No Recipes – Techniques, inspiration and cooking tips from my Japanese kitchen

Carrot Tuna and Avocado Salad

If you’re anything like me you probably partied a little too hard over the holidays and the are well into a New Year diet regimen. Here’s a tasty, filling salad that’s full of protein, fiber and vitamins that should tide you over until your next meal without adding inches to your waistline. Read the recipe [...]

continue →

Mapo Tofu (Mabo Doufu)

28 comments

Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably get a different story about the origins of Mapo Tofu, but the commonly accepted myth is that this dish was created by a pock-faced old woman. She was cast out of the Sichuan capital of Chengdu due to her disfigurement. One day, a weary trader happened upon her [...]

continue →

Red Wine Braised Ham

7 comments

I’m not usually a huge fan of ham, but braised in red wine, honey and caramelized onions it’s a delicious way to feed a lot of people with very little effort. I made this for a holiday party last week and it was a huge hit. Head over to PBS for the post.

continue →

Shrimp Toast

34 comments

Originally a Chinese appetizer called Hatosi (蝦多士) or shrimp toast, this is a simplified version that makes for a great party canapé. Aside from a little cutting and spreading, they’re simple to prepare and are a tasty finger food that goes well with beer, wine or champagne Each toast has a layer of crisp sandwich [...]

continue →

Segedínský Guláš (Pork & Sauerkraut Goulash)

11 comments

It was February and I was only in Prague for a few days, so I’d spent the day freezing my butt off wandering around the old city taking in the sights. My ears ached with cold, my legs were wobbly with exhaustion and in a rare moment for me, fatigue reigned over hunger and I [...]

continue →

Taro Gnocchi with Gruyere Cream

15 comments

I love gnocchi. Not quite a dumpling, not quite a pasta it defies categorization and is made in about as many ways as there are people who cook it. Unfortunately, it’s one of those Italian dishes (like Tiramisu) that skyrocketed to fame in posh American restaurants during the 1990′s and has been so overdone (and [...]

continue →

Ristorante Da Valentino

0 comments

We’d just gotten through an 8 course seafood dinner that included a whole chicken and whole crab when my friend Russel declared “I’m gonna take you to meet my Italian family man!” To understand the irony of this statement you should know that Russel, is literally a rockstar photographer who’s shot the likes of Michael [...]

continue →

Outram Ya Hua

2 comments

I’m back from Singapore, and let me tell you: if you like to eat, there are few places in the world where so many culinary cultures come together so seamlessly. It’s a true melding pot where the only clashes you’ll see are between two foodies squabbling over who makes the best chicken rice. Bak Kut [...]

continue →