Merry Christmas

Recent Comments

• Haily on Chinese Drunken Chicken: I’ve made a different version of drunken chicken. Instead of letting it soak after cooking, I brine it first in a mixture of salt water, soy sauce, wine, all the flavorings. Then you flash boil it in it. Then you turn the heat off before it’s cooked and let it sit in that broth for a while. The danger is that you have to make sure it’s a cooked all the way through, but the result is quite delicious. You get the same consistency but more flavor and a lot more color. Perhaps not text book Hainanese. But quite yummy.

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• chiaranjoo on Posh Sukiyaki Restaurant in Richmond: Hi Ben, I’ve been following your website for a while, love the information! Too bad I don’t live in BC :( I think the egg is usually found in Chinese hot pot? When my husband and I went to Taiwan, at the hotpot places, they give raw eggs to mix with the Korean BBQ sauce (the one with the cow logo, I forget the name). But in Singapore, people break raw egg into congee :) Also, I had shabu shabu a long time ago and the place added udon noodles in the shabu shabu. If I remember correctly, we didn’t add the ingredients into the communal pot (except for the meat I think?) but each person add their own ingredients into their own soup bowl. Happy eating! Chi

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• Hélène on Que Pasa Mexican Foods in Richmond: Next time I’m in Vancouver I should try this out. That looks great.

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• Anjeline on Agape Coffee in Richmond: thanks for the info about Agape coffe

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• Frank Kanu on Any Tips for Vacation to Washington DC and Philadelphia?: There a few places :) You should visit White Flint Mall in Rockville, MD, http://www.shopwhiteflint.com/ they have Dave & Buster’s and also a Cheesecake Factory. For the best dining experience go to Le Refuge in Alexandria, VA: http://www.lerefugealexandria. com/ You might also consider a stop at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge.

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• Ben and Suanne on Any Tips for Vacation to Washington DC and Philadelphia?: Hi Jason: Thanks for the recommendation. We will definitely check out Ray’s (burger or steak). Hi Ang: We had noted Plain and Fancy and Rachel’s Cafe on our plan. Thanks! Hi Susan Runner: Florida Ave Grill seems like a great place. We’ll be there! Hi Linda: We’ll try out Junior’s for sure.

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• will on Gourmantra Indian Meal Kit: So I totally spied on this at Costco the other day but didn’t end up buying. I was under the impression it was frozen TV-dinner type food. Didn’t realize that its just rice and sauce. Do you think its worth the price?

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• Erick on Posh Sukiyaki Restaurant in Richmond: Hi Ben, I’m not an expert in Japanese cooking, but Sukiyaki tends to be more soy sauce and mirin based while shabu-shabu and hot pot cook their items in clearer broths. KimHo is correct in that sukiyaki items are generally cooked together in one pot. There has been a revolution of shabu-shabu in that you’ll see more spicier broths alongside the regular broths for those that can take the heat. I remember a San Francisco place that brought over the spicy hot pot concept from Taiwan. I never went in, but you’re supposed to sweat from the spicy broth. Sounds like fun, eh?

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• sabrina on Gourmantra Indian Meal Kit: Hi, Suanne use “hot chili powder” (can get it at superstore in indian section} to make the curry hotter and use yoghurt (not sugar) to make it milder. also go to the website “Gourmantra.com” to get more indian cooking recipes.

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• Sorina on Gourmantra Indian Meal Kit: I like the sound and look of this. I shall mark this on my to do list.

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