore on foot as there are many old alleyways, town squares and bridges to see. There are numerous historical sites to visit, places to shops and restaurants to try.

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Anthony Tai

Here is La Vie Partagee’s list of must do’s.

SIGHTSEEING

1) Walk around the perimeter of the city along the river and explore the castle and monuments lining the walk path.

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Ady Italy

2) Take the elevator all the way up to the tower at Torre Dei Lamberti (Via della Costa, 1, 37121 Verona) to take in the entire city view.

Source: www.flickr.com by Sergio Presbitero

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Sergio Presbitero

Source: La Vie Partagee

There is an elevator that goes up to the base of the bells. The magnificently crafted bells are worth admiring. You can also go up the set of stairs to the top but the view is the same as the level below it.

3) Walk up the marvelous staircase at Scala Della Ragione Verona (Piazza dei Signori, Verona)

Source: La Vie Partagee

The staircase is right next to Torre Dei Lamberti and was also used in the film.

4) Grab a drink or meal and people watch at Piazza delle Erbe.

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Hans Svendsen

The square is lined with cafes and restaurants to enjoy refreshments or meals. We came during truffle season and was lucky enough to eat truffle stuffed raviolis with truffle sauce. The price was incredibly well priced (30 Euros) for the amount of truffles that were on the plate.

Source: La Vie Partagee

5) Stroll around the renaissance garden at Giardino Giusti (Via Giardino Giusti, 2, Verona) and take a break from the bustling city life.

Source: La Vie Partagee

The garden is reachable by walking across the bridge to the other side of town and away from the city center. The garden is majestic and worthy of taking selfies and pictures.

6) Walk across Ponte Scaligero and enjoy the views of both sides of Verona.

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Giuliano Salso

The best time to view the bridge is at night when the lights are illuminating the fort wall and bridge. It is a majestic sight and very romantic for couples on an evening stroll. The bridge was also used in the movie.

7) Take in the outdoor opera performance at Arena di Verona (Piazza Brà, 1, 37121 Verona).

Source: www.flickr.com by Gian Luigi Perrella

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Gian Luigi Perrella

Opera season starts in the warmer months and tickets can be purchased at http://www.arena.it/arena/en/shows/aida.htm. This is a can’t miss event when visiting Verona so be sure to book your tickets well in advance.

8) See the beautifully sculpted funeral monuments at Arca di Cangrande (Via delle Arche Scaligere, 1, 37121 Verona).

Source: La Vie Partagee

There is no need to go into the church and pay the entrance fee as the mausoleum displaying the best craftsmanship can be seen right outside the door.

9) Walk through the courtyard for “Juliet’s balcony” at Casa di Giulietta (Via Cappello, 23, Verona) The steep ticket fee to go upstairs and have a “view” from Juliet’s balcony (which is not even a real place) is not worth the price or wait. The courtyard looking up to the balcony is better for taking photos and is free for all visitors. Go early in the day before the crowd arrives.

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Kevin Hurst

Source: http://www.flickr.com by Thanate Tan

There is also a tradition to rub Juliet’s statue for luck with your love life.

SHOPPING

Verona has the standard selections of high end and mass retailers. Via Giuseppe Mazzini is the main shopping corridor of Verona.

Source: http://www.dismappa.it

This street is lined with shops that are housed in historic buildings. It does get very crowded during tourist season. There are many smaller streets that split off from Via Giuseppe Mazzini to explore.

Verona has two stores that are worth browsing and they are located off the main shopping avenue.

Hidden Forest Market

Via Pescheria Vecchia , 2, 37100 Verona, hiddenforestmarket.com

Source: La Vie Partagee

Source: http://www.hiddenforestmarket.com

This store has a great selection of structured, high fashion pieces to add to any fashionista’s closet. Prices range from $50-$300.

Amelia

Piazza Erbe, 33, Verona, www.amelia-store.it

Source: http://www.amelia-store.com

The store featured a great selection of whimsical, feminine pieces to satisfy the romantics in all of us at a mass merchandiser’s price point.

FOOD

Verona has no shortage of restaurants and cafes to try. Food is guaranteed to be great wherever you go. Here are the ones that left a lasting impression:

Dolce Locanda SRL

Via Valerio Catullo, 12/14, 37121 Verona, Dolcelocanda.it

Source: http://dolcelocanda.it/

This bakery served delicious, hand crafted pastries and desserts.

Ristorante Il Cenacolo

Via Teatro Filarmonico, 10, 37121 Verona, www.ristoranteilcenacolo.it

Source: http://www.ristoranteilcenacolo.it/

Source: La Vie Partagee

Food is outstanding and gorgeously presented The pan fried buffalo mozzarella and risotto are not to be missed. Also try their selection of meats and seasonal vegetables expertly grilled on the open flames in the dining room.

Ristorante Mariacallas

Vicolo Cieco S. Pietro Incarnario, 37121 Verona,045594034, http://mariacallas.it/site/

Source: La Vie Partagee

This is a great traditional Verona restaurant specializing in seafood. The location is difficult to find as it is tucked inside a non-descriptive building.

Source: La Vie Partagee

This octopus and radish salad was perfectly executed and has a balance flavor profile.

SignorVino

Corso Porta Nuova 2, 37122 Verona, Italy, +39 045 800 9031, http://www.signorvino.com/it

Source: lakegarda.gardasee.de

Source: http://www.steden.net/italie/verona/signorvino/

This cozy wine bar and cafe is tucked inside a wine store near the center of town. The food was delicious and the wine was very well priced starting from a few Euros. SignorVino also has a selection of free appetizers and breads when you order a glass of wine. It’s a great way to start or end your day to visit this little jewel.

Locanda 4 Cuochi

Via Alberto Mario, 12, 37121 Verona, Italy, 0458030311, http://www.locanda4cuochi.it/

Source: grabpage.info

Locanda 4 Cuochi is a modern Italian bistro that puts a playful twist on Veronian cuisine. The ambiance is surprising relax and quirky. They have crayons for diners to doodle on the paper table cover while you wait for food. The price is also a good value for the level of culinary dishes that are created at this bistro. Their appetizers and desserts are more inventive and worth sharing a la tapas style.

For related articles, visit our TRAVEL page.

Author: Thai-Anh Hoang

Featured photo source: http://www.flickr.com by Giacomo Bernardi

CB2 x Kravitz Design Limited Edition

Published by La Vie Partagée

CB2 is one of my favorite stores to find affordable modern furniture. CB2 teamed up with Lenny Kravitz’s design firm to introduce a limited edition collection available in stores and online starting October 1. The collection’s price point is slightly higher than the average CB2 furniture and the aesthetic has a strong 70’s vibe. Check out the collection and let us know what you think.

Source: CB2

Source: CB2 Changes Console ($999)

Source: CB2 Baba Side Table ($299)

Source: CB2 Yaya Coffee Table ($699)

Source: CB2 Topanga Bar ($749)

Source: CB2 Nova Side Table ($399)

Source: CB2 Mack Bar Stool ($249)

Source: CB2

Source: CB2 Catru Table Without Sheepskin ($349)

Source: CB2 Lola Table Lamp ($349)

Source: CB2 Changes Rug ($399+)

Source: CB2 Pillows ($40)

For related articles, visit the DESIGN page.

Author: Chau Hoang

Featured photo: CB2

Vietnamese Coffee 3 Ways: Hot, Cold and a Starbucks Hack

Published by La Vie Partagée

Vietnamese coffee is a symbol of the cafe culture thanks to the Dutch and French colonialism in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cafes are where friends and family meet up and hang out. Most single people live with their family until they are married, so places like a cafe becomes a venue to hold social gatherings. Vietnamese coffee can be served hot or cold and is usually very sweet due to the addition of condensed milk. Traditional Vietnamese coffee does not have the chicory flavoring that is popular today. That popularity is due to the brand Cafe du Monde and its widespread use for Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá). In this post, I will demonstrate how to make Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá), hot coffee with condensed milk (cà phê sữa) and a Starbucks version of the iced coffee.

Ingredients

1 single serving steel coffee press (You can buy one online).

Source: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/

1 can of condensed milk (the most popular brand is Longevity Brand’s condensed milk)

Medium to dark roast coffee grind. (Cafe Trung Nguyen or Cafe du Monde)

Souse: laviepartagee.com

Direction

1. Iced Coffee / Cà phê sữa đá

Add 3 tablespoons of coffee grind to the press. Place the second piece of the press on top of the coffee and press down lightly. If you have a screw top version of the press, screw the piece tight enough so it will still allow for the coffee to expand with the hot water.

Source: laviepartagee.com

In a tall glass, add 2 tablespoons of condensed milk to the bottom. You can add 1 to 2 more tablespoons of condensed milk depending on how sweet you like your coffee.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Place the coffee press on top of the glass.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Add enough boiling water to the press so that it clears the first metal piece. The object is to wet the coffee grind enough so it will expand.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Once the water from the first batch of water has gone through the filter, fill the press to the top with boiling water.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Place the lid on top of the press and be patient while the coffee drips.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Once the coffee has finished dripping, remove the press and place it onto the lid (flipped up) so it can catch any remaining drips.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Stir to incorporate the coffee and condensed milk. This should taste very sweet and buttery, similar to mocha chocolate.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Let the coffee cool for a minute and add ice to the glass. Enjoy.

Source: laviepartagee.com

2. Hot Coffee / Cà phê sữa

To make hot coffee, repeat the same process as the iced coffee except only put 2 tablespoons of coffee into the press and 1 tablespoon of condensed milk to the bottom of the cup. Since there are no ice to dilute the strong coffee, I make my hot coffee less sweet than my iced coffee.

When I visited Sapa, our wonderful B&B allowed me to purchase this handmade cup and tea light burner set to keep the coffee hot.

Source: laviepartagee.com

3. Starbucks Hack for cà phê sữa đá

My brother came up with this combo to mimic the Vietnamese iced coffee at Starbucks. This will have less of the buttery taste than the traditional way of making iced coffee. However, the taste is close enough to the authentic cà phê sữa đá when it is inconvenient to make one.

At the counter, order 3 shots of espresso with 3 pumps of white mocha in a grande cup with ice. Stir and enjoy.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Now you are ready to have Vietnamese iced coffee whenever you want.

Source: laviepartagee.com

For more recipes, visit our EAT page or Recipe Index.

Author: Chau Hoang

Contributor: Kenny Hoang

Words for Thought

Published by La Vie Partagée

a nice reminder from a little prince

The Original Food Market: The Essex Street Market (NYC)

Published by La Vie Partagée

Even though I have lived in NYC for a long time, I have never ventured into this particular market until one Sunday afternoon. My friend lives in Manhattan’s Lower East Side for a long time and decided today’s field trip would be a great way to see what the original NYC food market is like before it moves into a new sparkling location across the street. Essex Street Market opened in 1940 and has survived through tumultuous years before the revitalization of lower Manhattan. With new residents moving into the area, the market is infused with a renewed vitality and offers a range of culinary products and interesting food stalls. This market is run by New York City so it is not advertised as much as the newer and more upscale private markets.

At first, the market did not look like much to me as compared to the newer ones popping up all over the city. As I ventured through the maze of stalls, I found myself in markets similar to the ones in Europe. The Essex Street Market has a good directory of all the vendors as seen below.

Source: Essex Street Market

As we aimlessly wandered around the market, I could not help but notice the variety of items being offered. See the description from the official website. One thing to note is that each stall has its own operating hours so check out the official website before you go.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Prepared Food

Boubouki

Source: laviepartagee.com

Fresh Greek pies made of phyllo dough.

Ni Japanese Delicacies

Source: laviepartagee.com

I actually had one of the freshest matcha latte here. The fact that he used a bamboo whisk to mix the milk and real matcha powder together was impressive. There were other food items which looked incredibly appetizing.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Nordic Preserves, Fish & Wildlife Company, Inc.

It was interesting to find this Swedish stall selling a variety of snacks such as meatballs and traditional herring.

Peasant Stock

This is a soup stall that makes all the soups at the market.

Bread and Baked Goods

Pain D’Avignon

Source: laviepartagee.com

Davidovich Bakery

Rainbow’s And

Meat, Poultry & Seafood

Luis Meat Market

Source: laviepartageee.com

My friend actually buys all of her meat from this vendor. It is becoming rarer to have a neighborhood butcher to order fresh meats from.

New Star Fish Market

Rainbo’s Fish

Produce & Grocery

Essex Farm Fruits and Vegetables

Viva Fruits & Vegetables

Luna Brothers Fruit Plaza Booths

Sweets & Treats

Luca & Bosco

Source: laviepartagee.com

This is an innovative ice cream stall with flavors such as Lemon Olive Oil and Whisky Fudge.

Roni-Sue’s Chocolates

Source: laviepartagee.com

This stall has handmade chocolates.

Dining

Essex Restaurant

Source: Essex

Chopsin’s General Store

Source: laviepartagee.com

Source: Chopsins General Store

Cheese

Saxelby Cheesemongers

This is a stall that sells American farmstead cheese from a collection of dairies in the Northeast.

Formaggio Essex

Source: laviepartagee.com

This stall sells handcrafted cheese and meats.

There are more stalls that focus on beverages, crafts, beauty and art.

Source: laviepartagee.com

The whole walk took less than half an hour and we got to sample various drinks and some snacks. The next time you are in the area, stop by the Essex Street Market to discover the ever changing offerings of artisanal food and grocery goods. Once it moves to the a new building across the street, the old charm and history will surely change.

For related articles, visit our Travel page.

Author: Chau Hoang

Light It Up

Published by La Vie Partagée

I asked my friends what topic they want me to write about next and many agreed on lamps. Coincidentally, I had planned on writing about this topic for weeks. I know there are so many options to pick from ranging in price and style. It is a hard to make a decision.

Lamps can be pricey, especially the ceiling lamps. Any good designer will tell you that there is a lot of time and work behind a beautiful piece. Think of these lamps as if you are buying a valuable piece of art. So if you run into one that is a bit higher than your budget, don´t automatically eliminate it. Maybe you can adjust your budget with other things to make room for the lamp.

The trend right now is to have beautiful and clean lines. It can be a wire shade. It can also be a structure that parts like branches in a asymmetrical way or in a very symmetrical design. My favorite colors are white, black, copper, brass and gold. The light bulbs have also become super stars with all those interesting filaments folded inside the glass.

Source: http://www.petitefriture.com

Source: http://www.myunfinishedhome.com

Here are some options I selected from affordable stores to help you add beautiful fixtures to your interiors:

Ceiling Lamps

First think about what type of light you need. There are some that reflect light to the ceiling, others down or directional. Also make sure you check to see how many light bulbs the lamp requires since there are spaces that are small. Over lighting small spaces could be a mistake. If you still like the fixture, invest in a dimmer.

Source: http://www.westelm.com

Source: http://www.cb2.com

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

Source: http://www.target.com

Source: http://www.target.com

Ceiling lamps can also be used for side tables and night stands as they can bring a refreshing look to the space and save you room on the surface.

Source: http://www.cb2.com

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

Wall Lamps or Scones

They are great for accents but you can find them to be very functional when adjusted directionally.

Source: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Source: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Source: http://www.crateandbarrel.com

Source: http://www.crateandbarrel.com

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

Source: http://www.westelm.com

Source: http://www.westelm.com

Source: http://www.westelm.com

Table Lamps

They come in all shapes and heights. Be sure to get a piece that works for what you need. If it is a reading lamp, it has to be high enough not to create a shadow.

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

Source: http://www.target.com

Source: http://www.onekingslane.com

Source: http://www.onekingslane.com

Source: http://www.ballarddesigns.com

Source: http://www.target.com

Source: http://www.westelm.com

Floor Lamps

These are a great fix for empty small corners or to bring a vertical element to the space.

Source: http://www.crateandbarrel.com

Source: http://www.crateandbarrel.com

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

Source: http://www.anthropologie.com

I hope you find some inspirations to help fill the missing pieces in your space!

For related articles, visit our DESIGN page.

Author: Daniela Olmedo

Featured photo: www.lindseyadelman.com

Blue Crabs Sauté in a Roe Sauce

Published by La Vie Partagée

The northern Atlantic coast is known for its blue crabs. While vacationing in Virginia Beach, my family went to the fish market called the Shellfish Company and bought fresh blue crabs right off of the boat. My Aunt Qua created this simple and easy dish for us. Needless to say, the taste testers ate all of the crabs as soon as they were prepared.

This recipe is rated easy and serves 4 people.

Ingredients:

6 female blue crabs (as you will need the roe)

1/4 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder

3/4 teaspoon of sugar

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1/8 teaspoon of pepper

1/3 cup of yellow onion

3 cloves of garlic (approximately 2 tablespoons)

1 stalk of scallion

1 Thai Chili

Source: laviepartagee.com

Directions:

Prepare the crabs

Twist the tail off of the crab and discard.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Snap off the claws and legs.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Use a towel and pull apart the shell of the crab and get rid of the grey, furry-looking thing (the lungs).

Source: laviepartagee.com

One side of the shell will have the body of the crab. The other side will be hollow and usually contains the crab roe (orange stuff) and other goodies.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Scoop out the creamy innards, roe, and any briny juices from the curve of the shell into a bowl. This will be the base of our roe sauce.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Split each crab in half and break the claws into 2 pieces.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Mince 3 cloves of garlic (approx. 2 tablespoons) and dice ⅓ cup of yellow onions.

Thinly dice 1 stalk of scallions and 1 Thai chili. Remove the seeds if you want less heat.

Source: laviepartagee.com

To the bowl of raw crabs, add ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ⅛ teaspoon of pepper, ¼ teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder, and ¾ teaspoon of sugar.

Source: laviepartagee.com

Add 3 tablespoons of oil to the pan on high heat. Add the scallion and onion to the oil and sautee for a few seconds. Add the garlic and then add the crab. Mix and continue to stir the ingredients together.

Source: laviepartagee.com

When the crabs start to turn red, turn the heat to medium. Continue to stir and add the Thai chili. After 5 minutes (from when you put the crab into the pot), add the crab roe and stir for another 5 minutes.