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Twice Cooked Pork (Huí Guō Ròu)

It’s Cinco de Mayo and you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing a Chinese dish with you on this day that General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín led a ragtag band of Mexicans to victory against a French force double it’s size. Well, I don’t have a good excuse, but I can tell you that this Huí Guō [...]

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Tuna Tartare with Yuzu Gelée

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This tuna tartare is easy to make and makes for an impressive first course for a dinner party. With a flavorful layer of tuna marinated in olive oil, soy sauce and chives, a layer of creamy avocado, and a magical gelée made with with yuzu infused dashi, it’s as visually stunning as it is orally [...]

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Kimchi

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While most people picture a vermilion hue and fiery heat when the word “kimchi” is thrown out, did you know that kimchi used to be “white” before chili peppers were introduced to Asia from the New World by the Portuguese in the 1600th century? Making kimchi was historically a way for people to preserve vegetables [...]

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Smoked Pistachio Rack of Lamb

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This is by far the best lamb that I’ve ever had, and it might very well be one of my favorite meat preparations of all time. It’s hard to put into words what it’s like taking a bite into one of these juicy lamb chops, but it’s a profoundly pleasurable experience in the same category [...]

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Miso Glazed Cod

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Popularized by Nobu Matsuhisa in his eponymous restaurant, Black Cod with Miso has become an instant classic associated with Japanese food. The irony is that black cod (or more accurately Sablefish), is not native to the waters around Japan and is imported from the US and Canada. In Japanese cuisine, “gindara” (銀鱈) or silver cod, [...]

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Shrimp Shumai

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Shumai are a type of Chinese dumpling often associated with Cantonese cuisine. While many in the West have become familiar with it through dim sum (yum cha), it actually exists in many forms throughout China (and the rest of Asia). Steamed or pan fried, partially or fully enveloped in dough, filled with everything from pork [...]

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Savory Zucchini Bread

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The first time I ever had zucchini bread as I child, it kind of blew my mind. “Wow, you mean you can turn a vegetable into dessert?!” I said. A few dozen years later, remixing notions of what ingredients go together is my favorite way to create new dishes. This week’s clearance basket from my [...]

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Lemongrass Ginger Syrup

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Ginger is one of those spices that you generally don’t need a lot of, but it’s hard to buy just a small piece. That’s why I like buy it in bulk and preserve it. I’ve talked before about preserving ginger in vodka, but juicing it and creating a syrup is another great way to make [...]

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