麻油雞 – Sesame Oil Chicken w/ Rice Wine

Feeling Asiany lately and I’ve been opting for homecooked Chinese food a lot more than going out lately…. so gonna do another Asian recipe post :]  And semi-freaky I suppose.. since it’s almost Halloween :]

Note to self: Do a Freaky Food Memory post in honor of Halloween! WOOT

Alright alright! Let’s get AASSSSSSSSSSSSIIIANNN!!!! *freaky-like*

SO quickie intro to this recipe… People who have been following my twitter/blogs/fb should know that I’ve gone through low points, health wise. Insanely low weight – I’ve been 90lbs and I’m 5’7,5″ – I’ve battled severe anemia and other things I don’t really want to get into right now.  So my mom is constantly trying to make me foods that make my health better… herbal soups, etc etc, you know how us asians do… healing naturally thru herbs and food is better than any pharmaceutical thing… haha… “drugs” :]

SO.

One great recipe to help “heal” the body and “warm” it up – I’m always so cold – is Sesame Oil Chicken aka 麻油雞. It sounds like a nice little dish but it’s got bite. Why?  TONS of booze in it.  The recipe is super simple… and it basically is just a mish mash to taste.  I keep it simple.. and extra boozy :] No salt, sugar or water.

All you need is quality 米酒 Rice Wine, 麻油 Sesame Oil, Ginger and a whole Chicken – preferably bone in..

Doesn’t this remind you of Hapi Djus – YAY Eurotrip

psssst

FLǕGGȦ∂NKđ€ČHIŒβǾLʃÊN

Sorry I get distracted easily.. back to the recipe

Heat up your wok/pan  and pour in about 3 tablesppons of 麻油 Sesame Oil… My mom has a special Black Sesame Oil that she uses specifically for this.  The smells are amazing.. the flavor just packs so much more punch. Use more if you want more sesame oil flavor.  Once it heats up, add some thinly sliced ginger – or chunks of you don’t want to eat it, but I love eating ginger.. the more the merrier – especially for me since I love ginger – and stirfry it til it’s browned and the sesame oil and ginger smell amazing.  Pop in the chicken pieces… and brown it. I love chicken feet like crazy – plus the collagen in it is SUPER good for the skin… it’s how we asians stay so young ;] – and once browned add.. a bottle of rice wine.  Hell, add more if you want, the more the merrier :]  It’ll get a nice orange/tan color – make sure you skim off the excess fat/oil on top of the soup before you drink.

Don’t judge. I love chicken feet [鳳爪<3].

It’s pretty strong though… and too much is a bit “上火” – kind of like the imbalance of your yin and yang… too much firey foods like alcohol, spicy, fried, etc make it off-balanced and it’s too much “fire” aka 火 – Just simmer for like 10-15 minutes or so until chicken is fully cooked and tender and drink and eat away… make sure only to eat a bowl at a time – with noodles it’s AMAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZING…..  my mom and I love it with 麵線 [miàn xiàn] which is a super skinny salted wheat noodle… NOM NOM NOM

I didn’t have mine with noodles last night, I went more caveman approach to NOMMING it… but here’s a look and feel:

Source: Flickr

Side Note: This is a GREAT dish to heal the body after you’ve just given birth, just saying… my grandma did it for her daughters and my mom plans to do it for me.

Constantly Craving Bone Marrow aka Meat Butter

This is going to be a crazy long Food Memory post – I already know it.. I tried to think of ways of narrowing it down but there really isn’t any way to go about it. I love bone marrow – I was eating Bone Marrow long before I even REALIZED it was bone marrow… sucking on bones that people usually tossed away – being asian, I ate a lot of amazing body parts before it was “popular” to do so. PLUS there are so many ways OF eating it.

Example A: Spicy Beef Noodle Soup [Niu Rou Mian, 牛肉麵]a la Mommy

She’s been making this for me as far as I can remember and I’m sure before that as well. It’s pure comfort food.. silky slowly cooked beef broth.. like a stronger beefier Pho broth, tons of scallions, my favorite flat chinese noodles.. some sort of veg – I love Bok Choy and Spinach the most with it – and of course, the star of the show, the BEEF. Not JUST chunks of beef, but tendon, fatty beef and oh yes… Bone Marrow.

SO, after my mom takes… — blank blank — long to make her special beef broth and cooked down oh so tender tendons and beef chunks… she scoops out the bones and the ones with bone marrow and actually SCOOPS OUT the bone marrow INTO the soup.. OMG brilliance!  Now what I didn’t know was that she usually ate about half the bone marrows >_<;; hahahahah… This was before I knew and SHE knew how obsessed I was with this meat butter decadence so now she lets me suck them out ;]

Proof!!

Now that you’ve had a slight taste for what this post is gonna be about… I’m guessing if you love Bone Marrow even HALF as much as I do you’re drooling and have a boner.. yes if you’re a girl you probably have a female food boner… this post is gonna make you hungry. Real hungry.. for Bone Marrow.

From the pure.. roasted and scooped from the bone to in pastas, sauces, etc…. Freaking A I bet it’d be amazing in desserts, skip the lard and use bone marrow instead *HMMM* may try that soon.

How it all began….

The real obsession started here —

Chef’s Table at L’Espalier

Beef bone marrow with baguette crostini and whole grain mustard

Yep. One of the most amazing meals of my life… one of my favorite restaurants… def my favorite French resto…. this was when I realized. Yes. I need more whole bones to suck the marrow out of in my life.  This dinner made me realize, this HAD to be apart of my last meal.

The Basics

The sexiest way, and messiest to eat bone marrow

No bone goes unlicked and sucked. After scooping it all out and putting it on my crostinis… EVERY bone gets a good suck and lick. TMI? PG13? Wait.. do I need to child-proof this blog post now?! OOPS. Tough cookies!

My lovey, Chef Rick Gresh of Chicago’s Prime House’s Roasted Bone Marrow

Toasted baquette, roasted garlic cloves & green city market cherry mostarda

How FREAKING sexy is that?!

Have you seen the blog post title I wrote for this next one? It’s the THING TO GET here… [other than their AMAYYYYYYYYY-ZINGZINGZING Frites]

Eastern Standard

Roasted Bone Marrow w/ Germolata and Sea Salt

Look at that sexiness. Beautiful herbs… Four beautiful hunky chunks of bone marrow and delicious toasted crostini… what can get better than that?!… Such a delicious perfect simple dinner.. obviously that wasn’t my whole dinner, I’m a fatass remember?!… but on simple nights I like just a few self-roasted bone marrows on toast with a great sea salt sprinkle and a big bottle of red.  Ah the single life.

There had been a short break of getting bone marrow every other day… and one of the more recent adventures was on my latest Birthday dinner.. #1? #2? with my parents :] at AKA Bistro
Os à moelle, fleur de sel aromatique,pain de campagne grillé

Bone Marrow, aromatic sea salt and toasted country bread

While most of the dishes were… argueably.. okay NOT arguably, less than subpar… you can’t really eff up Bone Marrow!  Unless undercooked? Frozen in the middle? – ew – but you can’t. This was good. Small. But good.

Craigie on Main

What I love about this is that it’s completely off the menu and you have to be in the know and order it on your own.  It’s delicious, plentiful, and just *lip-smackingly* delicious. Simplicity at it’s best.

Home Cooked

Yep. I miss the days where I’d go to Whole Foods or my nearest neighborhood friendly butcher shop and buy some Bone Marrows… I’d sear both sides and then pop it into the oven til they got gooey in the middle.

PS. As I warned him beforehand, and Z was taught a lesson when he made them, I suggest NOT telling the butcher to cut them horizontally – see Toro pic below – for some reason when homecooked they just… melt awayyy.. and YES you can cook steaks and toast bread int he butter.. but I love the chunkkkkkkkkkkkk – PLUS I love scooping it out of the circle :]  I save the cut ones for going out.  Unless you’re a super skilled chef…/cook/master of Bone Marrow – I’m not, just keep it simple and scoop it with a spoon :]

So now… Things get more Complicated

Okay maybe not yet… this is bone marrow.. but it comes with OXTAIL. And.. all I can say is.. FUCK YEAH OXTAIL – Oxtail is up there [and on my todo list of food memory blog posts] of being a super heavenly decadent food.  So pair the two together?! HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY - btw, ever try Oxtail Curry?! YES. DO IT. It’s AMAZING.

Toro Asado de Huesos

Roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and oxtail marmalade

It never gets old here… I keep coming, I keep ordering.. and this and the corn… and the uni sandwich are my must haves. MUST HAVES. Like, I get freaking CRAVINGS for Toro because of these three heavenly divine things.  It’s so simple. Tender stewed meat on crostini – add roasted bone marrow – put a nice refreshing salad on side. GENIUS.

Kin Shop’s Roasted Bone Marrow

Crisp Taro Root, Radish Sprouts, Roti & Yellow Bean Sauce

Z and I came here BECAUSE of their bone marrow.  He had found an article about them and they were soooooo good….. props to Top Chef OG Harold D. :] OG yo. OG.  SOOOOOOO much going on – thought I’d hate it, was curious, but it was AMAZING.  Creammmmmmmmy sauce with crispy fried taro root and then a refreshing crunch of the sprouts. We had Roti Canai on the side but I ate it as is. HAPPINESS in a bone :] XOXO

Custom House’s Prime New York Strip

Bone Marrow / Oyster Mushroom

Such a simple dish with simple ingredients, but one of them SUPER BOMB ASS amazing!  While the steak was perfectly cooked and I ADORE Oyster Mushrooms, I do, the sauce, subtle but oh so delectable and decadent, made the dish… gave it that extra oomph and pushed it to a whole new level.

EEEEEEEEEE-TAL-EEEEANO

I love Chef Michael White. I need to make a food memory post just on HIS food. LOVE LOVE LOVE. And I LOVE his bone marrow dishes. This man can do NO wrong and is my absolute favorite go to guy for Italian food XOXO

First up, my FAVORITE Italian Resto, Ai Fiori…..

Ai Fiori’s Mare e Monte

Diver scallops, celery root, black truffles, bone marrow, thyme

How. Freaking. GENIUS.  Silkyyyyyyyy scallops… subtle celery root.. thinnn but flavorful truffles.. and BONE MARROW – freaking BONE MARROW. Just LOOK at the dish. FREAKING-TABULOUSIOUS <3 Is this even LEGAL? OH.. but it gets crazier

His biggest baby is Marea… and oh is it his baby…. upscale Italianoooooo by Central Park… OHHH MAN.

Marea’s Uovo

Poached Egg, Spring Garlic, Bone Marrow, Baby Eel, Passatelli, Barley Brodo

Nothing in that description makes me not want it. Boner-licious. POACHED egg?! Perfectly poached!… – looking at it right now makes me want Momo Ramen. BONE MARROW?! Freaking BONE MARROW?!.. I know the egg is the star of this show but it’s the bone marrow that makes it that much more popping..

&

Marea’s famous Fusilli

Red Wine Braised Octopus, Bone Marrow

This is what this place is KNOWNNNNNNNNNNNN FOR! BOMB ASS Bone Marrow in the sauce.. cooked just perfect but not overly so.  DELICIOUS strands of homemade fusilli and PERFECTLY cooked tender Octopus totally enhanced byyyyyyyyy yes yes yes BONE MARROW YO!

And two of the top notch food guys I ADORE approve. Yep

Tony Bourdain approves

As does Zimmern

SEE?!?!?! PROOF! I back up what I say. Not that you guys wouldn’t believe me. *sticks fists up*

And most recently, although most unpure form…

Roasted Garlic Bone Marrow Butter from Mooo…

Here’s another shot of Bone Marrow Butter from my first time at Mooo…

And I’ll leave you with my famously silly NFNS Audition Video when I make my delicious French Onion Short Rib Soup with 3 Cheese Puff Croutons – WHICH WAS SO MUCH more delicious than Breslin’s…. but inspired by Fruition - freaking Breslin trying to steaaaal my steeeeeeeze ;]

It’s Somebody’s Birthday :] – Happy Birthday 白鬼

– Decided to set this to post ON the big day.. hahahaha so just keep in mind that this was written.. a bit beforehand –

It’s T’s birthday on Tuesday but since work is crazy busy for both of us, it’s easier to plan a nice birthday weekend :] The weekend after is Halloween and Papa Ding’s bday [hehe and I'm a daddy's girl so I have to do a nice big celebration for him] blah blah blah blah so on and so forth, I tend to babble a lot – especially when I’m procrastinating – sooooo I took the Bear/White Devil/Monkey aka my 白鬼  ;] to MOOO… :] Nothing like good steak and wine to celebrate a birthday! I haven’t been to MOOO… for awhile.

I’m a spoiler, I love spoiling the people I care about in my life, from friends to family to significant others – I think I’ve been doing a good job – just maybe not so much of a good job in choosing boyfriends.. most of the time :]

We’re excited.. and slightly intoxicated… we’d been drinking since the AM – mimosas, wings and nachos galore while we watched the BC/VTech Football game. – which btw started off yay but ended up waa :[ I blame me taking a shower because BC was totally winning before I hopped in for a quick steammmm....  that or cuz the nachos ended up getting sad and mushy. Blaming things that don't make sense makes things so much better :] See?! Don’t you feel better already BC fans?! It’s all my nachos’ fault! Ok babbling again, back to the FOOD

First a goofy picture…

Finally the time came and we got there just in time!  Valet, walked in and they gave us a great cozy table away from the crowds of people.  As soon as we sat down we got, per my time at reservation request, two glasses of delicious champagne… mmm bubblyyyy!!! Happy Birthday!!!

And then we went on to find a delicious bottle of red.  After perusing the wine menu we decided on just asking the waiter for help.  I love bold juicy not earthy reds and T prefers not too fruity, light Pinots or Merlots.  Waiter, most boss waiter ever, helped us come to a happy medium/balance.

Orin Swift, ‘The Prisoner’, Napa Valley 2009

This wine, The Prisoner, was SO delicious.  We tried two different kinds of wines and while the first, a zin was amazing, this just blew it away. YUM!

Warm buttery cast iron skillet rolls with a ball of melty gooey butter sprinkled with sea salt.

Time to chowwww down!!!

Classic Caesar

We started off with the salad to split and they were sweet enough to split it for us.  Delicious, not too heavy on the dressing, nice and cheesy and crunchy croutons and super fresh romaine. Chew chew crunch crunch – loves!

Next up was steak tartare, we were caught between this or the carpaccio… T isn’t a huge seafood eater so those were two obvious choices.  He’s not a big raw food guy either and we were trying to figure out what he had had before…. I’m thinking it was carpaccio he wasn’t sure if it was tartare – at first – or not. So we went for the tartare – WHICH I’m glad we did cuz looking back at my last post on Mooo… I wasn’t a fan of the blue cheese and cherries on the carpaccio here. Score!

Steak Tartare

He liked it, he liked it – and I loved it.. chunky.. not overly seasoned or goopy.. the pita chips that it came with were grilled, perfect thickness for crunch and chew.. not too crunchy and not spongey or chewy or rubber :]  There were huge capers and gherkins on top and it was delicious… super super fresh beef – obviously, it’s a steakhouse, and it was a great dish!!!.. I’ve had a lot of steak tartares but this was definitely a yummy one.

For our main courses.. we both got the 12 oz Filet.  I got mine rare and he got his medium rare. Delicious. Tender.

Filet Mignon with Roasted Garlic/Bone Marrow Butter

Side Special of the Day: Oyster Mushrooms

T isn’t that into mushrooms and I couldn’t get him drunk enough to try them. They were soooo good tho.  Great texture, a bit crunchy and browned on the edges, thick and hearty  - amazing meaty flavor.. like a really thin portobello.. shaped in a fan.. MMMM, sooo gooood… lightly seasoned so the mushroom flavor came thru

Other Sides: Mooo Mac & Cheese, Creamed Spinach, & Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes

Delicious delicious delicious. When we ordered everything the waiter said it was a lot of food. To which I replied, I eat a lot. T confirmed and our waiter said he wished his wife was like that.  Everything was delicious. I’m not even a huge creamed spinach fan but this was perfectly proportioned - cream to spinach ratio – not overly done, not too wilted, but just enough to be yummy and still retain a slight fresh chew to the spinach - not mush – I’m def not a mush fan.

Yeah, I rule hahahaha #fattiesrule

Chocolate Stout Cake

Dark Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Sauce, Vanilla Ice Cream

It was funny cuz while T was in the bathroom I told the waiter that whether or not we ordered a dessert, to bring out a chocolate cake with Happy Birthday on it.. BUUUUTTTTT… T wanted the chocolate cake anyways so win win :] This cake was SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!! Chocolatey, rich and not too sweet. Even better with the ice cream in the nice crunchy chocolate shell NOM NOM NOM!

Marshmallow Chocolate Bon Bons, delish!

And then with a few more glasses of champagne with our dessert, it was gift opening time.

BUBBBBBBBBBBBLES

Me: What do you want for your bday?
Him: A really big mug!

And guess what I found:

Pug Life shirt :]  How Vinny #JerseyShore

And a Wine Monkey :]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 白鬼

The amazing Tomato Pie from Anguilla

Early last year for my annual “Faux” Spring Break, I was in Anguilla… one of the best vacations of my life. There I had some of the most delicious food of my life – and than some….. AND THEN some not so good ones…

And then there was the Tomato Pie from Straw Hat
Warm Tomato Pie
Flaky pastry and mozzarella, over mixed field greens and balsamic reduction

R and I were gonna get something else…. but I couldn’t stop thinking abotu this Tomato Pie and changed the order last minute. It’s kinda like a take one a pasty from Neopets. I swear. – I’m so obsessed with Neopets -

Yep.. I wish I lived in Neopets world to eat their food…

ANYWAYS. Tomato Pie had a light flakey amazing crust on the outside.. freaking phyllo dough like… and delicious cheeeeeeeeeeeesy tomato – yes fresh sliced tomatoes – filling…. and a beautiful drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette…  SOOOO amazing and SOOOOOOO mind-blowing and just… melted in mouth.. into my tummy, sunk into my body and butter-ly melted into my soul… TOTALLY tattooed into me and imprinted in my mind. The smell, the taste, the textures.. crisp outer crust, thin and flakey and buttery and a creamy heavenly innard.

I. Want.

Too bad I hate the mosquitoes overload there in Anguila. Someone please tell my T Bear that we should tropical vacay getaway together  AY. ESS. AY. PEE :]

SHO Shaun Hergatt

Sidenote: I’m publishing this cuz for some reason I never finished it.  I can’t really talk descriptively about it but you have pictures to drool over :]  I came here in… Nov ’10 :P So yea… memory is not completely there hehe…..

I was first introduced to Shaun Hergatt’s food at NYT Taste 2010….

After that, how could you NOT want to eat at his restaurant? So off to SHO Shaun Hergatt I went….

We got there a little late but still had to wait a bit…. the lounge looked completely empty… me and dinner date were like wtf?!… but once we walked in, we realized that was just the lounge and the restaurant was PACKED!!!

Amuse Bouche

Curried Lentil Soup

Fishers Island Oysters

Santa Barbara Sea Urchin, Amaebi, Passion Fruit

Double Duck Consomme

Crystal Valley Ballotine, Black Trumpet

I was so excited for it but it was way too salty for me.

Slow Poached Farm Egg

Kaviari Caviar, Cauliflower Puree

OMG GOLD :] And you can never go wrong with lovely poached gooey sexy eggs and caviar <3

Lobster Ala “Troise”

Scallop, Celery Root Parcel, Corn

Oh foam :]

Char Siu Pork Belly

Scalliion Puree, Prawn filled Shiitake, Cracked Soba [see below]

Cracked Soba

It was like a nice risotto :] I was obsessed with this, and probably my favorite thing of the night.

24 Carrots Farm Rabbit Loin

Carrot, Cardamom, Picholine Olive Sauce

And then it was onto the Desserts….

Chocolate Cake

Bananas Foster

Strawberry Shortcake

I also got a to-go box of one of each of their cookies/macarons/truffles sweets cart :]

Beer for Breakfast

So the other day…

“Did you just have beer for breakfast?” – Dad

 

Yep! Banana Bread beer!

Currently writing a post on my three favorite beers…

And my three favorite beers areeeeee… amongst many many that I love…

Goose Island Sofie

Banana Bread Beer

and the best of the best, Estrella Damm Inedit

More later. Back to work for me.

Brio Tuscan Grille after a trip the US Air Force Museum

I wanted to come here, Brio Tuscan Grille, at the Greene – one of the “hangouts” in the area – for brunch on Sunday but we ended up coming here for dinner after the Air Force Museum instead… [post on that shall be up later, maybe - yes I'm gonna possibly start making more than just food posts BUT I posted some pics at the end of this entry in case I don't.. lol]

I started off with a glass of delicious Chardonnay, White Oak
This Chardonnay, from the most beautiful vineyard valley in Sonoma, displays bright honey and apple flavors, and has a rich butter and oak finish. Perfect with seafood or roasted chicken dishes.

First glass of the day…

Delicious rosemary crisps and rosemary bread – still warm <3

Mommy couldn’t take her eyes away fromt he bread.. smelled SOOOO good too.. and oooooozed of yummy bready carb-y warmth.

Calamari Fritto Misto

Fried to a crisp golden brown with peperoncini

I had a bad cut inside my mouth so was staying away from fried foods til it got better but that didn’t stop me from popping a few tentacles and hot peppers in my mouth :] Wish they didn’t put the sauce straight onto the plate – some calamari was buried underneath the tartare sauce which we all don’t really like which made it soggy – sad :[ But it was eaten anyway. Mommy didn't wanna waste - no really she said that hahahah....

Speaking of cut in mouth my daddy told me the whole weekend that the wine/booze will kill the germs hahahahah - silly

Beef Carpaccio

Served with field greens, capers, mustard aioli and Parmigiano Reggiano

This plate with half the size of MEEEEE!!!!

This was amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing.  I've never had this much beef carpaccio all at once - ever!  Even daddy loved it and he's NOT a raw anything eater. Mom liked it too.. and usually this stuff freaks her out... she will barely try steak tartare - which ya'll also know I love - speaking of which I need to make a steak tartare food memory page asap - possibly tonight. Back to the main point. Um. Derricious?

The salad was so refreshing and was SO good with the beef.  The vinaigrette was on the sweet side so the aioli and all on top of the carpaccio evened it out - as did the crunchy crisps which tasted like pizza. MMM cheesy.

Brio Chopped Salad

Chopped greens with tomatoes, olives, onions, cucumber, Feta and red wine vinaigrette

For a little extra I got to tack this onto my dinner.. I'm a veggie whore and need as much as possible and I've been having a love affair recently with feta cheese.. so anything with feta needs to get in my belly, now!

And then came our real meals.... omg is that a giant knife in my chicken?

Daddy's Tuscan Grilled Pork Chops

Center-cut, marinated in-house and seared on the grill, with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables

Daddy licked his plate clean, super succulent pork chops - except for giving mommy the bones to gnaw on.. me and mommy and big bone gnawers - if you haven't figured that out yet yourself.  Obviously she wouldn't let me post a picture of her gnawing.. just taking a pic of her gnawing she'd probably strangle me and I wouldn't be here right now, alive, typing this up :] True story.

Mommy’s Chicken Under the Brick

With vegetables, mashed potatoes and mushroom Marsala sauce

Mommy loved it!!! She couldn’t stop nibbling on daddy’s pork chop bones tho… and from all the fried calamari she only ate a bit of this and brought the rest home.

And yes… anticipation builds…

My Whole Roasted Chicken

Lemon pepper marinade with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables

RAWR!!!

The chicken was sooooo tender and juicy. The whole thing – I couldn’t stop eating it.  The skin was delicate, crisp and perfectly roasted – the veggies are amazing, tender and cooked to perfection and a wonderful creamy flavorful potato mash!!!!  I ate like 3/4 of the chicken lol :] YUM

Then it was dessert time!!!

Raspberry Panna Cotta

The raspberry mousse on top of the delicious creamy panna cotta had this nice raspberry cheesecake type quality – there was also chunks of cookie or something in it – AMAZING, I’m SO addicted.  I like how this was part of the “dolchino” collection, all cups of desserts, SO CUTE.

Caramel Creme Brulee
A little on the sweet side and the caramel made most of the brulee not crunchy – sad – but still soooooooo good!!!

From the Museum :]

Cuz daddy loves me, and I love him!

But here’s a few pics from the museum just in case I get lazy and don’t…

China Cottage – delicious Fish in Ohio

Who would’ve thunk that I’d go to Ohio for good Chinese food? I thought it was hilarious but parents convinced me it would be good… They told me that their Chilean was a huuuuuuuuuuge half fish fillet not just some ghetto tiny little thing, and OH EM GEE, it was huge and amazing. Fudge you for not being sustainable, but Chilean Sea Bass is freaking good. China Cottage [Springboro].. I will be there for Chinese food forever everytime I’m in Ohio.

There’s a couple of them thru-out the area but apparently this is the only one with the Sea Bass and the best food!  We got there a little on the late side so they were out of their fresh veggies except for one.. which we’ll get to in a sec…

 China Cottage in Springboro, OH

I love how it looks like a little Euro type house

It’s like a little Didi

Mai Tai..

I wish I could take the cup home with me….. I thought it was too sweet and weak sauce but I was feeling tropical and asian drink-ish.. mom thought it was pretty hardcore tho.

The Mai Tai is an alcoholic cocktail based on rum, Curaçao liqueur, and lime juice, associated with “Polynesian-style” settings. [Source]

Fruity sweet asian booze drinks are no fun without my Scorpion Bowl partner in crime :[ Miss you.

醉 雞 Rummy Chicken
Never heard it being called "Rummy Chicken" I usually see it as Drunk or Drunken Chicken - soooo good, simple and traditional.  It's just plain steamed chicken marinated in wine - sooo good. And served chilled- usually as an appetizer.  It's usually a little goopy with a jelly like substance from the chicken juice and the booze. MMMMM...

My mom actually knows how to make a quick version of this when you need extra dishes on the fly so I'll try to steal it from her and re-make it and blog about it for you guys!!! I need more cooking posts - and asian ones :]

凉 拌 海 蜇 Jelly Fish
I adore jelly fish but apparently it’s not that easy to make.. well not good at least.  I’ll try to experiment with this as well and post it.  Remember when I finally got my Bear to try it? :]  This was so good cuz it had a great light vinegar-y sauce.. but like I said super light. Sometimes the sauce can be overpowering or the jellyfish is too mushy.  This was nice and crunchy and crisp almost.  A crunchy gelatin like consistency. YUM.  Demolished this SO fast.  Even my mom, who’s not  a huge jellyfish eater ate like half the dish.

芥蘭 Gai-Lan aka Chinese Broccoli

We ordered two differents kinds of sauteed garlicky veggies but since it was late they only had this left.  I almost got another plate but decided to be a good girl on my first night :]  I’d already been eating and eating all day and drinking… [and ended up drinking more after dinner]

White and Brown Rice…

Steamed Chilean Sea Bass with Scallions and Ginger
Delicious, HUUUUUGE piece it was like the size of my giant watermelon head.. SOOOO tender and cooked to perfection.  TONS of delicious ginger and scallions, thinly sliced… and fresh cilantro – I love making this myself but I never put cilantro on it. I should.  I’ll cook and put up my version of my Chilean Sea Bass with Ginger/Scallion soon, promise. My parents love it when I make it for them :]

烤 鴨 (半隻) Roasted Duck (Half)
I think we got the crispy… or maybe it was the roast.. either way the skin was crisp and the meat was juicy… it came with raw scallions and more cilantro <3 My fav.  Pretty sure it was roast duck.. I’ve had gross double fried “crispy duck” in NYC before *gag* bad takeout chinese.   This was the only thing we didn’t finish out of all our dishes :]

FORTUNE COOKIES!!!!!!

“Versatility is one of your outstanding traits”

Thanks but no thanks. I like silly future ones better… oh wait, just add “….in bed” and every fortune in a cookie gets better :]

Now I look and feel like this guy:

*rubs belly*

Afterwards we did some grocery shopping.. walked off the booze… 
I was lazy and wanted to sit in the car, it was easier squishing in than getting out of it. *cramp* ouch.

Saw a huge 25lb bag of carrots

Went home [late] and popped in a scary movie and opened a delicious bottle of wine .  I’m obsessed with this wine since Ohio, I had at least a bottle a night. Woot! #Wino.

Martin’s Rake Pinot Noir

Vino Volo: DC Dullas Airport Wine Bar

On my way to Dayton I stopped by the DC airport for a 3 hr layover… so I immediately went to Vino Volo.  The past few times I’ve been there I’m there for a few hours before heading to Japan and Taiwan.. so I know the Terminal C & D pretty well.. Vino Volo it is!

It was a bit far from our gate but I needed to walk around and we had over 2 overs of layover – which ended up being 3 since there was a delay.

I was having a dilemma on tastings to choose from – I was in the mood for variety – I was gonna go for a spanish one but the Washington one was recommended so I thought, WHY NOT!!! It was DELICIOUS

These were all rich, bold, juicy and delicious!!!

Artisan Cured Meats

A selection of artisan meats: Coppa, Prosciutto and Salami with whole-grain mustard and country bread

These were yummy.. as expected.. loved the salami the most. For some strange reason I love salami I get outside of what I buy. Everytime I buy it I’m like MEH but when I get it on the meats plate I LOVE IT. SIGH*

Smoked Salmon Rolls

“Their” Signature dish… Smoked Salmon served with succulent crabmeat and crispy crostini

Thees were delicious.  I love smoked salmon.  The meaty crab mayo-based “salad” below the salmon added so much creaminess and even more richness to the crunch of the crostini.. PLUS they gave you HUUUUUUUUGE caperberries NOM! My fav.. salty salty pop in your mouth <3

Broccoli Mushroom PastryStuffed pastry parcels with Broccoli, Wild Mushrooms, Ricotta and Parmesan Cheese

These were flakey, hot and amazing.  As “healthy” as they seem, they’re delectably “bad” for you :] MMMMM…  Light fluffy but oh so satisfying

I also got a cheese plate which had blue cheese, manchego and another stinkier cheese.. creamy..

All recommended :]

Boston Beer Works at Logan…

I always end up at Boston Beer Works when I’m at the Logan for awhile.. the last time was nacho heaven with Katy before my Vegas Birthday trip.  This time I was on my way to Dayton, Ohio.  I adore their eats and they have good booze.. obviously.

On the way to the airport

Bye bye my baby..

I need a beer, or two.. our neighbors were total DICKS TOO

They hogged THREE tables and got mad when I asked for the corner table… I’ll be nice and not post the picture I took of them up.. maybe…

Tired… I woke up at 530am…

Pumpkin Ale & Blueberry Beer

I wasn’t too into the pumpkin ale, a bit too hoppy and bitter for me for pumpkin beers but I always love their blueberry :] Nom nom nom chewy blueberries

Mommy’s Fish & Chips

Fresh Haddock, Lightly Coated & Fried, Served with Hand cut fries, Coleslaw & Sunshine Aioli

Super flakey tender haddock with nice thick cut fries… wish they were crispier but mommy LOVED the coleslaw :]  Didn’t really eat the sunshine aioli but I love love LOVE the name of it.

My yummy but boring Mixed Green with Grilled Chicken
Tons of black pepper and tabasco <3 Just the way I love it…. I can’t help it.. tabasco is better than regular dressing…

Nice full and a little tipsy after chugging most of the beer – mommy only had a few sips…. –  I was finally on the plane to DC – only to drink more.. that’s my next post.. at Vino Volo