Chinese Spareribs with shallots 紅葱烤排

When I flipping through a new cookbook that I bought recently, the chopped shallots sprinkle on top a braised spareribs photo was attracted me. I have no regret to try out this recipe, it was very flavourful with melted shallots (braised with a lot of shallots) mix with the soy sauce mixture, juicy , tender, and we especially love the chopped shallots on top, it gave extra spiciness and aroma to the ribs, yum yum !

Japanese Taco rice (タコライス, takoraisu)

My son requested me to make Taco, while I searching for a recipe, and I found this special Japanese Taco rice (according to Wikipedia, Taco rice is a popular meal in Okinawa Japan, read more here).
And my son was enjoyed this rice very much, and temporary he has forgotten the real Taco ^_^

No Knead Artisan Bread 免捏乡村面包

When I saw this title with No Knead bread, I feel excited to try it out.

Pad Thai (Thai style fried rice noodles)



Finally I took out a packet of dried rice noodles that have been sitting for too long in the pantry. It was brought back from last Bangkok trip. Since it still looks good (can't see the expiry date), so no think twice, I quickly cook this popular Thai style fried rice noodles- Pad Thai.

Fall Foliage at Sounkyo 層雲峡 (Daisetsuzan National Park), chair lift , Hokkaido 北海道 2013 (Part 2)

Ok, now come to 2nd part of Fall Foliage at Sounkyo. After took the ropeway, we continue to take chair lift which brought us to summit of mount Kurodake (1984 metres). The chair lift itself look quite scary right ? actually don't need to scare the height, it was very close to the ground. And we have very nice view of the difference colour of leaves through out the journey to the summit.

Japanese rice burger 日本米饭汉堡

We have never try a rice burger before, until recently we tried a nice rice burger at the Asahiyama Zoo Hokkaido. It was quite a late lunch, we bought some hotdog and ice-cream from a small shop located inside the zoo. My son Desmond didn't want the hotdog, so he ordered a rice burger. After he tasted, he told me the rice burger was very nice. Even we all had finished the hotdog, we still rushed to buy few rice burger to try out, and agreed it was yummy !

Hainanese Chicken Chop 海南雞扒

From what I know, Hainanese chicken chop was invented by Hainanese people who worked for the English people during the British colonisation era. Hainanese people put Eastern touch to this Western cuisine, like example marinate chicken meat with soy sauce & etc. My version of Hainanese chicken chop was inspired by a very old restaurant located at Port Klang where they served good Hainanese chicken chop, roti bakar, Hailam mee and etc.

Bo La Lot ( Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Beef wrapped in Wild Betel Leaf)

Sometime i feel my kitchen is like International café, I cook Chinese, Japanese, Malay, India, Thai, Vietnam, Italian & etc..I am especially like to cook those dishes that I have tasted in a restaurant or foods that I tasted while travelling. I have been cooking few Thai dishes and Vietnamese dishes, hopefully I can post it up soonest since my memory still fresh. I first tasted Bo La Lot was at the Ben Tahn market . The other day when I tried to clean up some of the wild betel leaves wildly spread at the backyard, perfect timing to try this Bo La Lot (Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Beef wrapped in Betel Leaf)).

Fall Foliage at Sounkyo 層雲峡 (Daisetsuzan National Park), ropeway , Hokkaido 北海道 2013 (Part 1)

The main aim of the trip to Sapporo was to bring my mother to see autumn colours. When we were at Sapporo, there was not much colours to see since it was still at early stage of autumn, you may check here for the autumn colour report. We have to go northern part at Sounkyo to see the colours. When we saw the beautiful colours, the long hours (90mins by train, 120mins by bus) spent to travel here, it was too worth it!!

Kinpiragobo (Crispy burdock root) 曰式炒牛蒡

My mother and I love this Kinpiragobo (Crispy burdock root 牛蒡) , this side dish was serving at the breakfast buffet counter at the hotel at Sapporo. The burdock tasted crispy, sweet and salty, perfect to go with plain steamed white rice or porridge. Next time I can cook this simple dish for my mother to try out.

Simple Home-style tofu, and how to remove tofu from the box

Earlier I have problem to remove a perfect tofu from the box. After I learnt a new way, I am glad to see the tofu perfectly removed from the box for every attempted.

Easy Castella Cake (cold eggs method) 蜂蜜长崎蛋糕 (冷全蛋打发)



I was accidently broken four eggs when I tried to close the fridge door on last weekend. Then I asked to Jane what to do with these four eggs, then Jane suggested me to make a castella cake since she just done one. I recalled a castella recipe that shared by Helena earlier, so I immediately make it. But i can't use her method which using separation of eggs since four eggs were mixed up together. So i use back the cold eggs method (you can refer to orange sponge cupcake) . To my surprise, this easy castella recipe yield very nice cake, light, moist, little QQ texture (texture like cross between sponge cake and bread), very nice honey aroma, no oil and no SP or ovalette is added.

Japanese Curry Buns 日式咖喱面包

Curry bun is a very popular bun in Japan, you can get them in any supermarket or 7 eleven. We bought some to try during the trip, and it was good. I realized that Japanese like to coat bread crumbs in many of their foods ^_^

Clock Tower 時計台, Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, Bento & Meal, Hokkaido 北海道 2013

Since my memory still fresh, I have to quickly update about the Japan trip, we went to Tokyo then Hokkaido. The whole trip it was planned by me, total 6 family members, from the ticket booking, trip itinerary, hotels, transport & foods. I think I can apply for a travel agent job ^_^ . I was tried to cover all individual's requirement, like my mother wanted to see autumn colour, my son wanted to go zoo, my daughter wanted to try macarons, and I want to try all good foods from Kobe beef, kaiseki dinner, ramen, and crab meal..All requirements were fulfilled without failed. Lets check my first post here!

Mapo Tofu (Spicy Chili Tofu with minced meat) 麻婆豆腐

Mapo Tofu is a famous Chinese traditional tofu dish. A famous Szechuan dish, roughly translated as "pockmarked grandmother beancurd", named for the old woman who supposedly invented the dish.

Japanese Salt Grilled Eryngii Mushrooms (Kinoko no shioyaki) 日式盐烧杏鲍菇



Just back from Japan trip (Tokyo & Hokkaido), and we had a wonderful trip with good foods and enjoyed the fall foliage at Sounkyo Gorge. While I still sorting out the thousand of photos taken, today I cooked this mushroom as one of the dish widely served during autumn in Japan, I refer to the information provided here.

Campo de' Fiori market 菜市場, Rome Italy 2013 羅馬意大利自由行

On the last day at Roma / Rome, since we still have time in the morning, we visit another market - Campo de Fiori . I remembered Terri mentioned about this market in her Italy travel post but she missed to make a trip here. So I went there on behalf of her ^_^. Anyway, this market is smaller than Mercato Centrale at Firenze/Florence, and it is located at a open space

Mercato Centrale 中央菜市場, Firenze / Florence Italy 2013 佛羅倫斯 意大利自由行

 

I like to walk through pasar "market " whenever I visit a country, a best place to get the fresh local ingredients. Mercato Centrale is a old market since 1874..

Piazzale Michelangelo 廣場, Firenze / Florence Italy 2013 佛羅倫斯 意大利自由行

Oh, if you have a chance to visit Firenze / Florence, don't forgot to visit Piazzale Michelangelo, they have the most beautiful panorama view of Firenze city ! furthermore, you don't need to pay a single cent to view this awesome view..And remind me of the popular Hong Kong drama " 衝上雲霄1 ".