Friday, May 25, 2012

Banh Cay

When I am not stuffing my mouth with delicious food, my mind is left to wander about what foods I should be eating. It's a dangerous cycle really, one that I don't see myself escaping in the near future. 

So. much. snacking. 


Today, while at my cousin's place, I had banh cay (spicy fried dough). There's a lady who sells fried snacks literally right in front of her front door. I wish I had that kind of convenience back home. 

On the rare occasion that my mom picked me up from school, we would stop by the Vietnamese fast food place to buy a dozen banh cay or so. It was always a hit or miss, sometimes more fresh and crispy than others, but always a cherished memory. 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Bun Days

What did I do with my day? Eat, eat, then eat some more. 

Breakfast - banh cuon with a side of banh cong
Coffee - Sorrento milk coffee
Lunch - bun cha
Snack - che Campuchia
Dinner - bun thit nuong

Breakfast was taken a bit later than usual today because I was video chatting with mother dear and my uncle was stuck on Sudoku. 



We went for banh cuon. It was pretty good but I was more tied to the banh cong. It was really crispy, haha. 

At Cafe Sorrento, my cousin and I met a lady who coincidently takes her breakfast in our neighborhood every morning, so we made plans to meet up with her soon for some Cambodian food. 

Speaking of which, whyyy me?! I was lounging around when my aunt asked if I wanted to take a stroll through the neighborhood market. Of course I was game since nobody was home. I saw a sign for che Campuchia (Cambodian dessert soup) and was curious as to how it measured up to its Vietnamese counterpart. Someday, I tell ya, curiosity will have the best of me, not that I haven't experienced that before. 


The yellow things looked like jackfruit but turned out to be something else entirely. I don't even know what. There was a slice of squash with an egg custard center. The only thing I knew in the che was the green jelly. Overall, I thought the che was really odd. 
Every aspect of the che looked normal but once I poured it out of the little baggy, I sensed a familiar smell. What do you know
Durian.
The worst part is that I had to eat all of it while looking as though I was really enjoying it. No such thing as wasting food here. Just. My. Luck. 

Much fun and good food was had at dinner. My uncle and I stopped by his cousin, Bac Xuan's sewing shop. He had joked that we were hungry but had both forgotten cash at home, so she insisted we all just go out for dinner, which we did! We joked about Bac Ky cons (younger generations) the whole time, even though my dad's side is from Northern Viet Nam (Southerners like to mock Northerners' accents). 


Bun thit nuong. 

Going to eat with nice aunts means that she'll keep on placing food in your dish no matter how often you reiterate that you'll grab food as you please. To top it all off, aunts don't like to waste food. At times like these, yeah, I really wish I had more than just one stomach. 






Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Banh Xeo

I honestly can't remember the last time I had banh xeo (Viet Namese pancake). In the states, I'm usually not a fan because the crisp is lost to the thickness of the pancake. No worries, a trip to Viet Nam will fix that. 

Wok-sized banh xeo were the main attraction on a busy street side. Behemoths! I never knew they came this big! Holy smokes! If you've ever eaten banh xeo, do you ever find yourself just picking at the soggy parts after all the crispy areas have been consumed? Well, I do. The feeling is along the lines of..."Can I bring this back and refry it?" 
We also had banh khot (which was also thinner than usual) and some nem nuong. 
Rice cake overload

To close the night off, my cousins and I scootered around District 1 looking for refreshments. We ended up at a smoothie stand on the sidewalk. I ordered an avocado smoothie. I know...so vanilla of me, but all that rung in my mind from the list that the waiter had told us was durian smoothies. No thank you to that!
I can assure you that it's not just me who is repulsed by the mere thought of durian, although I did enjoy it as a kid. 

We were planning on going for sea snails tonight but I was stuffed. Yes, sometimes that happens. Another cousin called for a late-night snack. Is it possible to gain weight while in Viet Nam? We'll have to wait and see.  

Until tomorrow!

Hello Saigon!

The heat will not deter my foraging for food! That's not to say that I won't be found lazing away wherever there is air conditioning.

My plane landed around 10 pm last night. By the time I got home, it was close to 11 pm. The streets were mostly empty except for those selling the last of their pushcart food. No worries! My cousins took me for banh bot chien (fried rice cakes) in an alleyway. They cut it up for you in bite-sized pieces here and it's actually crispy (who would've thunk!). Back in the states, no matter how many times I reiterate the fact that I want my rice cakes to be crispy, they always come out as if they never even touched a frying pan.

My cousin Ky and I stopped by her cousin Kim's place for ice cream. Kim needed an electronic whisk but we only brought over tongs for kneading dough. Suffice to say, that wasn't of much use. It also turns out that she was trying to make more of a mousse than ice cream, since she was planning on whipping up some cream and adding coffee and sugar...unless that's what people consider to be ice cream over here? I'm confused. Will have to find out later.
Anyway, we sat in the kitchen for about an hour trying to whip the cream until its peaks were stiff but that was to no avail. Once again, I blame the heat! Heat = no peaks!
Kim likes to try out new recipes and her parents left her and her brother to live by themselves in a pretty big house. Something tells me I'll be over there pretty darn often.

I apologize for the lack of pictures. It's been less than a day and I'm still a paranoid newbie. Using an iPhone on the streets is just asking for trouble over here.

Will be meeting up with my aunt and cousins for more rice cakes and whatnot later for dinner today! Hopefully pictures come up soon?

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Goodbyes, Hellos

Currently waiting to board my flight to Saigon!

Alley food is calling my name!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Oren's Hummus Shop

The early birthday celebration begins! And with hummus nonetheless! 

Went for lunch with my friend Wing today in downtown Palo Alto. Ahhh!!! Hummus!
I'm an avid lover of hummus. I eat it all too often. I can honestly say I've tried most of the huge variety from TJ's. Yeah, okay, I'm a bit obsessed with hummus, but it's sooo good! 
(I apologize for the incessant use of exclamations throughout this post).

I've passed by University Avenue a million times, but somehow I've never noticed this shop. Then again, better late than never!


It was a really nice day, so we sat outside!


I ordered the beef kabobs with hummus and sweet potato fries (not included in the above picture). For the first time ever, the kabobs were nicely seasoned and perfectly moist. I've been to my fair share of Mediterranean restaurants and usually the kabobs are dry and hard. The fries were crispy and the hummus. Oh the hummus! Hahah, tasted fresh, no lemon = My kind of hummus! 


Shakshuka. Wing didn't say much about it, but he finished the whole thing? Hahah. 

Definitely will be back for more hummus! 

Monday, May 14, 2012

Porto's Bakery

Cheeeeeese rolls! These two words alone make my mouth salivate. 

On Saturday, we were off to Porto's for cheese rolls. Yeup, that's right. I had cheese rolls for lunch. Don't forget the potato balls! 


When Dora told me about these famous cheese rolls, I actually thought they'd be savory. The name is a bit misleading, isn't it? Between Julie, Dora, and I, we bought two dozen. AHAHA


The potato balls were meals within themselves.


Ground beef is stuffed in a potato ball and fried. 

Thank goodness I don't live near this place, or else I'd be in for a double bypass in no time at all!


Freshly Baked Eatery

Week of errands and shopping and then some more errands. Time to pack for Asia! 

Picked up my sister, K, and then off for sandwiches at Freshly Baked Eatery! They bake sourdough fresh every morning in-house (hence the name) and are only open for lunch.


Chicken Breast 



Classic - roast beef, country ham, and turkey on sourdough

K and I eat got 1/3 of a pickle with our sandwiches. I'm the Asian Snooki when it comes to pickles!

Chego

This is my most exciting Los Angeles post so far. Seriously.

If food trucks served food as good as this, I'd be an avid follower. 

Dora took Julie and I to Chego, an Asian-fusion favorite of hers in Culver City. 



Ooey Gooey Fries - sour cream sambal, melting monterey jack and cheddar cheese, cotija, chillies, cilantro, and pickled garlic
The fries were oh so crispy. I think they were lightly battered before fried. 



The Chego Burger: Exhibit A - 1/2 pound grass fed burger, cheese, coconut mayo, chili sauce, fried shallots, wild arugula, Thai basil and pineapple
Oh. Dear. God. Easily THE best burger I've had anywhere. I loved the addition of Thai basil. It just made the burger that much more distinct. The grass fed beef was heavenly and cooked medium-rare, just how I like it. Halfway through, I was still trying to catch my breath. Every morsel was so delicious. Alas, I tried to finish up most of it but could not. 



Oh yeah...We got to meet Roy Choi, executive chef of Chego! I was really excited. I'm still excited to share this with you! He was really cool and down to earth. This was as close as I've ever been to meeting someone famous. Hahah.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Road to Seoul

I was determined to get Korean BBQ this time around. How many times have I been in Los Angeles and yet it always escapes my mind! 
My friend, Dora, took us to Road to Seoul in Ktown. Rumor had it that it's one of the best places around.






The kalbi marinade was a bit sweet for my taste but still pretty good.


Kimchi and seaweed salad. 


Overall, got my KBBQ fix for the next month or two! 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

FOOD-LA.

Planned on FOOD for breakfast today, but it somehow came to be lunch (as usual). 


Chai Latte. See what I mean here? Food's officially serves the best chai in my book! The spices are so flavorful and there's just the right amount of sweetness. 


Of course, brie! Smoked ham and brie panini. It was an overload on the ham, but the pears were godly! It's not even pear season until June! 
Smoked Ham and Brie Panini - with asian pear, wild arugula and whole grain mustard.


Morning FOOD Sandwich - with organic eggs, Vermont cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, English muffin, food's potatoes with marinara and aioli. 


Such tasty sausage and turkey maple to boot! Who would've thought the day would come...

FOOD is part cafe, part neighborhood market. They carry all the essentials of a truly great homemade meal. I noticed an awesome selection of honey and jams on the wall, as well as Dr. Bob's homemade ice cream in the fridge. It's too bad I can't buy any for home. Oh firstworldproblems...

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Mashti Malone

In a strip mall down La Brea Avenue is the famous yet unassuming ice cream parlor that is Mashti Malone. I've never been to Iran, but I've had a little taste thanks to the medley of Middle East flavors.

Rosewater is an essential ingredient in Iranian desserts, which is evident by how many different kinds of rosewater ice cream Mashti has created. Among the selection is a couple that you don't see in a typical ice cream shop: Rosewater Saffron with Pistachios, Ginger Rosewater, Rose Sorbet with Sour Cherry, etc. Heavennn!



The Orange Blossom with Pistachios lived up to its name quite well. It reminded me of Jo Malone's Orange Blossom Cologne. What a coincidence that I love both! 



As for the Peanut Butter Cup - I wanted to inhale it! Creamy with swirls of fresh peanut butter and huge chunks of peanut butter cups throughout. Gyahhh! 


History

Mashti (Shirvani) and his brother Medhi bought the ice cream establishment, then known as Mugsy Malone, in 1980. At the time, Mashti could only afford to replace half of the old sign, which is how the name Mashti Malone came to be. 

Mashti, the mastermind behind all of Mashti Malone's spectacular flavors, found inspiration in his longing for authentic Iranian desserts, thus explaining the use of distinctive Middle Eastern ingredients such as rosewater, saffron, cardamom,  orange blossom, mango, pistachio nut, pomegranate, Arabian gum, rice starch, and sahlab. 


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

5 Hours in San Jose.

 Graduation has been a whirlwind! The last four days have been more or less nonstop with events or catching up with friends. I haven't had much time to do what I do best: EAT!

My friend Julie was passing through town before we both head down to Southern California. With a couple hours to spare, we paid a long overdue visit to Mochicream and Blush Raw Bar & Lounge.

Finally!!! The fat kid in me was jumping for joy! I couldn't contain myself. Alas, we forgot the mochi in the freezer this morning as we were rushing to get out the door...This means one thing: I will have to get mochi in Los Angeles!



                                 

Miyabitei, one of food counters in Mitsuwa Market, serves up hot noodle and rice dishes. I was curious as to how Japanese chashu compared to its Chinese counterpart, so I ordered the chashu ramen. Also, who am I kidding here? I love chashu and I'll take it on anything. 
Chashu found in Chinese delis are always dyed to a pinkish red hue on the outside and sliced pretty thin. Also, it tends to be a bit on the salty side. This chashu, however, was thick in cut and not overly seasoned. It was simple yet still delicious! The ramen was more or less perfect in consistency, chewy but not too chewy. As usual, I couldn't finish the bowl but was stuffed 'til way past dinner time. 

Julie ordered the curry katsu, which was (and I quote): "BOMB!" The katsu was crispy and nicely seasoned, although I think she would've liked the curry to have been more spicy. 




Blush has happy hour weekdays from 3-6 pm. Their specialty is the slushies. Blush Mango Margarita? Why, yes please! We also ordered brie fondue. Brie is a past love of mine and it still brings about such nostalgia. The flame of the tealight candle kept blowing out, not that it had much purpose anyway. 

I hope the days continue on this way. Sitting in a courtyard sipping on margaritas as the day winds down could be on my agenda more often. No complaints there! The weather was temperate, but I think that was because I drank a bit too much...as per usual. 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Cao Lau

I feel guilty for having long been idle. Here's a post I did a while back. Hoping to tie you over until my visit to Los Angeles next week!

In the central province of Quang Nam lies a sleepy riverside town by the name of Hoi An. It is home to my mother’s childhood and one of Viet-Nam’s best unknown delicacies: cao lau. When translated to English, ‘cao lau’ literally means high stairs or stories. Cao lau has a certain regal tone to it, perhaps attributed to Hoi An’s ancient history of once having been the Indianized Kingdom of Champa. 
The dish of cao lau consists of noodles, pork, greens, and only enough sauce for taste. What makes cao lau so distinctive from other Viet-Namese noodle dishes is the noodles itself. Rumored to be made with water from an ancient Cham well just outside of town, these noodles can only be acquired in Hoi An. 
I call this dish a delicacy, because in fact, it is. On the rare occasion that I am on a visit to Hoi An, I recall of only a few shops that specialize in serving the dish. Here in America, those whom I talk to have never even heard of it. Once in a while when my aunts take a trip to Hoi An, they kindly bring back a small box of these noodles and thus we rejoice with my mother making cao lau for a few exceptional members of the family. We tend to keep it under wraps, because there’s never enough to go around!