ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS ON FOOD + COOKING
Pho is actually really simple to make, but I wanted to breakdown what I've learned from my mom, and many iterations of trying to replicate her version. I wouldn't say this recipe is traditional or authentic. I'd just say it's good. Having eaten pho a dozen times and a dozen different ways, all over Vietnam, I can only say there are good and bad preparations of this dish, but no official one that rules them all.
As my last days at Palantir were dawning, I didn't want a big send-off or a party to celebrate my departure. I just wanted to cook alongside my beloved team one last time. The perfect opportunity came up when my Pastry Chef, Jenna, suggested we do a chef's table for my family and friends. I've never been able to cook for the people I care most about in a fine-dining format like this, so for me, this was a huge deal.
I love how I'm still learning new ways of preparing really basic cuisine from just about anyone. That's the great thing about classics like lasagna--everybody loves it, and everybody has their own personal take on it.
Just remember these two phrases : 'eigo no menyu arimasu wa?' and 'osusume wa nandesuka?' which mean 'do you have an English menu?' and 'what do you recommend?' respectively.
The kitchen team was invited to New York to assist with the holiday party for the Gotham office. This year's theme : sci-fi.
Here's Niki Nakayama, chef-owner of LA kaiseki restaurant n/naka, plating a selection of poetic dishes from her 13-course tasting menu and intimately explaining what kaiseki means to her
I'll admit, growing up in the culinary industry, I always saw Martin Yan as sort of a joke; a relic of early 90's cooking shows that spawned a series of pseudo-chef personalities that we see today. But I didn't give him nearly enough credit...
Here's a throwback to a Chef's Table Thanksgiving we did in 2012.
The Events team really outdid themselves this Halloween, namely, Abby Lukacs, who masterminded and engineered most of the set.
Shane Alholm is one of our newest team members. This week, he contributed a tongue pastrami made from grass-fed waygu from True Grass Farms.
This week we embraced the fall season's color and flavors.
I learned something fundamental about traveling after my experience at Tempura Matsu, and that is, if you're completely dependent on guidebooks or travel sites, you'll miss out on so much.
Rokurinsha's tsukemen is probably the most popular in Tokyo right now. If you've never tried tsukemen, it's a dipping ramen.
My sister and I didn't get to our AirBnB until 3 AM--we were starving. The only place open was a 7-11 down the street.
This was my second time here. It's closed down now, which is a shame, but I'm glad got to try it twice before it went away.
Photography credit : therynearsons.blogspot.com
In Japan during autumn, maple leaves that have been preserved in salt for a year, are tempura battered and fried as a seasonal snack.
Every summer, the kitchen team participates in sending off our interns with a very special gathering and dinner. This year, the theme was grad night. We were asked to do some portable familiar foods, and fancy it up a little. Here's our contribution:
Nihonryori RyuGin, No. 33 on the San Pellogrino World's 50 Best Restaurants list, is headed by bad ass kaiseki chef Seiji Yamamoto.
My current favorite comfort food from the Mom : crispy school prawns.
School prawns are small shrimp with sweet flesh and a very thin shell that crisps up very nicely when fried or sauteed.
