All posts tagged: featured

Dưa Giá / Pickled Bean Sprouts with Carrots and Chives

Published by

Dưa giá is one of the most popular pickled side dish for a Vietnamese meal. It is a usual accompaniment for stewed dishes such as braised pork belly with eggs (Thịt Kho Trứng) or other salty type of braised meat dishes. The slightly sour and sweet pickled bean sprouts offset the saltiness of the braised meats. This is an easy recipe to make anytime of the year. This recipe is rated easy. Ingredients 1 lb of bean sprouts 2 carrots 1 bunch of chives 6 pearl onions, peeled 8 Thai chilies 1 ½ cups of warm water ½ cup of vinegar 1 ¼ teaspoons of salt 6 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of sugar Directions Peel and shred the carrots. Rinse the chives to get rid of any dirt and cut them into 2 inch sections. Slice the pearl onions in half.  Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of sugar to the vegetables and let them marinate for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water. Make the pickling juice by combining 1 ½ cups of warm …

Weekend Unexplored: Bakewell, England

Published by

As a weekend excursion from London, I traveled with my family to Bakewell, a small town in Derbyshire in the heart of Peak District National Park.  It was their first trip to the United Kingdom, and my parents were eager to see the countryside of this region as well as the grand estate of Chatsworth House, the setting of Pemberly in Joe Wright’s 2005 film adaptation, Pride and Prejudice (also my mother’s favorite Jane Austen novel).      Getting there: We took to our destination by public transportation, setting off at London’s St. Pancras to catch the East Midlands train to Chesterfield.  From there, a 12 minute walk through town brought us to the 170 Hulleys of Baslow bus stop to Rutland Square in Bakewell.  In total, the trip from London took about four hours.   Where to stay: Although tired, we were met with warm hospitality by our Bed and Breakfast hosts, John and Marie, of Melbourne House. The rate for a double room is 70 GBP/night. A short distance from the town’s center, the …

Bún Riêu / Crab Vermicelli Soup

Published by

Bún riêu is a very popular noodle dish in Vietnam for its simplicity and deliciousness. This is a tomato based vermicelli noodle soup that has three popular variations: crab, fish or snails. Bún riêu cua is probably the most well known version made with rice paddy crabs. These are small crabs found in rice paddy fields and would then be cleaned and pounded into a paste. This crab paste and tomatoes are the essential ingredients for the broth. The soup is easy to make and is a great way to serve a lot of people at one time. This recipe is rated medium in difficulty and makes approximately 6 bowls of noodle soup. Ingredients 1 can of minced crab in spices 1 can of minced prawns in spices 1 lb of ground pork ½ lb of shrimp (approximately 9-10 shrimps) ¼ cup of rouc (fine shrimp sauce) ¾ cup of ketchup 1 package of fried tofu 2 tablespoons of fish sauce or nouc mam ⅓ cup of vegetable oil ½ of a yellow onion (optional) 2 tomatoes 1 …

Best of France NYC Exhibition: Fashion Highlight

Published by

Each year, French Touch Events put on the Best of France exhibition. I was able to check out the exhibition this year that took place in Times Square on September 26 and 27. There were a good selection of French exports such as makeup, food and travel.  I was interested in the three fashion brands that were showcased at this year’s exhibition. Tanya Heath Paris Website: http://www.tanyaheath.com/ Tanya Heath is a luxury shoe brand with a unique story. Their shoes have interchangeable heels that are made for the working woman.  One can adjust the heel height depending on the height preference.  The concept is very innovative and the shoes are comfortable.  However, the price point is high for the target audience: modern working woman. On their e-shop, the shoes price ranges between 360 Euros to 700 Euros. The shoe does not have the brand cache such as Yves Saint Laurent or other comparably priced brands.  The idea is that you can buy a pair of shoes at a high price point and be able to update them with different heels …

Pumpkin and Ribs Soup

Published by

With the holiday approaching and the winter chill setting in, soup becomes a favorite for the winter. In the US, we have an abundance of pumpkin around the autumn time and into the winter months. Naturally, we merged pumpkin and traditional ribs soup into our version of a light yet filling meal. This soup can be eaten by itself or with toasted bread or rice. This recipe is rated easy. Ingredients ½ a block of soft tofu ½ lb. of pork ribs 2 ½ cups of pumpkin cube 2 tablespoons of chopped onion ½ tablespoon fish sauce Chicken bouillon powder (½ teaspoon for marinade and ¼ teaspoon for soup) Salt Sugar Ground pepper 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (“EVOO”) 2 stalks of scallion and cilantro for garnish Directions Cut the short ribs strip into smaller pieces of approximately 2 inches. Marinate the meat with ¼ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of diced onions, ¼ teaspoon of ground pepper and ½ teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder. Cut the pumpkin into …

Shredded Lime Chicken with Vietnamese Coriander and Pickled Onions / Thịt Gà Bóp Với Rau Răm

Published by

Another simple dish that elevates the boiled chicken into a refreshing and healthy entree is my mom’s shredded chicken mixed with lime juice, Vietnamese coriander and pickled onions.  It is deceptively simple, filling and healthy.  Vietnamese coriander is an herb that can usually be found in Asian markets or grown at home.  It has a bite and mild citrus scent.  This is the herb that really makes the dish.  If this herb is not available, you can substitute it with Thai basil. This dish is rated easy. Ingredients ½ a chicken ½ of an onion, thinly sliced ½ of an onion for the stock 4 cloves of minced garlic 1 lime ¼ cup of Vietnamese coriander or basil if the Vietnamese coriander is not available ½ teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 tablespoon of rock sugar salt pepper 2 Thai chili Directions In a large pot, boil 7 cups of water with 1 tablespoon of rock sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt. Once the water comes to a boil, add the chicken and ½ an onion and boil …

Farmer’s Market Grilled Cheese Sandwhich

Published by

One of many great things about living in NYC is the abundance of farmer’s markets in many different neighborhoods. I discovered a small market two blocks away from my apartment after strolling around the area on one random Sunday. This is now my place to go for fresh seasonable vegetables straight from the source.  The weather finally turned from summer to autumn and nothing is better to welcome the cooler weather than grilled cheese sandwich served with a bowl of hot tomato soup. I saw some vibrant tomatoes, onions, freshly baked country bread and fresh Gouda cheese which inspired me to create my version of a grilled cheese sandwich for a fall day. Ingredients for 1 Grilled Cheese Sandwich: 2 slices of Gouda cheese or any mild melting cheese 2 thick slices of red tomato 2 thick slices of yellow tomato 1/4 of a red onion thinly sliced 1/2 of a ripe avocado 2 slices of country white bread or any type of dense bread 2 tablespoons of melted butter a few squirt of sriracha (not pictured) Directions: …

Hotel Review: Fusion Maia Resort (Danang, Vietnam)

Published by

Fusion Maia Resort (Danang, Vietnam) Address: Truong Sa, Vietnam (+84 511 3967 999) http://maiadanang.fusion-resorts.com We stumbled onto Fusion Maia accidentally when a friend of mine decided to stay at the resort for a short holiday and invited me to join her. The resort is so well hidden that even the entrance from the main road can easily be missed. Driving through the bamboo lined driveway to the front lobby, you can’t help but feel like you are being transported to a secluded oasis.  Fusion Maia is completely different from other top luxury resorts dotting the beach. It’s a luxury boutique resort that specializes in spa and holistic living. La Vie Partagee would describes the resort as a cross between a five star spa and being on a private island getaway in Vietnam with a dash of Bali thrown in.  The resort is a “villas only” establishment with each villa having its own private pool.  Your one night stay includes 2 days of spa service per person.  There are 2 hours of spa service per day per …

Aunt Qua’s Famous Fried Dumplings

Published by

My aunt Qua is known for her juicy fried dumplings so much so that there are lines of people upset because she no longer sells them.  Luckily for me and for our readers, she decided to teach us how to make this deceptively simple dish.  The fried dumplings are juicy and sweet while the deep frying gives them a nice crunch.  Covered in fried sweet onions and dipped in a unique soy vinaigrette, these dumplings will be gone in seconds.  These are the best fried dumplings I have ever tasted and I’m excited to share the recipe in today’s post. There are three cooking methods to cook the dumplings. You decide based on your preference. a.  Deep frying (the preferred method) b.  Pan frying.  We used this method for this demonstration as the hotel did not have all the equipment we needed. c.  Boiling This recipe is rated easy and makes approximately 50 dumplings. Ingredients: 1 lb of ground pork 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of pepper 50 round wonton wrapper 1 1/2 teaspoon of chicken …

Weekend Unexplored: Gatsby Afternoon

Published by

Held annually on the second Sunday of September, the Gatsby Afternoon picnic attracts hundreds of American 1920 and 1930 enthusiasts to the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate in Oakland, California.  From approximately 1 pm until 5 pm, revelers can immerse themselves back to the time of flapper dresses, the foxtrot, and fashionable hats.  New York may have its own version of this event on Governors Island but it pales in comparison to the event hosted by the Art Deco Society of California and its East Bay residents. All guests must be in vintage-style attire.  It’s required, meaning there are no spectators.  Only participants are allowed on the grounds.  Maintaining the vintage atmosphere is indeed enforced:  no jeans, shorts, sneakers, polo/tee-shirts, baseball hats, pantsuits.  If an attendee arrives without appropriate attire, he or she is directed to the Costume Closet, a vintage rental/sale station on-site.   I arrived early before the gates opened to grab one of the front spots in line at the entrance.  Wearing a printed vintage style dress, I dressed it up with white …