All posts tagged: featured

Must Do’s: Oxford, England

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I traveled to Oxford for work several times over the past few years and fell completely in love with this English city.  Oxford is full of picturesque historical buildings that have been perfectly preserved.  You feel like you are walking through history along the cobble stone pathways.  The local myth is that Hitler wanted to make Oxford his new headquarter and therefore ordered for it to be “left alone” during WWII.  We are fortunate enough to have this city  preserved for our enjoyment. It’s also favorite location for the film industry.  You might feel a sense of familiarity with the buildings as Harry Potter was filmed at Christ Church, Bodleian Library and New College.  Downtown Abbey also used Oxfordshire (the suburbs of Oxford) for their filming locations. For more information on locations used by the film industry, click on Film locations. Here are my recommendations for Oxford. Getting to Oxford: Oxford is a close day trip for those staying in London.  I normally fly into London and stay a day or two to visit friends before heading to Oxford.  My …

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 …

Vietnamese Stuffed Cabbage Roll and Meatball Soup / Canh Bap Cai Nhoi Thit

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I asked my mom over the holiday season to make a healthy soup and we came up with this stuffed cabbage roll and meatball soup or canh bap cai nhoi thit. This is a simple and healthy soup to detox from the rich holiday meals. It is also an elegant soup to serve at any dinner party. Difficulty: Medium / Servings: 6 / Time: 30 – 45 minutes Ingredients: 6-7 leaves from 1 extra-large cabbage or the largest cabbage you find. (You can adjust the meat filling to fit the smaller leaves.) 1/2 lb. of ground pork (You can substitute this with chicken.) 4 jumbo shrimps (deveined and without the shell) 1/2 lb. of pork paste (You can also puree the ground meat into a paste in a food processor.) 1/2 cup of rehydrated wood ear mushrooms 6-8 green onions 2 teaspoons fish sauce 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon powder 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth 3 rock sugar 1/2 teaspoon of regular sugar 1/2 teaspoon …

Our List: Travel Tricks and Gear from Our Editors

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All of us at La Vie Partagee travel extensively, whether for business or pleasure.  Our trips range from a short domestic flight to long haul flights around the world.  I compiled a list of must have products and tricks from our editors and contributors to help you with your next travel adventure. Short Haul (1-5 days trip) I travel a lot on short overnight trips for work so I try not to bring much with me.  My staples include the following: 1. Flip Flops / Travel Slippers: Unless I am staying at a five star hotel where they provide slippers, I usually wear flip flops around the room.  I do not know how well the carpet has been cleaned even in reputable hotels.  A bonus is that when my feet get weary of heels, I can wear flip flops out casually. I recently stopped by the Muji store at JFK and spotted these travel slippers. They are comfortable and compact. These slippers now has a permanent spot in my luggage. 2.  Shower Gel and Shower …

Grilled Beef Noodle Bowl With Lime Vinaigrette

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Grilled beef noodle bowl is an easy and healthy dish to assemble for a quick meal. This  is a take on the traditional bun thit nuong or grilled meat on noodle dish that is very popular on the streets of Vietnam. We created an easy marinade for the thin slices of beef that can be quickly grilled on the stove. Together with vermicelli noodles, fresh vegetables and a lime vinaigrette, this is a guilt free meal for a busy person. Difficulty: Easy / Serving: 2 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 1/2 pound of beef eye round or similar steak cut 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce 6 tablespoons of coconut soda 2 tablespoons of fish sauce 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 cucumber 1 carrot 1 Romaine lettuce or green of your choice A handful of mint 1 lime 1-2 stalks of scallion 1 tablespoon of garlic 1 tablespoon of onion 1 Thai chili (optional) Sea salt Ground pepper Sugar 1 bushel of vermicelli noodles Directions: Thinly slice the beef in 1/8 inches thickness. Marinate …

Weekend Unexplored: Boca Raton, Florida

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When the temperature drops, northeast snowbirds flock to southern Florida to take in the warm temperature and sun. Boca Raton is a small city located in southern Florida filled with famed architecture of nouveau-riche architect Addison Mizne from the 1920’s. The city has a history as a playground for the affluent, but we found the city to be cozy on our recent workcation. In this post, we will showcase a few places that surprised us in a good way. Stay and Play: Resort: We had an opportunity to stay at the historic Waldorf Astoria’s Boca Resort and Beach Club. The hotel started in 1926 as the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn designed by Addison Mizne in orange and pink with Mediterranean and Spanish influences. The resort is situated on 356 gorgeously landscaped acres and includes the Cloister, Beach Club, Tower, Yacht Club, Boca Bungalows and Golf Club. We had the Cloister Estate 2 Doubles that has updated classic luxury interiors. The rooms range from small to spacious at the resort. We had a small double room on …

Peanut Sticky Rice / Xôi Đậu Phộng

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Sticky rice is an everyday food made from glutinous rice steamed and eaten with various toppings. The variety can be endless and can range from savory to sweet. Peanut sticky rice is one of the most popular rustic sticky rice dishes in Vietnam. Raw peanuts are boiled, mixed with soaked glutinous rice and steamed. The sticky rice is topped witha generous heaping of coconut meat and sprinkled with a mixture of crushed roasted peanuts, salt and sesame seeds. This dish can be made in large batches and will make a delicious accompaniment for any meal. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6 / Time: 8 hours to soak the rice and 1 hour and 15 minutes to cook Ingredients: 2 cups of sweet glutinous rice 2 cups of raw peanuts 1 Tablespoon of crushed unsalted roasted peanuts 1 Tablespoon of roastedwhite sesame seeds 1/2 teaspoon of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 1 package of fresh shredded coconut meat (you can buy this in the frozen section of the Asian market) Equipment: A medium size steamer Directions: Soak …