hsaba's Profile
I love mint tea. What's your favorite?
I always have a bunch of fresh mint in the fridge. Pick a few leaves, crush them in the hand and pop into a mug. Pour hot water and that's my idea of a perfect mint tea. Maybe a bit of honey if you have a sweet tooth.
A Short Essay on Burmese Cuisine [Moved from Boston Board]
It's great to read your intro to Burmese food. It's made me rather hungry reading the dishes you mention. I would agree with you that the Burmese restaurants should have the ngapi kyaw and ngapi dip with an array of vegetables on the table!
I would love to find a Burmese restaurant with a simple concise menu (I rather they did only a few dishes really well than many that are mediocre) to offer someone new to the cuisine an authentic experience. Personally I love eating with my hand like we used to in Burma, especially when it comes to salads/thote. It think there's something wonderful about using your hands – the additional sense of touch adds to the eating experience.
Unlike the US, we are quite limited to the number of Burmese restaurants – there is only 1 in UK and 1 in Sydney where I am currently. I would love to visit Yoma – I've heard from Thawdar that her husband makes the Shan tofu himself.
If there isn't a local Burmese restaurant near you and you are up for cooking it yourself, I have put up several easy recipes on my website. I hope more people will discover this diverse yet unique cuisine.
What is your favorite cheese splurge?
Having lived in London for many years, there is only one cheese shop I go to, Neals Yard dairy in Covent Garden [www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk] - it is like walking into a sweet shop! I usually go in to get my fix of Montgomery's cheddar and Colston Bassett stilton but always walk out with many more. What I love about this shop is, the staff really know about their cheese and you are offered to taste the cheese, as many as you like.
