Wo Ju (??) Stuffed Lotus Root in Honey Syrup

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, we had a dessert after our hot pot party that was from a popular show in China. The show, Wo Ju (??), reflects the current pricey housing market in China. One of the main characters, a middle-aged (and married) city mayor’s secretary, chases and woos a newly [...]

How to Prepare a Delicious Hot Pot Party

I’ve written about hot pots before, but one of the easiest parties you can throw - there’s very little prep work, it involves lots of guest interaction, and you’re guaranteed a good meal! For this hot pot, my mom went to Chinatown, picked up a ton of thinly sliced meat (pork, beef, and lamb), [...]

Apples

Last week, I had to serve on jury duty (criminal court) and had a super long lunch break in Chinatown. After having a big bowl of wonton noodle soup at Big Wong, I stopped by Mulberry Street for some fruit. Look at the apple I picked up:

Have you ever seen an apple so [...]

How to Prepare Durian

Every once in a while, I’ll go to Chinatown and pick up some exotic fruits that I can’t easily find anywhere else. On this particular trip, I saw a vendor selling durian and decided to pick some up to try it. Durian is easy to spot - they have spiky husks and the [...]

Quick and Easy Weeknight Dish: Julienne Potatoes, Chinese Style

This version of French fries is a popular dish in Chinese restaurants and was eaten a lot during the cultural revolution because of the food shortage. My mom learned this dish from one of her friends from China and I must say - it’s much more delicious than Americanized French fries (even the ones [...]