Life In Da Burbs

NY TIMES : French Cuisine, Exalted by Chefs as a World Heritage Treasure (Warning : Long Post) THEIR battlefield is filled, they know, with hidden land mines and cunning enemies. Owen Franken for The New York Times BOOSTER Guy Savoy wants to preserve culinary traditions. So around a half-dozen French chefs and culinary experts from the ad hoc "French Mission for Food Heritage and Cultures" are preparing for war with weapons they know best. They ate and drank their way through a three-hour strategy session recently to help their country face the daunting task before it: to persuade the United Nations to declare French gastronomy a world treasure. The designation gives a global imprimatur — and global promotion and protection — to the finest cultural expressions around the world. So by the time the roasted figs, the wine-macerated prunes, the chocolate mousse and the Earl Grey sorbet arrived in the private dining room of Guy Savoy , a chef with three Michelin stars, ...

A must go place. Perfect for those late nights when you are stumbling home and need that comfort food to soak up the copious amounts of alcohol you just injested. St. Marks btw 1st and Ave A Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Portuguese Ale Monde de Selection Gold Very light with light hints of chocolate with a light coffee finish. Very light. Not a great beer by any means. Not impressive at all. Decent lacing. Light tannish head. Quickly dissapearing. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Pan seared steak. I trussed it for the first time looking to see if there was a difference. I think there was. Obviously better shape but it seemed more juicy to me. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

It is currently 11:58pm Wednesday the 23rd. Just wolfed down a cheesesteak from Kounty Kart Deli on Main St. It was pretty f'n good. No joke. Top 3 all time. The beef was flavorful and stuck to the cheese very well. The bread had this day old flavor to it that some how made the beef and melted cheese taste that much better. Solid food! What a way to end the night. As for Burlington... Everyone here is very friendly, and the majority of the population are girls. 5 to 2 ratio it seems. The locals tell me this place is nicknamed "Girlington". The local karaoke scene is pretty intense as well. People were belting out good 'ol rock tunes like Billy Idol, Black Sabbath, and even our beloved BonJovi. And doing it well. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

What's wrong with me? I actually wanted a salad for lunch. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Stopped by for lunch today at VTP&B. After studying the menu, I had to order the Cask Ale of the day. Creamy Stout with tones of licorice and tobacco. Nice light brown head with no detectable carbonation. Strong bitter hops (a definite sign of a ton of dry hopping) characteristics with minimal dark malt flavors. 15 second finish on the back of the tongue. Thanks Devin for the recommendation! Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Stopped by at Asiana House with a collegue and ordered some not so traditional rolls. I have to say, rolls in VT totally rock. Very very flavorful and creative. Nothing like I've ever had in Manhattan. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

2 hungarian style brats on a hot dog roll, german stone ground mustard, and a boylan's ginger ale. New Jersey aint so bad. The hungarian style brats from blackbear has fantastic snap. Although not made with the healthiest of ingredients, the snap is like no other. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

My favorite beer right now. Complexity with standout character. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Joe's Pizza (located on Bleecker and 6th Ave) is a must have in terms of the New York experience. Nothing flashy about their "slice". It lies on a foundation of thin and crispy dough with good plain tomato sauce and low moisture cheese. And at $2.50 a slice, you can't beat that. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

IMG_9577 Originally uploaded by gkao007 Barracuda wrapped in Bacon. Fillets of Mahi Mahi with Leeks and Butter.

You saw it here first! A quick answer to their neighbor Momofuku Noodle and Momofuku Ssam. Ippudo's pork belly is spicy and half the size of their counterpart's. Topped with lettuce and kewpie mayonnaise, this isn't bad, but doesn't compare to Mr. Chang's signature dish. 2 pieces for 8 bucks. Stick to their Akamaru Ramen and enjoy the homemade noodles broth. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Scallop Salad Originally uploaded by gkao007 Pan Seared Scallops with sauteed shiitake mushrooms and crisped ventreche.

IMG_9277 Originally uploaded by gkao007 New pasta dish I made the other night. J seemed to like it. Shrimp, Mushrooms and Soba Flour Pasta. Seasoned with Shiro Shibori Soy Sauce

Just chilling up on my deck with some brats, chips and beer. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

A quick lunch today. Had to make an emergency run to the city and quickly booked out of there. I drove by a Boston Market and pulled in. I hadn't had BM since high school, when it was still called Boston Chicken. The only problem I have with them is that I know my money is going to Teresa Heintz and that really pisses me off. There's something seriously wrong with that woman. Talk about marrying well. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

No shirt stain after this Chili Dog! Many times, when I'm on the run and have no more than 15 minutes between appointments, I look for a Gray's Papaya (or of the like) and scarf down the "recession special". That's just one more perk in urban (NYC) life, really good hot dogs in every district of the city. Well the other day, I was back in the burbs, and I stopped by a local family owned grocery store(Delicious Orchards-in Colts Neck, NJ) and found that they serve chili dogs on the outside patio. The picture above is an all beef frank with pretty decent chili spooned on top. The bun was perfectly split open and cradled the dog and chili, giving way to minimal spillage. I couldn't believe it. It was a clean eating experience. Something you never see when you balance your two dogs and papaya juice at Gray's all while standing up. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

and maybe Dubai, Hong Kong, Macau, Saudi Arabia, and maybe even Kuwait.... OK, so there's a lot people out there with way too much money in their pockets... but seriously guys... can't you think of better ways to piss your money away? Like maybe donate to a Hospital, Library, Medical Research, etc.... Anywho... here's the latest in dumb purchases... CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Two sisters from Virginia sold their Illinois-shaped cornflake on eBay Friday night for $1,350. Two sisters from Virginia sold this cornflake for $1,350 on eBay. "We were biting our nails all the way up to the finish, seeing what would happen," said Melissa McIntire, 23. "There's a lot of relief involved...

I wish I could revoke people's licenses everytime I am served bad food. The anger travels through my veins like a bolt of lightning. This is a pic of the roast beef sandwich at cosi on 3rd ave between 43 and 42nd. The bread is more like a cracker, and the so called wasabi sauce is really a horseradish glaze garnished with "gari" the sweet and sour ginger served at sushi joints. I don't know what those guys are doing in the test kitchens.... But this was not delicious by any means. My advice is "don't go if you have a choice"! The sandwich is sooooo not worth the 8 bucks they charge. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

As many of you already know, the former Governor of NY was busted by the Feds in a sting operation involving high priced prostitutes. It just so happens "kristen" as she is known in the trade resides just right next to my manhattan office. These pics are taken on my BB at noon today. The media clearly loves a good busted politician story. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

***long post alert*** (AP) -- A vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows. Officials in Philadelphia say testing there discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water. To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe. But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen ...

I proposed to my wife on March 3rd 2004 in Tokyo, Japan. That night it snowed and we woke up the next morning with a fresh blanket of snow covering all of Tokyo. It was quite romantic and naturally very memorable. Last night, I wanted to do something special so I got home early and started to cook to celebrate our anniversary. There seems to be a gazillion anniversaries us guys have to remember... Pumpkin Soup served with some vegetables Steamed / Roasted Pork Ribs with Cabbage Salad Spaghetti with Creamy Crab Sauce

Took the wife to momofuku today. Her first time. We got to say hi to David Chang (which made me look real cool in front of my wife) as he was hoping back and forth from Ko and Noodle Bar. Tons of business: even at 4pm, the place was packed. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Met up C today before she leaves for Vancouver, British Columbia. Decent food but pretty expensive. So much for the days of cheap chinese food in Chinatown. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Lan never disappoints... Nuf said. I was there the other day thinking I had tried everything on the menu. But just as I was paroozing the menus, my eyes caught the duck breast entree hiding on the second page. Something I have never had there. I ordered it and ate it up immediately. It was perfectly cooked and went well with the bowl of white rice. Kinda like something you would expect at the top of a Japanese department store. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I've been here a few times in the past year.  Each time, on more of a whim and technically a post-dinner bite to eat. Many of my friends and customers love it, so I thought I'd bring my parents (who are visiting for a week) here for dinner last night. The tasting menu was fantastic and I highly recommend it.  Plenty of dishes and pleasant hospitality.  It was right under 100 bucks a head last night (with drinks, tax and tip).  Tasting Menu per 2 people : Fried Tofu julienned with Kinpira Poached Turned Yams (taro) with Savory Sauce Mushrooms in a Sweat & Sour Broth Sashimi Platter - Chu Toro, Kanpachi, Shima Aji * Tempura - Shrimp, Honshimeji Mushrooms, Shiso Leaf, Yams * Fried Cod and Crab Meatballs * Yuba (Soy Bean Curd) Sashimi Broiled Kyoto Style Wheat Cakes Sauteed Cubes of Filet Mignon Black Cod Miso ** Dashi infused Egg Omelette Oysters in Miso Grilled over a Hoba Leaf * Inaniwa Udon with Dipping Sauce Salmon and Salmon Roe on top of Bed of...

This was my breakfast today. My very first homemade waffle. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

It is so cold here. At dinner, there was a lady who came in and sat down, pulled out her shoes from her bag and took off her winter snow boots and switched for dinner. (At the table). Guesstimate : 9 degrees (-17 w/windchill) Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Stopped by to get a little lunch on the way to Burlington Vermont. The picture is Gus's Red Hot special. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I decided to make a classic (home cooking) dish tonight. Niku Jaga. Literally translated, Meat and Potatoes. Here are some of the basic ingredients. Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, Mushrooms and Beef. In addition, I add Harusame (rice noodles) to the finished pot.

I recently got back from a 10 day trip to Italy with the wife. There is much to write about for sure... but as a public service announcement to all citizens of the modern and competent world... PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING. If you are in Italy, need to travel, and on a timeline, DO NOT take the Italian Railways... They have no concept of keeping to a schedule... and I would not be surprised if they still use a sundial. Taking the train (Generalization but true...) The Italians are notorious for not being punctual. And the public transportation system in Italy is no exception. In their defense, they do post a time table at the stations... but to borrow a line from Captain Jack Sparrow, "it's more of a guideline." Taking the train in Italy is for some, a stressful endeavor. I for one am not a fan. Being raised in Japan, my standards are high. It's a country based on extreme meticulousness, where 3 minute train delays during the early morning commute make headline news. E...

I don't think I'm cracking any code here... but it seems to me, dynamic Italian food is heavily reliant on the 6th taste sense called Umami. "Umami" was isolated and scientifically discovered around a hundred years ago by a Japanese Scientist, but has been a huge element in Japanese cooking for centuries. I recently stumbled upon these culinary similarities when playing around with Parmesan Reggiano, and Prosciutto di Parma. These two Italian ingredients impart strong Umami into dishes they compliment. Used primarily as an agent of salt, there was something more to the obvious. Parmesan Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma not only lent seasoning but also a resonating flavor-component echoing on the roof of my mouth. A full flavored effect that magnifies excitement to the palate. This, no doubt was Umami. I am going to Italy this Friday for the first time, and will report accordingly on my hypothesis.

Ever since our friend D'Artagnan served this at one of our potlucks, I've become a huge fan. Roasted veggies (Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomatoes) arranged in beautiful layers with carmelized onions anchoring the bottom holding things in place. And then there was the Pixar movie "Ratatouille," where Remy insists on serving Anton Ego the classic ratatouille dish with a Bayaldi twist. This just reignited my desire to make a batch this holiday season. Bayaldi is beautiful, easy to make and amazingly delicious. Here are some pics I took while preparing this dish for J.