food – Page 2 – Have you eaten?

Dum Sum in the Evening: 飲茶 Yum Cha

March 13, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

Silk Road travelers. They must have traveled under severe and harsh conditions but I can’t stop fantasize about the time period. Transporting silks, gold, precious stones, fabrics, animal skins, exotic fruit on the back of camels…

飲茶: 飲＝drink 茶= tea

Dim sum is linked with the old tradition from yum cha (tea tasting). Silk Road travelers needed a place to rest and teahouses were established along the roadside. Those teahouses offered food and tea…that’s a short history of yum cha.

Dum sum is traditionally eaten during morning and late afternoon. In Seattle Chinatown however, Chinese restaurants offer limited dim sum items for dinner as well (thank goodness). I wanted to eat out but wanted it to be quick and easy. Dim sum can be the perfect supper.

Dim sum in the evening in Chinatown. It could be a good place to take your date as well J

cooking

Mother and Child over Rice: Oyako-don

March 11, 2015March 11, 2015by have you eaten?3 Comments

Not human mother and child. This is not going to be weird, spooky story at all.

It’s one of many Japanese soul food dishes. Oyako means “parent and child(ren).” This dish is made with chicken and egg and that’s why it’s called “Oyako”-don. Some Oyako-don restaurants are very serious about what they serve, like this very famous and beloved Oyako-don restaurant called Tamahide in Tokyo, established in 1760. This is something my mom barely made when I was growing up. I felt I was struck by thunder when my kindergarten class mate’s mom (our neighbor. My mom and she were so close) made it for me one day. Nostalgia…

Oyako-don for 2: Chicken (I used breast, cut in bite size), 1/2 x onion, 2 x eggs, sugar, sake, mirin (sweet wine), soy sauce, dashi (bonito stock). Mix all the liquids, then cook onions for a few minutes and then add chicken. Cook until chicken is tender. Turn the heat off. Then add beaten eggs and cook about 3 minutes with low heat or until eggs are done per your preference. Add that over rice.

I tried to eat this at a couple of different restaurants but I always prefer to eat at home. I think that is because I want to cook my eggs MY way and also my memory of that evening when our neighbor made it for me while my mom was out. I was missing my mother but I couldn’t hide my excitement to eat this dish I hadn’t seen before. It smelled sweet and looked so colorful and fun. I remember it tasted so joyous!

I don’t make my Oyako-don with that much of excitement anymore, but I still enjoy it when I do. The combination of smells between the sugar, dashi, soy sauce, chicken and onions! You don’t have to do much, all you have to do is to wait until it creates its magic. That few minutes of patience, that alone is worth cooking this dish.

It was delicious.

personal view

Alphabet Questions: M-S (especially R)

March 10, 2015March 10, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

M – Most favorite book?: Tokyo Bandwagon

N – Nicknames?: Mimi Gomez

O – One wish?: All animals get saved

P – Person who texted me last?: Vivienne

Q – Question you’re always asked?: Where did I put that?

R – Reason to smile?: Chocolate, my overweight chihuahua, many, many, many good books, Billie Holiday records, my mom’s cooking, quote like ““Maybe we should all just listen to records and quit our jobs.” by Jack White, smell of freshly opened bag of Sun-dried Ethiopia Yirgacheff coffee beans, oranges, dog paws, depressing music grabs my heart, English accent, movie like Liberal Arts, independent bookstores like Shakespeare & Co., tasty pastries at Crumble and Flake, Joseph Leonard, New York City especially East/West Village, Rent, Stomp, handwritten letters, text message saying “i love u,” holding hands, Paris, Paris, Paris, Staub pots, vintage housewares, Bangkok, warm and cozy bed, sound of rain drops, sound of cello makes, Picasso painting, Maria Kochetkova, point shoes, stylish looking glasses, snow, flower bouquet made by Ayako, Emily Dann, the Corson Building, Autumn, claw-foot tubs, old wood chairs/tables, well-polished shoes, home cooking, chopping vegetables with my Aritsugu knife, beach, ocean, sunset, I can go on for about 2 days to list what makes me happy so I will stop right here. And, Archie.

S – Song I sang last?: Cups (“When I’m Gone”)

food

Confidence in Happy Cows: Skagit River Ranch

March 8, 2015by have you eaten?2 Comments

Betty said with her doubtful voice, “How can you eat meat you bought at the farmers market? Is it even safe?” I don’t know Betty well. We just dance at the same dance studio and exchange not-so-deep conversations. We were talking about my favorite farmers market and told her that I don’t shop at giant chain supermarkets anymore because I could find almost everything I need at the farmers market.

There are at least three wonderful butchers at University Farmers Market. Once I bought a huge beef lamp at Sea Breeze Farm, I asked George, owner of this farm, how I should store the meat and he said “keep in a fridge uncovered and it will last about a month.” He also advised me “when you start seeing mold on surface, all you have to do is to wipe the mold with vinegar. You can also enjoy raw.” He was so right. I enjoyed his beef in every way for about 3-1/2 weeks.

Yesterday morning, I bought some beef from Skagit River Ranch for the first time. I asked this super friendly lady Eiko what’s the best way to cook this. She said, “you just marinade for about a couple of hours then cook 7 minutes one side and 5 on the other. I like medium.” I also asked if I can cook with less time because I like medium rare. She said, “honey, you can eat that sucker raw.” Now you understand why I love this farmers market.

Eiko also gave me her “Simple Everything Marinade” recipe. You mix olive oil, soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, garlic and lemon juice. I marinated for about 4 hours. I think that was the best steak I have ever cooked at home. Beautiful pink/red inside and came out so tender. I simmered left-over marinade for a minute and used for dressing over a braised broccoli salad.

It is way “safer” than any meat you can find at Safeway. These farmers are not only confident what they provide for customers but also offer with pride. You can actually taste it. Their care, passion and love for what they do.

Betty, I hope you try the meat at a local farmers market one day. I promise you, you will enjoy it so much because, “you can eat that sucker raw.”

food

If You Are So Brave: Natto Eating 納豆

March 7, 2015March 7, 2015by have you eaten?2 Comments

Fried eggs and bacon? French toast with loads of syrup? Steak and eggs? Or Green eggs and ham? What Japanese people eat in the morning is a little different (we definitely read “Green eggs and ham”, but “I would not eat them here or there”). What I grew up with, for example, a bowl of rice, miso soup, grilled fish, homemade pickles, and seasoned vegetables. This kind of meal however takes time and preparation. When I want to energize quickly in the morning, this is what I have; natto over rice. Carbs give you energy as you know. But what is Natto? Natto is fermented soybeans in short. Yogurt, vinegar, pickles, kimchi, miso, sourdough bread (gasp!), kombucha, wine (what?), Worcestershire sauce, cheese to name a few. Natto is in the same family. Like cheese, it has a STRONG smell and taste like…hmmm…natto? It also has a slimy texture. You simply add a bit of soy sauce (my dad’s favorite) or sweet soy which is my favorite then mix really well to make it even more slimy. Then add natto on top of warm, well-prepared rice and start eating. It contains fiber, vitamins, and iron so it’s nutritiously rich. I grew up with this and it is on my long list of Soul Food dishes. You can do this. Yes, it is slimy and it is smelly. But you eat okra and you also love cheese, right? It’s not far from it. There is always a first time. This will change your perspective on eating. Completely. If you want to experience that, I recommend for you to at least try it. And I will salute you for your bravery. By the way, my mom will give you crap though. She hates natto.

Personal, restaurant

Happy Meal: Sunday Brunch at Sitka & Spruce

March 1, 2015March 1, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

“A Sunday well spent brings a week of content” Whoever said this, gets my respect automatically.

My favorite meal is brunch on Sundays. Not Saturday, not holiday brunch. It must be Sunday brunch. My work starts Monday so Sunday is the day I recharge and rejuvenate my body and soul so that I can tackle my insane work week until next Friday evening. Rejuvenating my body and soul starts with satisfying my tummy. When I am done with that task, my Sunday is 80% complete. Therefore, choosing where and what to eat on Sundays is super critical. Since last Thursday, I had been thinking about spending my couple of hours of Sunday morning, at Sitka & Spruce.

Sitka & Spruce is one of 5-Matt Dillon’s restaurants, located in Capitol Hill in Seattle. Melrose Market is combination of restaurant, bar, butcher, furniture store, general store, cheese shop, clothing store, deli, shellfish restaurant/shop, it’s a mini version of Chelsea Market in New York City. Sitka & Spruce is located inside of this old building that they didn’t tear down. The space has floor to ceiling windows and concrete floor, it reminds me of old and spacious loft. We were lucky to be seated at bar by the window. Bloody Mary, homemade pickles, bread and butter, hot rye porridge, granola, cultured cream & marjoram, baked eggs with smoked brisket, beer braised cabbage & harissa. I was already giddy being inside of that restaurant anyway and I was overjoyed by looking at the menu. What Archie and I ate was ridiculous. If I can show you what happiness looks like, this would be one of them.

My stomach is warm and satisfied. Now I look forward to welcoming my new week. Have a great rest of Sunday, everyone.

love

Powder (Power) of Love: Packed Lunch

February 26, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

12-hours a day. Once in a while I had to work that long but I havn’t really since moving to the States (in Japan yes, it’s a norm). Recently I have been working 12 hours a day almost every day. I am a very healthy person but I feel drained and bone-tired.

Last night, I went out for dinner with my friend and we had Chinese. It was lovely to see her but all I could think about was going home and lying down on my bed. When I came home, I was so relieved and couldn’t wait to go to bed.

Please look at this photo. A very boring and bland glass container with squared tin foil on it is pictured here. This tin foil contains pure magic. Archie knew what I have been going though and how exhausted I have been. So, he packed my lunch for me (spaghetti with simple tomato sauce that he made) and told me the tin foil square was grated parmesan cheese. Not only did he grate the cheese, thinking I would enjoy my lunch better with cheese, but he couldn’t find a small enough container to put cheese in so he made this “magical” square tin container. When he told me, I nearly cried. Does it sound weird to you or you don’t get why I am so happy about it? It’s totally OK. It is me getting so silly-happy to realize that I have that kind of person in my life and appreciate the human-being. I’ve never seen a better container that holds cheese than this square.

This is a true power of love.

food

Get The Sand Out!: The Ocean Stew

February 24, 2015by have you eaten?2 Comments

Ocean. Waves, salty water, sand, surfboards, ocean smells, sunset…I love the ocean. I like lakes, rivers, mountains but I love the ocean. The ocean and I have a very personal relationship. It’s deep. Ocean produce seafood, especially shellfish…my love. There’s only one downside of shellfish. Picture this; you have this gorgeously prepared plate with all types of fish and shellfish. Your favorite is clam and you dive into it. Then, as you’re biting into it, this hard, weird, most unpleasant texture you’ve ever experienced. Sand.

My mom grew up in Shizuoka prefecture which is located about 2-3 hour drive from Tokyo near Mount Fuji and beautiful pacific ocean. My grandma and mom moved to Tokyo 15 years after the World War II ended but they never forg0t how great the seafood was in Shizuoka. They taught me how to gut and filet the fish, how to clean and prepare fish and shellfish. One particular lesson I am so appreciative having been taught is to soak clams in salt water and for (at least) a couple of hours. You make the salt water bath the same concentration as sea water, then soak your clams for couple of hours. Then you will see them become very active and start spitting sands out so you don’t have to take that super annoying first bite of clam sands. Thanks, grandma!

This was nice and easy seafood stew that I made.

Heat cast iron pot, add olive oil and garlic. Brown your fish (I used red bream) with high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low, then add white wine and 1 small can of tomato leave it for a few minutes then add squids and clams. Cook them for another few minutes then add oysters. Don’t overcook oysters, turn off the heat just about when the oysters get plump.

Please go ahead, enjoy the Ocean Stew with sand-less clam

restaurant, Seattle

Seattle Food Icon: The Dish (no famous chef required)

February 22, 2015by have you eaten?3 Comments

There is something romantic about eating at a diner, especially at the counter. Drinking a very bad cup of coffee in a very thick unmatched ceramic mug. The food is greasy and its portion is gigantic so it’s promising that you’ll get a huge gut-bomb even while you are eating. You can easily find those diners in NYC but there are not many in Seattle. The Dish is one of only a few and very valuable.

Since I moved to Seattle in 2000, I have been coming here. It is a small restaurant. The counter seats 8 people and there are 9 four-top tables. They only open from 8 am to 2 pm, are closed on Mondays and all national holidays. If you arrive there after 10 am, you should be ready for waiting. Outside. Summer in Seattle is gorgeous, so there is no problem waiting outside. But winter? Wet and cold…but the line does not get shorter. Of course, there is bottom-less coffee with unmatched ceramic mugs while waiting. You sometimes have to go to the bathroom twice before you get seated. People in Seattle adore this place despite these inconvenient factors.

The menu is not that original, regular American. Lots of eggs, starch and meat. Not a lot of gluten-free or vegan options but this place attract people. 98% of Seattle population either knows about this place or has been there, I bet you. Nobody will judge you if you dine there alone. It’s actually quite comfortable place to do so. It has lots of sunlight so it’s nice to eat there when the weather is nice. It’s equally good to dine there on rainy Sunday’s as well.

Their food is good, it doesn’t necessarily wow you. But I repeatedly go there because of the charm, consistency, nostalgia, comfort and romance that this place offers. The Dish will remind you of your grandma. It’s like eating your breakfast in her 50’s kitchen with a bunch of other people.

food

Yakimochi: Grilled Rice Cakes

February 19, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

Tonight was one those nights that I didn’t want to slice or cut anything. Basically I didn’t want to “cook.” The fact is I am hungry, so I decided to make myself “yakimochi (grilled rice cakes)” Yaki means grilled and mochi means rice cakes, as you might have guessed it.

I used to grill mochi in a small frying pan but since I got this “yakiami” which is a simple yet essential tool made with ceramic and metal. You can grill vegetables, meat, fish, and of course food like mochi over the stove with it. I sometimes grill “onigiri (rice ball)” with this yakiami so I can add more flavor. Adding soy sauce while grilling onigiri makes you salivate quickly.

Anyway, over low-medium heat, you cook both side of mochi until it gets golden brown (I like a little burnt). There are so many ways to eat grilled rice cakes. For example, you can dip them in ponzu sauce, in shredded radish (mizore-oroshi) and soy sauce, sprinkle soy power and sugar, fry them, spread butter over…list goes on. I wanted to just have a simple and easy night so I added mochi in to my pre-made and heated bonito & kelp stock (dashi).

My simple night completed.