chocomel's Profile
What's growing in my pickle jar?
How long do quick pickles last (just doused in vinegar/salt/sugar). I make them frequently and still eat them after a week. I try not to go past a week - even if they still look good (but sometimes not an issue since I finish them before they hit a week).
What foods live up to their reputation? What do you 'rave' about?
Banh mis, fish tacos (deep fried versions), philly cheesesteaks, steak, NY pizza, macarons, pickles, fried chicken anything (with waffle, sandwiches, just fried chicken, etc).
Items you’ve converted into kitchen use
I use lip gloss cap (round metal cap pounded to a flat disk) as a coconut meat scraper...
need some inspired, healthy cauliflower ideas, beyond cauliflower cheese, roasted cauliflower and aloo gobi...
Reasonably healthy... ... Japanese curry with cauliflower. I like it when the cauliflower becomes really tender and breaks apart.. .gives a nice body to the japanese curry. I don't know anyone else who does this, but i guess it hits the spot for me.
Others options:
Mashed cauliflowers. Treat it like mashed potatoes, with gravy or even japanese curry/other curry gravy.
Pickled cauliflower
Name and locate that chinese soup - wintermelon soup!
Thanks all for the responses. I will need to run to a banquet restaurant and get that soup....
rubadubgdub, I haven't had these types of soup for years and actually stopped going to chinese restaurants except for dim sum (a lot of my friends are not big fans of chinese banquet style food). My chinese food cravings are primarily satisfied by my own (less than stellar) cooking.
On the apple soup, I remember there being fish bone or scallops but definitely no tonic taste which I hated as a kid. I remember that we don't eat the inside, just the broth. I know the wintermelon either has chicken or pork.
Thanks a bunch!
Name and locate that chinese soup - wintermelon soup!
Thanks! Do you know where i can get the wintermelon soup in SF/peninsula?
I'm not sure if both types of soup are steamed but they have that delicate, refreshing, lightness of steamed soup.
Name and locate that chinese soup - wintermelon soup!
I'm looking for two kinds of chinese soup that I used to eat growing up. I don't even know if I have the name/description right, so please bear with me. Do you know where I can find this soup in the bay area (preferably in SF proper or peninsula)?
Soup 1: Steamed soup with pork broth served in a wintermelon (or some other kind of savory melon). The broth is clear, watery, and not super rich. Overall taste is light and refreshing.
Soup 2: Steamed soup with pork/chicken broth also served in wintermelon or some other large soup or a claypot. I remember that it had a distinct apple flavor. The broth is light/dark brown in color and rich tasting though no special "mouthfeel". Smooth and watery - like how i like my chinese soup.
Neither soup has herbal flavors and neither soup tastes salty (unlike some won ton soup you can find here with too much salt - the soups i mentioned used to give me this fresh clean but satisfying feeling). Would appreciate all tips for finding this. I remember this being a common dish growing up but haven't been able to find them in menus. Thank you!
Inexpensive near Union Square with difficult people
What about Tropisueno for Mexican?
Does anyone know what these are called? And do you have a recipe for it?
Could this be chocolate nougat? I've never made it, but google searching it, found a number of recipes online. Can you taste other flavors/essence in the chewy layer. If it's just for texture/chocolaty-goodness, nougat could be the answer.
This foodie just moved from NYC area to Sacramento and needs help!
Szechuan house in Natomas - spicy pig ears, the chicken, fish in oil - if you're craving something spicy and satisfying.
What Is the Hottest Cuisine on the Planet?
Yes, i agree that Malaysian food can be spicy (used to live in se asia), but in general, there is a good mix of non-spicy food that without the added sambal accompaniment, it is easy to control the heat level. However, the many times I've eaten in Thailand, everything seems to have a lot of heat.
What Is the Hottest Cuisine on the Planet?
While Malay food can be spicy, i don't think its typically as spicy as Thai. I don't quite know how to explain it but let me try.
Spicy malay food is typically accompanied by really spicy sambals or items that are cooked with sambals (chilli paste/mixture of some sort). When you order a certain type of dishes, you know it is going to be spicy, but you have other non-spicy dishes that balance out the spiciness. From my experience in Thailand, there are items that I have ordered, without knowing that it will be hot, that have scorched my tongue. As a percentage of available dishes, thai food incorporates heat more often in each dish (not as an accompaniment/condiment) and often leaving the unsuspecting diner no option to adjust the heat level.
I guess to sum it up, Malay food gives diners option to adjust as the heat comes from accompanying sauces/sambals (although not always) but for thai food, sometimes you don't realize it's too spicy until it's a little too late... has anyone ever felt this way before?
This foodie just moved from NYC area to Sacramento and needs help!
2nd Cafe Rolle for amazing french style sandwiches. The bread is perfectly crusty outside and warm and soft inside, absolutely delicious.
Your kitchen cleaning tips
People forgetting to cover food in the microwave is also one of my pet peeve. Back in college (and also now in the office), I couldn't stand looking at the inside without wanting to clean it (tried, no use).
Your kitchen cleaning tips
I need to try this vinegar solution. I don't know anyone who does this. Since I left home for school early in life, I didn't get to learn basic cleanings skills from them.
Your kitchen cleaning tips
I'm curious to hear how everyone goes about cleaning his/her kitchen. Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.
Some of my regular kitchen cleaning routine include:
- Nuking the sponge in the microwave especially when it has that not properly dry smell
- Disinfecting and cleaning out fridge very regularly, but somehow not sure how to tackle the freezer
- Grinding lemons in the insinknerator (does not really "clean" but I really think this cleanse the odor in the kitchen)
- Choosing only Dawn dish soap as i don't feel that other soaps have the same grease-cutting strengths
What are your cleaning routine/tips/tricks? Do you make your own cleaning solution to disinfect your countertops (if so, how do you make it?)? Do you arrange or organize your kitchen a certain way? Do you use zip lock bags to seal everything or must you foil wrap everything to make sure the food is sealed properly? Basically, anything goes.. I am really curious and hoping to learn something new. Thank you!
Campanula on New Year's Eve?
I'm not a fan of campanula. The food reads better than it tastes and the restaurant is too loud that our party had to leave before finishing our drinks (and we're used to loud financial district restaurants).
What was in your Christmas stocking growing-up?
I received Kinder Surprises (chocolate eggs with the tiny toys inside) in my stocking. I wasn't one of the younger kids by then but I still loved those kinder surprises. Another item I really loved as a kid was mini sticker book...
Something I've been wanting to use as a stocking stuffer treat are those chocolate oreos. I have seen them at Peets and Bloomingdales. They are delicious.
how to keep sliced apples from turning brown
Anyone else have other answers since I don't always have lemons on hand. Maybe cider vinegar? What proportion would you use and how long would you store it for if you want to have it ready to pack for work the next day?
Singapore Information Overload
What about breakfast and dessert? I can never get the names of the places in Singapore right (next time, I'll write need to write it down!). Any recommendations for delicious breakfast/sweets like kaya toasts, shaved ice (there is this delicious shaved ice place in chinatown, nothing like you can find in the bay area), roti prata, bak kut teh...
Meals/snacks for a grieving family
I like to bring salads that can stand up for the entire day with bright flavors. Sometimes people can lose appetite (I personally did, and wanted nothing but something bright and light). Beet salad, chinese chicken salad, or even cucumber chunks. I know it's not practical, but there are so many sweets/casseroles, that I always notice it as the first thing to be finished. Alternatively, you can make it in small portions for the family or put it in a container that they can leave in the fridge and keep cool and fresh.
Catering and Delivery in Financial District
Not Mexican, but my sister's company uses Tryptich to cater for company lunches (for working lunch, not parties). They serve hot food, not sandwiches. She's always saying it is really good. May want to check out the pretty diverse menu: http://www.triptychsf.com/catering.html.
Poached eggs - serving ideas?
I love poached eggs on hash of any kind (try red flannel hash!).
How do you like your feet?
I grew up eating soup made with chicken feet and beans. The soup turned a light purple color (possibly from the beans). I have not had this in years and can't really identify the beans. Has anyone else ever seen/had this (my family's background is Chinese.. so it is most likely a chinese dish)?
Suggestions for a Dim Sum first timer?
These ginger balls may be xiao long baos. They're sometime served in those tin flowers (which I think make them hard to eat), with the red vinegar sauce with strips of ginger. Is the inside of the dumpling soupy and meaty?
How do you like your coffee?
I prefer medium (or even light) roasted coffee and drink it black. Sometimes i do ask for hot milk or steamed milk (frothy), never sugar. Yum.
New restaurants in SF
Walking around my neighbourhood, I realize that there are a lot of interesting new restaurants - nearly one in every block. Personally, I can't decide what to try next.
Has anyone tried a great (or potentially great) restaurant newly opened 2011?
In search of a specific birthday cake
Thanks for the rec to double check with Delessio, they do have the chocolate mousse cake and I think I am going with that. I found a Hello Kitty candle tat will solve the delicious cake vs possibly mediocre custom cakes.
Thanks for all the recommendations!
In search of a specific birthday cake
Hi all,
I am looking for either of the following:
A) Really delicious chocolate mousse cake
or
B) Cake with a Hello Kitty design (willing to sacrifice quality of it's Hello Kitty designed). Might even be willing to get cupcakes instead of a regular cake if you have a suggestion. Would prefer a chocolate mousse cake in the shape of hello kitty...
Does anyone know where I can find either of these cakes?
Other preferences:
- Not too expensive. It is for about 8 - 10 people, maximum $60.
- I am considering Delessio chocolate mousse cake. Has anyone tried this?
- Preferably in Financial district/Mission/North Beach/Union Square/Hayes Valley/Castro area. Might be able to venture out to the Marina, but definitely not Sunset, Richmond, Divisadero or outside the SF proper.
- I think i would prefer a decent hello kitty cake over a great mousse cake (unless it is a must-have).
Thank you!
