five star five spice powder
There’s nothing like biting into a star anise pod when enjoying a savory pork that has been braising for hours in this special Asian blend of spices. That is one not-so-fond memory of my childhood. My...
View Articleholiday wrath or wreath?
A holiday wreath can be the true sign as to how seriously one takes the holiday season. Do you make one, reuse a store bought, or buy a fresh one? I went all out this year by making one. It’s...
View Articlepork is a four letter word
Come colder weather, I love braising meats and letting things simmer all day in a giant pot in the oven or on the stove. The entire house smells delicious for hours and the end result is...
View Articlecauliflower saffron soup
Tis the season for soups, and stews, and roasts and braised meats. The trend of puréed soups has been prevalent for years, but carrot ginger and the like have had their limelight. I love the idea of...
View ArticlewallFlour gifts: $20 or less
Give a gift because you want to and can. The age old saying: ‘it’s the thought that counts’ should mean more especially in the current economic landscape. I enjoy getting more for my money at all...
View Articlefleur de sel caramels
Ever since I first had one of these caramels at a friend’s wedding a couple years ago, I was hooked, obsessed, and a sweet tooth convert all at once. They were from Boule patisserie. I went and...
View ArticleSpice Girl
Since my recent obsession with Five Spice powder, sometimes referred to as the ‘wonder powder’, I took it upon myself to make my home blend as holiday gifts for friends and family. I had to share the...
View Articlechristmas ‘08- wallflour style
I dare say, I am all food’ed out from the holidays and am now nursing a bad cold. We had more social gatherings than usual to attend this year, which all included fabulous food spreads. One after...
View Articlethe best new york cheesecake recipe
New York Style Cheesecake is one of those foods that may truly be an American invention, or at least made famous by Americans. It’s also a sweet that is hard to mess up. I don’t consider myself a...
View Articlecheck out my buns!
I made buns this weekend and I hope that title got your attention. I was inspired by these Taiwanese buns from a place I tried in SGV (San Gabriel Valley), Kingburg Kitchen. Anytime I want to try...
View Articlethe merchant of glendale
This may be the best kept secret in Glendale. I am so reluctant in letting this cat out of the bag. But as it goes, I was told the secret by Bob’s mom, Gloria, about this wonderful Sunday treat that...
View Articlepreserved meyer lemons
A French-Moroccan friend of mine used to love talking about food so much that anytime I saw him or heard his name, my stomach would grumble. He was the person who first shaved whole, black truffles...
View Articlesalumi salame salami
I came home from a long week at work to a surprise gift box of artisan cured salumi, from Salumi in Seattle, the specialty meats shop of the dad of the celebrity chef, Mario Batali. This mysterious...
View Articlefoodbuzz 24, 24, 24: ox-idental new year’s party
Chinese New Year, which is based on the lunar calendar, always sneaks up on me. It falls around the end of January or the beginning of February and is right around the time I have recovered from the...
View Articlechinese scallion pancakes
This is a family style dish from the Northern region in China. Usually you can find these on a menu of a Chinese restaurant that serves dumplings. My mom always kept homemade ones in the freezer....
View Articleginger honey five-spice chicken wings
Here’s another recipe idea using the five spice powder. I promised more recipes and have had requests. I recently tried one where you just sprinkle it on duck legs and let them slow roast in the oven....
View Articlered, white, and blue hill
It is confirmed once again, the Obama’s have good taste! I happened to eat at the same restaurant as them, on the same night, hours later, on my trip last weekend to New York. I did not know this...
View Articleholy cow
When was the last time you received a hand written thank you card from a restaurant? Let alone a James Beard Award Winning Chef, Dan Barber of Blue Hill Farms? ‘Wow’ is all I have to say. As if the...
View Articlecasa mono, mi amor
In my non-stop food adventure in New York last weekend, one of my absolute favorite stops was a long, leisurely lunch at Mario Batali’s Casa Mono. If you didn’t think he was already king of New...
View Articlehooked on Erie Basin
Erie Basin is the quintessential, antique jewelry store / gallery in a remote part of Brooklyn, Red Hook. I had my heart set on checking the store out in person on my last trip to New York. In my...
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