Vegetarian Chinese Banquet

Ok - this was definitely an interesting culinary experience! So you guys are all familiar with those 10 course chinese banquets - shark's fin soup, scallops and brocolli, chicken, duck etc etc. - how about a totally vegetarian version? I had the good luck of being invited (last minute) to a vegetarian "Tuen nin fan" banquet in New York. All the attendees are strict vegetarians due to their Buddhist faith. Apart from veggies, they are really into fake meats made from tofu or bean proteins. Instead of coming up with whole new dishes, the whole idea is to duplicate the taste and look of the meat versions. Of course, it won't be exactly the same but all in all, very impressive!

Take a look at the photos - one is the vegetarian cold platter with veggie jellyfish and seaweed, the soup was an amazing winter melon soup with lots of ingredients. The presentation here was key - the waiter came round and cut the winter melon on the top which released the other ingredients from the bottom.

The "scallop and brocolli" was created with a stuffed braised shittake mushroom. The tofu rolls was masterful - the filling was a mixture of different vegetables finely-diced wrapped in a tofu pocket.

2008 Anniversary Dinner

Another one for the series - this year, we headed to the North End area of Boston which is basically Little Italy. Tons of italian eateries, gelato and pastry shops. We went to Mamma Maria where Paul had the rabbit dish and mine was the tuna with squid-ink fresh pasta. It was ok - perhaps we did not make the right menu choices !? It's a sad evening when Paul declares his favorite part of the meal was the bread basket with pesto and a whole jar of olives. It was good though...

The 2007 Wedding Anniversary Blow-out Dinner

Every year, for our wedding anniversary, we hit a posh restaurant. This 7th anniversary, we went to Harvest which is located in Harvard Square. Apparently, alot of "tweedy" wealthy professors like to go there. Absolutely amazing food and this was the best dish of them all - Roasted George's Bank Monkfish (with herb stuffing, smoked bacon, artichoke barigoule, Peruvian lima beans and cockles). If you had never had monkfish, you must try! They don't call it "poor man's lobster" for no reason. Silky rich texture - does taste a bit like lobster actually...

Xmas 2007: Edible Arrangement

Check out the gift Kee, Ellen and Rach sent me for Xmas! Guys, this is how it came. Lucky it was cold outside as we went out but it was left on our enclosed porch. Fab, useful and healthy alternative to flowers.

Thanksgiving Feast 2007

The Warm-up to Xmas..

Roast Boneless Leg of Lamb (flavored with garlic and rosemary) with Onion Gravy and Mint Sauce
Stuffed Pumpkin Potato Mash
Braised Asparagus
Roasted Butternut Squash w/Thyme
Savoy Cabbage
Cranberry Stuffing
White Shoepeg Sweetcorn

There were 6 of us but still plenty of leftovers....

Winter soup ideas

I like to make soups in winters - here are 2 of my favorite recipes:

Thai Carrot, Sweet Potato and Coriander Soup

1. Sweat a finely-diced onion with 2 cloves of garlic. Add in one sweet potato (peeled and sliced), two carrots and cook for a few more minutes. Add about 1 liter of vegetable stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Add a handful of fresh coriander.
2. Process the soup in a blender in batches. Once pureed, add in 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, salt and pepper.

4-Mushroom and Fennel Soup

1. Slice 2 fennel bulbs, cover in a tray with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 350F for about 30 minutes.
2. Sweat a small onion and a few cloves of garlic in a large knob of butter. Add in about 1lb of mixed mushrooms - I used button mushrooms, baby bella, porcini and shiitake but you can use anything. Chanterelles and oyster mushrooms are also nice. Cook for about 15 minutes.
3. Add 1 liter of vegetable stock and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add the roasted fennel and then process the soup in a blender in batches.
4. Add to the soup a handful of freshly chopped parsley. Salt and pepper to taste. You can also add in a little heavy cream at this point if you want.
5. Serve with gruyere toasties!

Lunch idea: Sushi hand rolls

This is what happens when you live close to a Japanese supermarket! Healthy yet easy lunch - I make some sushi rice, cut up some cucumber, scallions and crabmeat sticks (the ones imported from Japan) are best.

Japanese egg omelette is a little sweet - just add a teaspoon of sugar to the mixture before you make the omelette.

Fab with Japanese mayonnaise - it comes in a squeezy bottle. Wrap in the nori seaweed as you eat - you don't want to make them all beforehand as the nori gets soggy.