Random Teaser Photos

So, in finding creative ways to stay in touch while he's embarking on this around the world trip... I receive a lot of food photos as teasers, really. Also, another random thought: while watching TV last night I saw a commercial re: the Olive Garden and their cooking school in Italy and I'd like to visit one day.

Beijing, China:

Again, half eaten. Hakka food he says...

Shrimp on a stick and buried in sand?!

Shanghainese Fish w/ Fern?

Korean BBQ in Seoul

Cupcakes in Seoul

MPM's 28th

This is just a photo MPM took in Beijing of foods he thinks I'd like - scorpions, beetles, worms, etc.

It was a whirlwind of a weekend for sure! I'm glad I'm not turning 28 anytime soon. Not really.

A friend of ours invited us to their place out West (the suburbs) for lunch and we couldn't resist the opportunity to get out of the city. It was also a nice opportunity to show our California friend the other side of Massachusetts. We got zipcar and I drove - made it out to Southborough in under 20 minutes. YEAH!

We were treated to an awesome lunch of fresh greens and grilled steak tips. Our friend, originally from the South mentioned that steak tips are nowhere to be find there and thinks of it as a New England treat. I couldn't help but wiki steak tips and from which I learned that they are also popular in the Central Coast and Valley of California. Interesting.

I forgot to take a picture but MPM took one and I'll ask for it later... but he had a cake surprise with a ninja on top from Gerardo's Italian Bakery out in Westborough. It was a chocolate cake with raspberry filling and italian whipped cream frosting. All I ate was the frosting - what cake?!

Anyway, the weekend was filled with dinner at Cambridge1 (lots of pizza!), scorpion bowl at Hong Kong (of course), birthday dinner at Craigie on Main (disappointed in both food and service*), drinks at Bond, dinner and drinks at Lolita - lots of tequila consumed, and more food and wine from Panzano Market (great place if you're ever out in Southborough!). We got great wine, boar sausage, coppa, fig spread, bread, and many different types of italian cheeses with names I can't recall.

The spread on my coffee table. Never asks boys to take photos - everything is half eaten when this photo was taken. Do you notice that I have these awesome tags for the wine glasses so no more guests asking "is this mine or yours".

The peppered sausage was from Whole Foods and the pate from Trader Joe's - how awesome. That's the boar sausage all nice and sliced. Coppa in the background. Also from Panzano.

I had bought a bunch of persimmons so there they are all skinned and quartered.

Dinner at Craigie. Two birthday boys. Peanut butter ice cream cake from the in house pastry chef. Awesome-o.

Sunday Cooking

Making up for lost time. Nah, this is how it goes down in my kitchen. Focusing on one dish requires too much attention on my part.

Vietnamese caramelized pork with pickled mustard greens.

After 20 minutes, voila!

Prepping the winter melon for a delicious soup.

Nice and diced!

I cooked it in a simple chicken broth with pea pod leaves.

The winter melon is cooked when it is translucent.

Poached drumsticks in a cold water bath. Preppin' for more sticky rice!

Hand shredded.

Throwing the chopped shiitake mushrooms into the broth mix.

The overnight soaked glutinous rice.

You get this after you cook all the necessary ingredients together.

Okay! I'm done cooking for the day and looking forward to tomorrow for MPM to get into town. YAY!

Vietamese BBQ Pork (nem nướng) Vermicelli Salad

I know, I know. It's been a while. I've spent all morning cooking for the birthday guest tomorrow - so more guests, more motivation to cook. Plus, I start using up the stuff in my fridge so I got some creativity flow going on today. Yeah! Hollaaa...

On a side note, the most obnoxious person just moved upstairs from me. Late last night, he made so much noise that my ceiling was shaking - I thought he was dropping appliances for fun or having a rough rumble with his buddy. It took two phone calls before he would quiet down. I'm not liking this start.

It's not burned. It's charred. :) Trust me, it tastes so much better this charred. I cooked it on med-high heat for about 15 minutes. The patty is about 1 inch thick. I let it rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting in into it. This is basically ground pork with different seasonings. Read more about the recipe at the Ravenous Couple's blog.

Quite yummy!

I cooked vermicelli noodles according to the package's instruction and on the side, cooked up sliced scallions and minced ginger in oil with some salt and sugar (get the recipe here). I topped the noodles w/ some of the scallion and ginger goodness. It also prevents the noodles from sticking together. ;)

I adding a healthy heap of bean sprouts.

Add the pork and mix it all up! That's the fun part.

Then add a generous handful of pickled carrots. I don't have the recipe since I didn't make the brine... :)

Lookin' good.

But since I have some arugula, why not?!

Yeah! If you have some crushed roasted peanuts - add that too. I didn't have any. :( I did top mine with some homemade fish sauce.