
Lazyass Cookin': Egg + Rice
Two out of three of my closest friends do not like eggs. How could this be? If I had to choose one thing on this planet that I love the most and could eat everyday, it would be the egg. They are sacred! So...
Two out of three of my closest friends do not like eggs. How could this be? If I had to choose one thing on this planet that I love the most and could eat everyday, it would be the egg. They are sacred! So...
Shio koji, or 塩麹 (salted koji) is a going through a major boom in Japan right now. What is it? It is a mix of salt and koji mold. Wiki says, "Koji (Aspergillus oryzae) is a mold used in Chinese and Japanese cuisine to ferment soybeans. It is also used in the making...
Last weekend we hosted some people from my husband’s work for a little late afternoon cocktail party. While Jack set up the bar on the deck, I put together some snacks. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I went for colorful and...
Albert Mathieu was a French mining engineer, who in 1802 proposed a plan to build a tunnel beneath the English Channel connecting France and England. Since the two countries were not the greatest of pals at the time,...
By Shizuka Wakashita One day I had to run errands near a local wine shop and it suddenly occurred to me that maybe this shop has some jizake (sake produced by smaller breweries, or as with beer, "micro breweries"). If they are passionate about wines they must...
Strawberry Caprese is a seasonal twist on the classic tomato basil appetizer. A perfect mix of sweet and savory! Strawberry Caprese 1 bunch chopped basil 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup bocconcini (mozzarella balls) 2 cups sliced strawberries Combine all. Dress...
Once you understand basic cocktail recipe structure (without going off on too deep a tangent, it boils down to two general categories: sours and aromatics, first outlined in detail in The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by...
Sorry for my long absence. I've been quite busy, as we were preparing to move into a new apartment, so cooking time for me was pretty limited for a while. Now I am finally settled (well, after a day), and I am ready to start...
According to Aztec tradition, the eagle warriors were an elite unit of the Aztec army, considered the most brave and fearsome. They mostly comprised of the bravest noble-born men of Aztec society, but commoners who displayed notable courage on the...
This citrus salad is easy and pretty! Peel and slice 1 avocado and 1 orange into rounds. Layer on a plate, alternating. Sprinkle with cilantro and green onion (scallion). For a dressing, drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of...
At its core, the art of mixing drinks involves the skillful ability to balance flavors. Sometimes it's a simple task involving three ingredients that are prima facie playmates, resulting in an instant classic--the Daiquiri or Manhattan cocktails come...
I have so many lemons right now I don’t know what to do with them all! So I tried candying them and they are quite nice atop ice cream with a bit of lemon zest. Vanilla Ice Cream + Candied Lemon + Slice...
In the universe of consumer products, the spirits category is perhaps the most beset with mysticism, misinformation, and consumer ignorance. And there is no spirit more shrowded in mystery and mysticism than absinthe. Much of the modern misinformation involving spirits is perpetuated by the PR...
The 100 Year Punch is a cocktail that features a couple of unique ingredients that highlight the Korean heritage of its creator, Daniel Eun (who also created the #8 cocktail). Baekseju (also spelled Bek Se Ju) or “100 Year Wine,” is a rice and...
This asparagus tart is SO easy it’s kind of fail-proof. Buy some frozen puff pastry (I like Pillsbury). Place one of the sheets of dough on a cookie sheet. Let it defrost a bit then pinch up the edges to make a...
Last week I wrote about the classic 20th Century cocktail, and this week we move into modern times with the 21st Century. The 21st Century is Jim Meehan’s tequila-inspired update on the 20th Century which he created when he was a bartender at Audrey Saunders’
In this video, Ryan Fitzgerald of Beretta in San Francisco makes three different kinds of margaritas, including the famed Tommy's version. At Beretta, Ryan is always...
The Kentucky Derby unites classic fashion style, 19th century cocktails, gambling, and an age-old sport of kings in a quintessentially American event. The fellows suited up in seersucker, ladies in elegant straw hats, red and white colors abound, as do bourbon mint juleps in icy...
The 20th Century is a cocktail created in the 20th Century (1937 to be exact) by C.A. Tuck (I don't know what C.A. stands for--Cocktail Aficionado perhaps?). It first appeared in the Cafe Royal Cocktail Book written by William J. Tarling, and is named...
Here is Part Deux in our Tokyo-SF Bartender Salon Series. Meet Monsieur Tomokazu Kai, bartender at Heuga Bar in Gifu, Japan. Mr. Kai won the 2011...