All posts tagged: featured

Vietnamese Omelette with Shitakii Mushrooms and Tofu / Trứng chiên

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Italians have the frittata while Americans have the cheesy omelette for breakfast. Vietnamese have our trứng chiên which we eat with rice for lunch or dinner. This is a typical dish for any time of the day and there are many versions of it. My mom makes this filling version with shiitake mushrooms and soft tofu. It is also a great dish for vegetarians. This recipe is rated easy and takes 30 minutes to make. Ingredients: 1 cup of soft tofu (approx. ½ of a package) 6 shiitake mushrooms 1 stalk of leek 5 eggs 1 ¼ teaspoons of soy sauce ½ teaspoon of mushroom seasoning ⅛ teaspoon of sugar Salt Pepper Directions: Wash the shiitake mushrooms of any dirt. Squeeze all the water out of the mushrooms. Discard the stems and thinly slice the mushrooms. Thinly diced the white portion of the leek and julienne the green part of the leek. You will need approx. 1 tablespoon of green leek for garnish. Thinly slice the tofu and slice again to create small cubes of tofu. In …

Review: Framebridge

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When I moved into my new office this spring, I decided that I needed to make this space less sterile. The easiest way to make an office warm and personal is to hang up art pieces. The process of framing art has always been expensive and tedious. I did some research on framing options and found Framebridge. This is a review of my experience after having four pieces framed at this e-commerce site. Framebridge.com launched in 2014 by Susan Tynan, CEO, to “to make it easy for everyone to frame the things they love.” Background The process to get your art framed is as followed: The pricing is based on certain size and includes free delivery. There are currently 37 frame options available. Instead of glass, Framebridge uses high quality acrylic. Timeline: Experience My experience overall have been very positive. I started with a small poster (9” x 12”). I uploaded the art and chose the Irvine Slim with no mat. The item came promptly. I paid $69 ($79 standard price with $10 off coupon for new …

Viet Style Strawberry & Banana Shake / Sinh Tố Dâu Chuối

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Summer is when strawberries are in season and are abundant at any farmer’s market. A great way to serve strawberries is our delicious strawberry and banana shake or  sinh tố dâu chuối. This is my mom’s recipe for a delightful afternoon treat. Ingredients: 6 large strawberries 1 banana 1 5.3oz lowfat yogurt (we used chobani greek yogurt with strawberry and banana) 1 tablespoon of condense milk 1 tablespoon of sugar ¼ cup of milk 1 cup of ice Directions: Combined all the ingredients into a blender and blend until you have a smooth consistency.   For more recipes, visit our EAT page or Recipe Index. Authors: Susan Tran and Chau Hoang

Air France (AF):  How does the AF’s premium economy stack up to other airlines?

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Over the past few years, airlines have created the premium economy class to meet the demands of its customers for a class between  cramped economy and expensive business. This premium class is offered on international flights due to generally long distances traveled and customers’ desire for little bit more leg room. Air France is one carrier that recently revamped its premium economy class and we tested the offer on our recent trip from New York to Portugal. Flight: Premium Economy from NY JFK connecting at Paris-CDG airport with the final destination arriving in Lisbon on Boeing 777-300ER. Lounge Access: None. Non-business passengers do not have lounge access. Priority Line: Premium class customers have Sky Priority access which really is the only perk to the economy premium class. Sky Priority is reserved for Premium, Business and First class customers. You will enter through the expedited passport, customs and boarding line. Sky Priority is worth it if you have a connecting flight in Paris. The passport and security line is very short for Sky Priority which is necessary for going …

Steamed Clams with Lemongrass, Thai Basil and Ginger

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When summer comes around, I automatically think of all the good seafood that are available. One very simple and fragrant dish that can serve a crowd is the classic steamed clams with lemongrass, Thai basil and ginger. The clams are then dipped into a a mixture of salt, pepper and lime juice. This dish is an easy summer delight for those nights when you do not want to cook over a hot stove for hours. This recipe is rated easy and takes 30 minutes. Ingredients: 50 Littleneck clams 4 Stalks of lemongrass 1 very large ginger 1 Tablespoon of rock sugar A few red Thai chili for a hint of spice 5-6 stalks of Thai basil 1 Lime Salt and ground pepper for the dipping sauce Directions: Cut the lemongrass stalks into 3 parts and discard the thin ends (shown tied with a rubber band). Split the thick white part of the lemongrass in half. Cut the ginger into thick slices. Break the basil into 3 pieces and discard the ends. In a large and deep …

A Layover in Narita, Japan

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On a recent trip to Asia, I decided to have a 12 hours layover in Narita to explore the city. Narita Airport is at least 40 minutes on a train from Tokyo while Narita city is only a 10 minutes train ride away. Narita city is not about the sights as there are few things to see. However the city boast an abundance of charm and a good way to observe everyday Japanese’s lives for a short duration. Narita is known for grilled eel or unagi and that is where my senses led me. I was fortunate to have a friend residing in Japan meet me in Narita for a short sight seeing break. This is the breakdown of my  adventure in Narita. I had Japan Airlines’ Sakura Lounge access so I was able to freshen up after a red eye flight and grab a quick bite in the lounge. I stored my luggage at the lounge but there are locker options at the arrival hall as well. You can inquire about the locker option at the information …

Viet Style Avocado Shake / Sinh Tố Bơ

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In Vietnam, avocados are used for sweet desserts and not savory dishes like the ones in the western world. Avocado shake literally translates to “butter fruit shake” in Vietnamese and that aptly describes this confection. Step into any Vietnamese restaurant and you’ll see avocado shake on the menu. This is not a healthy shake by any means due to the condense milk, but it is treat. This shake has a consistency of a light pudding so I have always considered this to be a dessert drink. On an interesting note, avocado was introduced by the French and given its name,  trái bơ or butter fruit, due to the buttery richness of the flesh. Enjoy this wonderful shake anytime of the day. Ingredients: 2 Ripe Haas avocados 1/4 cup of vanilla yogurt 1/2 cup of milk 1 and 1/4 cup of ice 2 tablespoons of condense milk   Directions: Using a spoon, scoop out the avocado flesh into the blender.   Add yogurt, milk, ice and condense milk.   Blend until you have a smooth consistency. …

Hotel Review: Hansar (Bangkok, Thailand)

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Hansar Bangkok is a unique 5 stars boutique hotel in the heart of Bangkok. Hansar’s objective is  to provide for an “authentic and unpretentious luxury experiences in an intimate environment where your privacy is achieved through our boutique size.” The hotel offers 94 rooms which are very spacious, and the rooms are the epitome of modern luxury. We had two opportunities to stay at the Hansar while in Thailand. We will be reviewing our experience staying at the urban room and the studio. Positives: Central location and step away from most activities. The rooms are spacious, luxurious and homey at the same time. The service is excellent and the staff really tries their best to get you everything you would need. Unlimited free snacks and minibar in the room. Fresh fruit plate every day. The bathroom is gorgeous and I would love to have a bathroom like that one day. Breakfast is mostly made to order and is locally sourced. Free Wifi everywhere in the hotel. Intimate feel in an international style hotel. Negatives: There wasn’t a …

No-Cook Steamed Eggplant with Scallion Oil and Fried Shallots

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When I went off to college with a microwave in hand, my mother taught me a few dishes that you can make in a microwave for a quick and delicious meal. One of those dishes was a ridiculously simple steamed eggplant topped with scallion oil and fried shallots and served with a salty and sweet chili sauce. Now that I am a busy working professional, this dish is even more useful for weeknight dinners. I usually eat this dish with rice and a side of salad. Next time you think that you are too tired to cook a healthy meal, try this no-cook version of steamed eggplant with scallion oil and fried shallots. This recipe is rated easy and takes 15 minutes to make. Ingredients: 2 Chinese eggplants 3 Scallions 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic a few Thai chili peppers fish sauce 2 tablespoons of oil (olive or canola) Handful of fried shallots or peanuts for a crunch Salt Sugar Directions: Diced the scallions and place into a microwavable bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of oil …

Must Do’s – Local Favorite Eateries in Hue, Vietnam

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Every year and a half, I will travel to Hue, Vietnam to visit orphanages as part of Orphans’ Futures Alliance due diligence trip. I am always excited to visit the kids and also to sample my family’s favorite restaurants in the city. Hue is known to have the best authentic traditional cuisine stemming from its imperial history. My family is originally from Hue so I grew up eating many of the local specialties. Locals take great pride in the food culture and I am excited to share with you some of my family’s must eats when we are in Hue. Huyen Anh (52 Kim Long Street, Hue, Vietnam) This place specializes in fresh rice rolls (bánh ướt thịt nướng) and bbq pork (thịt nướng). This is a local favorite and the people there do not speak English. Don’t be intimidated as there are only 3 items that you can order. You can always just show them a picture. I would advise bringing your own wet naps as the place can be a little grungy like …