same house, same kitchen, same cook

Slurp du jour has moved!

It's still the same house, same kitchen, same cook . I just need some minor renovations so that Slurp Du Jour can be pleasing to your taste buds, and appetizing to your viewing pleasure too!

Do pop by for a visit in my new home ! I give you a warm welcome! :D

Do, Don, Done!

I have not tried making Western-style pork chops yet, and looks like I will not in some time. You may not believe it, but when I made Chinese-style or Freestyle pork chops, it was my first time having pork loin chops in my grocery shopping list. And other than one first time attempting making a Thai dish - Kai Pad Bai Kaprow or Thai Basil Chicken , this should be my second time attempting some cuisine other than Chinese, Southeast Asian, or Western. I will DO a Japanese DONburi! Yes, Tonkatsu (Japanese-style pork cutlets) curry DON, will be DONE in less than 30mins away. Let's DO it! The DON. I am not a tonkatsu specialist who have spent years observing how to prepare the frying oil in a proper manner and exact temperature, the type of bread crumbs used, and the precise moment that the cutlet should hit the hot oil. This end product here, however, is a succulent piece of pork cutlet with a crisp, and light crumb coat.

Tonkatsu-curry don (2-3 servings)
Ingredients:
-Oil for frying
-4 boneless pork chops, each about 1/2 inch thick
-1 egg
-2 tablespoons cornflour
-1 cup(or more) panko bread crumbs
-1 pack SB curry sauce (or any Japanese curry sauce)

Method:
1.Pound pork to 1/4 inch thick using meat tenderizer or back of a cleaver. Beat egg until blended. Coat both sides of pork with flour, then dip into egg and finally coat thoroughly with bread crumbs.

2.Pour oil at least 1 inch deep into electric frying pan or deep frying pan
3. Fry pork in oil until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side.

4.Cut pork cutlets into strips, place pork cutlets over cooked plain rice, and serve with Japanese curry sauce

It's DONE!

Tag: SB curry, tonkatsu, don, pork cutlets, Japanese

Iron Chef vs Tigerfish in Lychee cook-off

I have watched quite some episodes of Iron Chef America and everytime I do, I will laugh at the Chairman(portrayed by Mark Dacascos). That must be the easiest job of a Chairman you can find. Every episode without fail, the Chairman of Iron Chef America just makes the same statement (his script must be less than a page long, to be more accurate- maybe less than ten sentences in the entire one-hour show)

In the words of this Chairman..."MAY THE BATTLE BEGINS!"


Iron Chef and challenger - Tigerfish look, as the secret ingredient is unveiled, and the Chairman continues..."the secret ingredient is... LYCHEE!"

The verdict is out even without the panel of judges. How can Tigerfish with no professional experience surpass the Iron Chef? Moreoever, Tigerfish only does 2 dishes, out of the 5 dishes which is required of the competition. Hey, but Tigerfish is alone in the battle. No sous chef, no assistant.

Dish No.1 - Lychee cocktail drink
Can you see there's actually a lychee in an ice-cube ?

Place a lychee in each compartment of ice-cube tray, and fill with water, as if freezing, to get ice-cubes. Once frozen, drop 1-2 cubes in one serving of drinking water, there...you have a party drink. As the ice-cube melts, a wee bit of lychee juice blends with water, PLUS, you can eat that lychee when you finish off your drink! Cool. That's my style of non-alcoholic cocktail for everybody. Definitely a good chill-off during summer (though still some months away).

Dish No.2 - Lychee chicken
If you like Sweet and Sour Pork, or Orange/Lemon Peel Chicken, then you should love this dish as well, since it's both sweet and tangy.

Lychee chicken(serves ~4)
Ingredients:
-~1.5lbs chicken thigh (you can use chicken breasts,leg fillets, wings), cut to bite-size pieces
-2tbsp soy sauce
-1tbsp salt
-1tsp sesame oil
-1tsp sugar
-4tbsp corn flour to coat chicken
-2cups oil for deep frying
-1tsp chopped garlic
-1tsp crushed ginger
-1can lychee, drained, syrup reserved
-1tsp red chilli flakes
-sliced spring onion and red chilli (for garnish)

Sauce:
-1 cup lychee syrup
-2tbsps tomato sauce
-1tbsp corn flour, mixed with 1tbsp water

Method:
1.Marinate chicken with soy sauce, salt, sesame oil and sugar for 30 mins. Roll chicken in corn flour and deep-fry till golden brown.Set aside.
2. In another pan, heat 1tbsp oil over medium fire. Stir fry garlic and ginger for 1-2mins. Add sauce ingredients, and cook till sauce thickens.
3.Add the chicken, lychees and chillies. Mix well, and allow simmer for 3-5mins.
4.Garnish and serve.


Tag: lychee, chicken

Where is Saigon ?

Don't cheat. What is the country that first comes to your mind when you see or hear "Saigon" ?

It's named Hong Kong Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant, located in Sunnyvale,CA. Is it some kind of Hong Kong-Vietnmese cuisine since Saigon is a former name of Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam ? Nope. For this restaurant, Saigon simply means 西贡 or Sai Kung - a town on Sai Kung Peninsula, in New Territories, Hong Kong, and this Sai King town is well-known for seafood. Ok, hopefully this will clear up your doubts about the type of cuisine you are going to get here. Yes, 100% Hong Kong cuisine! During weekends, the crowds start building up after 11am. So, our best bet is 10am (when it just opens). The seafood porridge/congee is cooked to perfection. Smooth congee, with hints of natural sweetness from the shrimps, scallops and fish slices. We usually don't order lots of dim-sum dishes here since there's always the congee to fill us up. Our standard must-haves and faves are these...

Well, to be technically correct, Saigon is in fact a name or place related to Vietnam. Since I'm on the "Saigon" topic any way, how about some pho , or Vietnamese noodle dish ? We chanced upon Pho Nam, when the other pho place (can't even remember the name now...) we have tried before near El Camino, Mountain View, was closed for that day. Since then, we became loyal customers to Pho Nam.

Tag: bay area food, bay area, dim sum, pho

Where is Saigon ?

Don't cheat. What is the country that first comes to your mind when you see or hear "Saigon" ?

It's named Hong Kong Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant, located in Sunnyvale,CA. Is it some kind of Hong Kong-Vietnmese cuisine since Saigon is a former name of Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam ? Nope. For this restaurant, Saigon simply means 西贡 or Sai Kung - a town on Sai Kung Peninsula, in New Territories, Hong Kong, and this Sai King town is well-known for seafood. Ok, hopefully this will clear up your doubts about the type of cuisine you are going to get here. Yes, 100% Hong Kong cuisine! During weekends, the crowds start building up after 11am. So, our best bet is 10am (when it just opens). The seafood porridge/congee is cooked to perfection. Smooth congee, with hints of natural sweetness from the shrimps, scallops and fish slices. We usually don't order lots of dim-sum dishes here since there's always the congee to fill us up. Our standard must-haves and faves are these...

Well, to be technically correct, Saigon is in fact a name or place related to Vietnam. Since I'm on the "Saigon" topic any way, how about some pho , or Vietnamese noodle dish ? We chanced upon Pho Nam, when the other pho place (can't even remember the name now...) we have tried before near El Camino, Mountain View, was closed for that day. Since then, we became loyal customers to Pho Nam.

Tag: bay area food, bay area, dim sum, pho

Double boiled, all members of the family

I'm now too sick to get back to normal kitchen routine. I can't even speak in complete sentences. It should be "this double-boiled soup is suitable for all members of the family". I do know that missing words and truncated sentences can lead to deep serious misunderstanding. Oops!

Slowly but surely, I hope, this double-boiled soup can whet your appetite.

Lacking a good understanding of chinese herbs, such soup packs save me a trip to the chinese herbal/medicine shop to choose herbs for a particular soup.

雪耳润肺汤 - it writes "Suitable for all members of the family"

It should be one of those least artificial pre-packed food, since there are no preservatives, no additives, no artificial flavorings. The herbs are pre-chosen(usually dried) and combined in a pack to yield soup that can either improve general health, or target certain deficiency in health such as loss of appetite, remove phelgm, improve yin/yang deficiency etc.

First, lean pork was blanched (to remove scum), then placed at the bottom of a bowl. The ingredients/herbs (杏仁, 玉竹, 雪耳, 无花果, 蜜枣) in the soup pack were then placed on top of the pork, and water added such that the pork and herbs were completed submerged.


It's now time for double-boiling.
I had a first attempt, using double boiling technique to cook this soup. Double boiling is a cooking technique to prepare delicate food such as bird nests and shark fins etc. The food is typically covered with water and put in a covered ceramic jar. The jar is then steamed for several hours. This technique ensures there is no loss of liquid or moisture (its essences) from the food being cooked, hence it is often used with expensive ingredients such as chinese herbs.


So soothing to drink. No bitterness, and it's naturally sweet. Can you see the essence ?


Tag: herbal, chinese herbal, soup

And in future when you see prawns, you can say "Got Milk?"

Curry leaves at $14.99/lb...Curry leaves at $14.99/lb... that pack of curry leaves is still surviving in the chiller section of my fridge after so long. Oh, they are truly hardy, aren't they ?

Do people still count sheep if they can't get to sleep? If I count curry leaves, I'll definitely keep awake through the night. I'm still left with so much, and if I don't use them, they will end up in the trash bin again.

The curry leaves made their first debut in my Nestum Butter Prawns-Next time when you see cereals, you should not just say "Got Milk?"

Now, the curry leaves are making an appearance in Prawns in Spicy Milk Sauce-So, in future when you see prawns, you can say "Got Milk?" ! Yey!

Prawns in spicy milk sauce(serves 2)
Ingredients:
-600g medium-size prawns; slit back, deveined and de-shelled
-1tbsp butter
-3-4tbsp curry leaves
-1tsp red chilli pepper flakes
-3tbsp fresh milk

Seasoning:
-1tsp sugar
-1/2tsp salt
-1tsp curry powder

Method:
1. Deep-fry prawns in hot oil till cooked. Dish and drain.
2.Melt butter in a pan and saute curry leaves and chilli flakes till fragrant. Add in milk, seasoning and bring to simmer
3.Add in prawns, stir-fry till well-mixed
4. Dish and serve

Tag: prawns, shrimps, spicy milk sauce

Bean*sprouts+tomatoes =

I thought I could use a mathematical equation to represent this because it's as straight-forward and simple to make, and prepared by a logical mind, as Bean Sprouts Tomatoes Soup!

Is this a soup, I don't know, but I've had it before. It's a wonderful soup to cook, drink and eat, for a change. Don't be deceived by the simplicity of the ingredients. Bean sprouts and tomatoes can make wholesome flavorful soup!!

Bean sprouts tomato soup (serves ~2-3)
Ingredients:
-3/4lb bean sprouts, washed with roots removed
-2 tomatoes, washed and cut into bite-size pieces
-1/2lb lean pork(optional; can be omitted if going vegetarian)
-salt to taste

Method:
1.Blanch the pork in boiling water to remove scum
2.Place blanched pork in slow-cooker and cook for 1hr
3.Turn to low heat, add bean sprouts and tomatoes, simmer in slow-cooker for 15-20mins
4.If you prefer more crunch to the bean sprouts and tomatoes, simmering for just 10 mins will do

Tag: bean sprouts, tomatoes, soup

Sin City - Need to stay away from them, at least for now

Whatever chocolates, or doughnuts, how can they be more sinful than these ? Buffets for breakfast, dinner, breakfast, dinner, breakfast, dinner. Most Vegas breakfast buffets have a "egg station" where you can opt any style you wish -omelette, fried, sunny-side-up, scrambled.

Always found in the spread are sausage, bacon, ham, more scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, corned beef, pancakes, waffles, french toast, bagels etc. Breakfast buffets range between US11.99-13.99 in the Strip hotels. But the more expensive ones usually serve better quality food, likewise for dinner buffets(price range between US16.99-24.99). And you can always find crab claws, shrimps/prawns and prime rib in dinner buffets with the other miscellaneous standard items. THAT'S...a lot of food!


Notice the mountain of crab claws. Eat all you can !


The next peak beside the crab moutain is a pile of prawns/shrimps. Also, eat all you can!

Don't mention buffets to me now. I need to stay away from them at least for a month.

Tag: travel, Las Vegas, buffets

Sin City -Love at first sight, then bite

I was long introduced to these sweeties by this sweet lady even before her post. I did not have a single bite on the originals till I was in Las Vegas. Perhaps their open factory in Excalibur, Las Vegas has attracted me to the first bite. It was love at first bite, at least for the doughnut family. I can't remember when was the last time I've had doughnuts. It's not something I would reach out for unless there is a lack of choice. But, Krispy Kreme (KK) doughnuts, they are yummy! I ate one, not enough...then I grab another. OH, Simcooks, does that mean I have to walk for 200 mins?? I will continue to have KK doughnuts back in California. KK is also available in Hong Kong, and Japan, to sweeten the Asian tooth. Where is the nut ? Where is the nut ? Well, the dough without the nut called Doughnut. Hey, I remember Dunkin' Doughnuts in S'pore. Have they receded due to poor response? Is doughnut not the IN thing in S'pore ? I better have as many KK as I can before I return home.

For the sweet tooth, I'll leave you with this. The open factory that made me love at first bite. Watch, how the doughnuts flip over, and how they undergo the (sugar white) glaze waterfall treatment.



(I did not take this video because I was so paranoid that the memory card in my cam will run dry before I capture all the sights of Vegas. Courtesy:whoever took the video and upload it)


Tag: travel, Las Vegas, Krispy Kreme, doughnuts

Sin City - So Sweet!

Many know that the sugar coating on M&M chocolates is patented but not many (at least I do not) know that part of M&Ms history has to got to do with the U.S army. They were developed initially for the U.S army? I did not know that. I was ignorant. I reckon they could still have chocolates that "melt in their mouth, not in their hand" while fighting a war.

I prefer dark bittersweet chocolates. M&M is not for me. But it's free to enter this five-storey building. Ok, will just take a look what the craze is about. Oh no, I could not even move freely in this building. People, people, people. IT'S A CULT!

Four floors of retail space devoted to chocolate-covered candies, everything from T-shirts and golf-club covers to calculators and martini glasses. Just like any other Disney or Warner Brothers retail store. I was not impressed.

I was tickled by all the 3D exhibits along the walkway, though.


They come to life !


Tag: travel,Las Vegas, M&Ms, chocolates