Amy's Kitchen

My friend Amy can cook.  She makes amazing meals and my favorite thing to hear in the world is "when can you come over?  I want to cook for you."  She is so passionate about food and I love hearing her talk about food.  I love going to the restaurants that she adores because I know it is the real deal.  Here is her fabulous blog with some awesome recipes!  Below are some pictures from a recent dinner she hosted.

Summer Salads

Salmon Nicoise Salad - Nordstrom Cafe

Greek Salad - Panera Bread

I love salad in the summer time.  It's so refreshing that it's no wonder that it's exactly what we crave to combat the summer heat.  I've had my share of great salads this summer and posted my favorite ones.

Solo Sushi

My mother-in-law relieves me once a week and practically kicks me out of the house for the day.  It is such a nice break.  I get to eat my meal in at my pace and actually taste my food.  I love being a mommy, but especially love it when Jayden is being well taken care of while I get a break!

Lychee Martini

The Lychee Martini from Wild Ginger - Bellevue.  It was just as strong as I remembered it to be, from the last one I had a couple years ago.  I was so happy to be in the right place, at the right time, to be able to fulfill a long awaited craving.  The Wild Ginger at the Bravern is a really good place to eat (albeit pricey) - the food is always consistent every time I go and the service is amazing.

Happily, a martini glass and a baby bottle is not mutually exclusive.  We were there for lunch and of course, I could only have one, but I was still a very happy camper.

Roast Duck

I love roast duck, I think even more than roast pork.  A friend had suggested red wine to go with it and although I have yet to put that together, I know that it will be a fantastic pairing.  I was recently in Chinatown and in a hurry for dinner.  I was lucky enough to be able to scarf down 1/4 of a roast duck and it was such a treat. 

Labor of Love

One of the age old traditions of the Chinese rite of passage for women who give birth - ginger vinegar.  My parents asked around to get the best recipe and they started a month in advance to marinate the ginger in the vinegar.  For the most part, Chinese folk like ginger vinegar, but it really is an acquired taste.  I was absolutely looking forward to this part of the childbirth process - to get to eat as much ginger vinegar as I wanted.
My parents spent many hours peeling pounds and pounds ginger, cleaning pigs feet meticulously, and simmering everything together with the vinegar.

 I've savored every bite, but now, I don't think I can take another bite!

Dark Chocolate Nutty Bits

These are so good.  A friend of mine introduced me to these and I'm hooked.  There's a good bit of nuts -- almonds, pumpkin seeds, etc so you really feel like you are getting your daily amount of nuts in, while you are enjoying the dark chocolate.

the fortune cookie

"You have an important new business development shaping up"

I ate half of a fortune cookie.  As in, I ate half of the cookie, along with bits of the fortune paper.  Sigh, it's what happens when you are preggers and as usual, hungry for a snack, and it's late at night and dark in the car.  But speaking of fortunes, it got me thinking... why is it that sometimes easier to believe in fortunes from fortune cookies than maybe verses from the bible?  Here's one of my favorite verses:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the

LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future."

This verse sounds much more promising than any fortune from a fortune cookie.  Zodiac signs align with fortunes and destinies as well.  Chinese New Year is celebrated on Jan 23rd this year.  According to this site, along with my aunty who is very knowledgeable about these things,the annual zodiac signs shift not after Chinese New Year, but actually after Feb 4th of each year.  That means that if our baby comes before Feb 4, his sign will not be that of the Dragon, but that of the Rabbit.  We are due Feb 10, so there's a chance he could be either.  There's a part of me that really wants him to be a Dragon.  Why do I even care?  Is it because I'm Chinese?  Is it because the Dragon sign is considered to be lucky?

What I have realized is I'll be happy no matter what day he will be born on.  I'm sure it will be one of the happiest moments in my life.  I only pray that our baby be healthy and strong.  I pray that we can be the parents that we want to be, so that we can raise a child who grows up to be a warm and loving person. That will be the best luck and fortune that we can hope for.

The post-pregger list

The thing that keeps me sane from all the dietary pregger restrictions is to keep a list of the foods I can't wait to eat.  The restrictions that I'm putting myself on is related to chinese philosphies as well as current modern philosophies of prenatal care, albeit on the conservative side.  I love looking at this list occasionally- the anticipation increases the enjoyment, right?

roast duck/squab
fried gizzards
hot pot
good sushi
tiramisu
ceasar salad
red wine
white wine
good cappuccino
mimosa
lemon drop
earl grey with grand marnier 
good eggs benedict - portage bay cafe 
salt and pepper crab - flying fish cafe 

Korean BBQ feast

Nothing makes me happier than having a ton of food with varied flavors, textures, and colors sitting on a table, waiting for you to finish your bite so you can start on another!  I could hardly keep my end of the conversation at the table because I was too busy stuffing myself and enjoying every bite.

That is why one of my favorite meals involves a korean BBQ on the table and the myriad of dishes that you get alongside the meat.  The best if it's all you can eat - just make sure you wear something very comfortable (i.e. sweatpants) to dinner - you will be glad you did!  The restaurants that have all you can eat options include Palace BBQ in Bellevue, and Secret Garden in Lynnwood.  I believe there are some good ones in Federal Way as well but that is normally out of my jurisdiction.

Roast Pork

Roast pork....how I love thee....how thee makes my heart sing...  Nothing beats a piece of roast pork, hot from the BBQ shop, where the skin is crispy and you get a perfect layered piece of skin, fat and meat.  It really is to die for.  Most BBQ shops (the busy ones) run out of the good stuff by 6 or 7pm..  So you usually have to pick it up earlier, and the right thing to do once you get home is to pick out the perfect piece and to cram it into your mouth before dinner.  Because eating it with rice dilutes the deliciousness of the pork. 

Here's one thing I learned recently about the pork - if you go to the shop even earlier - say sometime around noon or early afternoon, that is usually when the belly is sold.  Basically, the butcher just cuts down roast pork from top to bottom and the piece that you get depends on the time of day you come in.  The belly piece is one of the best parts of the pig to get roast pork from.  Kau Kau is a shop that only sells belly pieces in general, while BBQ shops like Kings BBQ sells the entire pig.  For some reason (and call me crazy), the belly of the pig from Kings BBQ tastes a little bit better than the one from Kau Kau.

Stone Soup

Veggie soup with rotisserie chicken and pesto

chicken soup

I LOVE soup.  People that know my eating habits know that my love soup runs deep.  I think that it is because of a couple of things.  First off, I grew up in a family where we would get a fresh pot of soup everyday.  My grandpa would start up the soup around 4 in the afternoon and pull out a large container of dried goodies, along with thick slices of meat and/or bones.  He would make his selection for the day and he would dump in a potpourri of things like dried red dates, lotus seeds, etc into the soup pot.  This pot would be simmered until dinner time and we would have a bowl before and after dinner.  The soup was always refreshing and soothing.


Alongside that, noodle soup is a staple in our family.  It is an easy family lunch and we love throwing in leftovers which always makes the soup tastes different.  I've also learned that to make any leftover palatable, just dump in a pot, and throw some soup stock in it.  I've seen different sites suggest doing this with thanksgiving leftovers, and it really does work.  Think mashed potatoes, turkey, veggies all jammed into a pot with some stock - it turned out to be a really yummy soup!

Lastly, I recall a favorite story from the second grade, called "Stone Soup."  It's basically a story about a couple that went into a town.  They didn't have anything to eat and nobody would share with them.  So they added water to their pot and started stirring and claiming how good it was.  They called it Stone Soup and all the villagers wanted to try.  The couple would only allow the villagers to try if they brought an ingredient to put into the soup.  Soon, every villager had something to add to the pot and after tasting the soup with all the ingredients, everyone claimed that it was the best soup that they ever had.  To top that story off, my second grade teacher decided to make Stone Soup for our class.  It is one of my favorite childhood memories and I can still visualize and taste that bowl of soup.  Every student brought in an ingredient and the soup was really the best we've ever tasted!

The fried chicken list

QFC fried chicken...their baked chicken is yummy as well

Nothing makes me happier than a bite into a great piece of fried chicken.  The meat I'm not so interested in, as I'm into the combination of the crispy skin, crunchy bone, with a small piece of tasty meat to round out the bite. 

My love affair with fried chicken began at an early age.  I remember that my favorite part of swim trips to the YMCA was the trip to KFC afterwards.  It was so much fun sharing the family bucket of chicken with my aunty, uncle, cousins, and brother. 

While my love for fried chicken has remained consistent, the places that offer fried chicken have increased dramatically I'm happy to report.  Here's the current list of my fave sources for fried chicken.  Of course, it's all about being lucky enough to catch a fresh batch of fried chicken coming out of the vat of oil.  It really doesn't matter where it comes from at that point.

1.  QFC (Bellevue and Ballard location in particular)
2.  Old Country Buffet
3.  Jollibee (Southcenter mall)
4.  Fred Meyers (Redmond location)
5.  Albertsons
6.  KFC and Ezelle's

Market Spice Tea

This is one of my favorite teas of all time.  I first tried it when they served it in the lobby of a Gene Jaurez I was at, patiently waiting for a pedicure.  I was happy to discover that this tea comes from a tea/spice shop in Pike Place Market, called Market Spice.  It's their signature tea.  I love the cinnamon sweetness - iced is the best way to drink it and I don't need sweetener.  As Joe is trying to cut down on coffee, this is a happy caffeine delivery vehicle for him.

I have found other retailers that sell this tea occasionally, such as Bartell Drugs.  The best experience would be to take a trip to Pike Place Market and enjoy all the fun things at the market while picking up supply of this tea.

Link to Market Spice Tea

French bakeries

Nothing gets me more excited than a french bakery.  I love the buttery smell that envelopes you as you walk in.  I love the colorful and pretty pastries that are on display.  You can't get too greedy with the selection - each item is bound to be enough to satisfy you.  Butter and sugar in its best form - the French really know how to do it.  Thank goodness there is no French Bakery that is conveniently located to me.  Otherwise, I would be done for.

Perfect breakfast at The French Bakery in Bellevue

Napoleon from La Panier at the Pike Place Market

Tea for me

I love my tea and my favorite tea is Earl Grey.  I love it the British way - with cream and sugar- although my pinkie doesn't go up when I hold the cup.  This is at a cute cafe in downtown bellevue and I loved how cozy it felt.  

Seattle Community Church Women's Potluck

Food and fellowship - that's what a church potluck is all about right?  The women at my church know how to throw down for anything that has to do with food.  The spread seems to be endless and you wish you had a couple more stomachs to enjoy all the great food.  The fellowship is just as amazing - gather strong women of faith all around to share stories and insights, and there usually are a few tears (last time the waterworks was me!).

Cocktail buns

My love of cocktail buns started when I was in elementary school.  Every time I take a bite, it takes me back to when I was in the 3rd grade.  My brother and I are at my grandfather's apartment in chinatown, having just come from school.  We are watching cartoons - Woodywood Pecker is on and usually by the time my mom comes home, the Chilly Willy segment starts.  We greet my mom happily and take from her hand, a bag of buns from the bakery - cocktail bun for me and pineapple bun for my brother.  As we finish our snack, my brother and I walk a block to Chong Wah, for 2 hours of chinese school.  To keep up with my brother's long strides, I do a small jog as I finish the last quarter of the cocktail bun.

The owners of Mon Hei have changed over the years and have faced competition from a handful of bakeries that have popped in Chinatown - newer stores, more modern selections.  Still, no one can make the cocktail buns the way I like them.  Mon Hei Bakery's cocktail buns have the best coconut to bread ratio and when you are lucky enough to encounter a fresh and warm batch - nothing can beat it!

Porkie Pig

I try not to think of him when I inhale the following.  I usually don't have a preference to meats, but lately it's been about the pig.  My friends got me hooked on this bacon and once you've tried this, you refused to settle for anything else they call "bacon."  Have you seen such photogenic bacon?  The pieces are thick and the flavor is intense and smoky.   I totally get why Virginia is known for their bacon!    http://virginiatraditions.com/store/main.aspx?DepartmentId=38  

The perfect plate - red velvet cake, drumstick ice cream and bacon.

My dad, the hot pot nazi

He is also an beer nazi, but that we will save that for another post.  My dad has certain ideas of how things should be and nowhere is he more opinionated than when it comes to food.  While we tend to butt heads a lot, I know that the best dishes that he and I make together are when we work together and LISTEN to each other's ideas.  Oh, this isn't a counseling post, so I digress.  :) 

Anyway, to qualify for his title, my dad not only dictates the order of the food that is to be dunked into the hot pot, but get this, he also mixes the dipping sauce for you - yes, that's right folks, he prepares a big batch of his special sauce.  While I take on my usual "I can't believe my dad does this and what happened to individuality" stance, Joe, on the other hand, is a big fan of my dad's philosophy in this area and has become a lieutenant in my dad's one man contingent.

The perfect bite and this is my self made sauce.  :)