All posts tagged: featured

Metropolitan Museum of Art: China Through the Looking Glass

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Every year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Costume Insitute put on a costume exhibition.  The theme this year is China Through the Looking Glass.  It is a fascinating and vibrant look at China culture and its influence on cinema, fashion, art, and the western world.  The exhibit also has videos of historical and current fashion trends.  It is a spectacle for the senses and a feast for the eyes. The video below from the Metropolitan Museum of Art posted by the World Fashion YouTube channel is a 7 minute overview of the exhibition with fascinating insight. On a sunny Friday morning, I visited the exhibition.  Aside from the stylish clothes, the way in which the fashion is exhibited on a fake lake, in a mock up of a house, and against video tunnels is spectacular.  The exhibition has extended until September 7, 2015.  I highly advise going on a weekday or very early on a weekend as it gets crowded quickly. The exhibition description from the Met: This exhibition explores the impact of Chinese aesthetics …

Bugs: A Hidden Sushi Gem In Its Last Week

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New York is transient by nature with people coming and going at all times.  Some people and moments can leave an impact and a lasting impression.  Bugs, a Japanese sushi restaurant that can seat 15 people located in the East Village, is one of those lasting impressions.  I first met Osaka-born Chef Sho Boo in 2013 when she opened her tiny restaurant that can often be described as a hole in the wall.  This is another connotation for a hidden gem and accurately describes this chef and her restaurant. Coming to Bugs feels like you are coming to Chef Sho Boo’s kitchen where she labors away with an assistant in a makeshift kitchen that comprises of two electric burners, a microwave, a toaster oven, and a rice cooker.  Chef Boo, her assistant, and a waitress work together to put on a meal worthy of any noted sushi restaurant in NYC.  Unfortunately, Chef Boo did some soul searching after the death of her mother this year and decided to travel the world volunteering and learning new …

Bò Tái Chanh / Vietnamese Beef Carpacio Salad

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My family vacations in Virginia Beach every year around this time in August.  The great thing about the family reunion is that I get to spend time with my relatives who are crazy good cooks. Aunt Qua is another amazing home cook and luckily for me, she agreed to spend time showing me some of her best and easy to make dishes.  In this post we will make bò tái chanh.  Bò tái chanh is a refreshing salad with beef cooked in lime juice.  It is the Vietnamese version of beef carpacio.  The pineapple and chili sauce is my family’s concoction to replace the typical pungent fish paste sauce.  A little of the sauce over the fresh lime marinated beef and salad hits the spot, especially during the hot and steamy summer.  I guarantee that this salad will be gone in no time. This dish is rated easy and serves two to four people, depending on if the dish is meant as a side or main dish. Ingredients: 1 lb of eye round beef ¼ …

Airline Review: Japan Airlines Premium Economy

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As one of the founders for Orphans’ Futures Alliance, I take several trips each  year to Asia to oversee operations and meet our partner orphanages and government contacts.  I normally dread the 17+ flight from Boston.  In recent years, I have found an affordable option to make these trips less painful and more enjoyable.  Japan Airlines (JAL)) introduced their “Premium Economy” a few years ago and I have become an ardent fan. Disclaimer:  The author paid for the upgrade to premium economy at her own expense.  Value:  Above Average Japan Airlines offers larger Premium Economy seats, above average service, and amazing lounge access for a great value.  The ticket is $200-400 round trip for the upgrade from economy and is cheaper than other airlines. Seat:  Above Average Japan Airlines Premium Economy has “fully recline” seats with much bigger space and leg room.  The plane is divided into first class, business, premium economy, and economy.  The premium economy is sectioned off for the flight.  The bathrooms are shared between the premium economy and economy cabins. Priority Boarding: Average Priority …

Key Piece: Sofa

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I have been working as an interior designer for 15 years and I can tell you that sofas are a crucial decision to be made for your place. You will spend most of the time there, reading, watching tv, relaxing or sharing with friends and family.    Budget and Plan Plan how much you can spend and go to the stores you can afford. Research online for the available brands, their reviews and prices. Go and sit on them. Feel. When you sit, can you feel any of the structure? If you do, my suggestion is to keep looking since that can only get worse with time. Is it too tight or too soft? Do you like it with legs or without? Size and shape First measure your space and pick your sofa based on what it can handle. Also, decide if you prefer a sectional or a single piece.     The piece that sets the tone in a space. Which style is it? Contemporary Classic Function Is it for watching TV? Is it for …

Shrimp and Daikon Radish Soup

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In my family, a typical dinner often includes some sort of vegetable soup. Vietnamese cuisine veers toward numerous vegetable and herbs.  Soup broths are typically made of bones, meat, seafood or vegetables.  The bones based broths are for the long simmered noodles soups such as pho, hu tieu, and bun.  The meat, seafood or vegetables are typically the basis for everyday home cooking.  My mom would make this shrimp and daikon radish soup very quickly. We would have a nutritious and healthy dinner in no time.  You can use this shrimp based broth with different types of vegetables. Ingredients: ½ lb of shrimp 1 large daikon radish 1-2 stalk of scallion 1 teaspoon of fish sauce 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon powder ½ teaspoon of sugar ⅛ teaspoon of salt ⅛ teaspoon of pepper ¼ of a yellow onion, thinly sliced ½ teaspoon of chili powder (I use the Korean version as the chili is sweeter and the heat is not as intense as others.  The goal is to add color and depth to the soup.) Directions: Remove the …

Weekend Unexplored: Kayaking on Tomales Bay

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North of San Francisco, Tomales Bay is a destination that I’ve driven to a handful times when guests have come to visit.  The main purpose of these trips is to eat oysters by the shore.  After claiming a picnic table at Hog Island Oyster Company or Tomales Bay Oyster Company, one can order various sizes of Pacifics to shuck and enjoy raw or cooked over one of the open grills.  The staff sells oyster knives and shucking gloves for use.  And if asked, they will even show a novice how to shuck her very first oyster. In my mind, I always equated Tomales Bay with weekend picnics, warm sunny days, and of course, oysters.  Thus, when a friend asked me to go to Tomales Bay for kayaking after sundown, I was not sure what to expect.  Kayaking has become a popular recreational activity on the bay.  According to the National Park Service, Tomales Bay is the “largest, unspoiled coastal embayment on the coast of California.” Most of the kayaking trips that I have found in …

My Favorites: The Best of the 2016 IKEA Catalog

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Anticipation runs high around this time of the year for none other than the annual IKEA catalog.  This year is no exception.  I eagerly checked my mailbox every day for this catalog. When it did come, I flipped through each page and discussed the top picks and trends with our design contributors, Quang Dang of Quanism and Daniela Olmedo. Here are our top picks and trends from the 2016 catalog. What we love about this year’s catalog is the emphasis on social gatherings involving food. The presentation is warmer and less Scandinavian.  Introduction to warmer tones and more traditional lines help create a buzz for those who may not love the Scandinavian aesthetics.  Alternatively, there are some interesting color trends which we will also explore in this article.  Some of our picks are for new items and old favorites and trends that we saw in the catalog. 1.  Kivik Couch Series This upholstered modular sectional is great for those who want to “customize” the seating area without splurging on a custom sectional.  The presentation of …

Gỏi tôm thịt / Summer Salad with Shrimp and Pork

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Gỏi tôm thịt or a traditional Vietnamese summer salad with boiled shrimp and pork is a staple at my family’s parties.  Whenever there is a BBQ, you can guarantee some type of salad will be served and it  is usually gỏi tôm thịt.  It is not hard to see why this dish is popular in the summer.  It is refreshing with numerous vegetables in a sweet and sour vinaigrette.  My mom has many tricks to make this version even more flavorable.  It is all about the preparation method and making sure you mix all the ingredients well without over mixing.  I like to mix this gỏi by hand to ensure the vegetables are not bruised.  This recipe serves about 4 people and is rated easy. Ingredients ½ lb of pork shoulder (you can also substitute with pork ear which has a chewier and firmer texture) 12 large tiger shrimp with the shell on (approx. 1 lb of tiger shrimp) 1 large carrot 1 large cucumber 1/2 cup of Thai Basil ¼ cup of Vietnamese coriander 3 cloves …

Must Do’s: The Top 10 Must Do’s in Lyon, France

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My extended family is from Lyon, France.  My artistic cousin, Aurelia Hoang, has a blossoming made-to- measure bridal wear line which is now in its 3rd year and is continuously featured in numerous blogs.  (website)  Her gowns captures the “je ne sais quoi” aspect of a French bride.  Born and raised in Lyon, she was the perfect person to put together the top 10 Must Do’s in Lyon for our readers.  The designer: #1 Le Vieux Lyon (the old Lyon) It was about to be demolished in the 1990’s to make room for a new highway but UNESCO recognized its cultural and historic significance. Fortunately, this very old area, which has been around since the 17th century, is still standing. It is the most touristy district in Lyon with narrow paved streets, typical bouchon restaurants, traboules, the Gadagne Museum, St Jean Cathedral and delicious organic ice cream at Terradelice! #2 Basilique de Fourviere The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere dominates the city of Lyon from the top of the Fourvière Hill.  It is one of the most visible landmarks and a symbol …