Junblog

May 25, 2010

Ube, the Purple Yam: Why Filipinos Love Purple Sweet Treats

I’ve never really noticed it until Dennis cleverly pointed it out: Filipinos love purple sweets. I was actually thrilled when Dennis, a true Midwesterner who insists American desserts are far superior than any other, got a kick out of his first ube cake. It’s very purple, he said excitedly. He had never seen and tasted…

May 19, 2010

Making Your Kitchen Safe for Your Dogs: 12 Common Foods that are Harmful to Dogs

I always kid around saying Stanford is my loyal kitchen helper. How could I not — he cleans up the kitchen floor with such unparalleled speed and precision. As soon as a slice of carrot or a piece of toast lands on the floor, Stanford picks it up within a split second. But kidding aside,…

May 12, 2010

How to Make Coconut Buns (Chinese Cocktail Buns)

Ever since I discovered King’s, the humble hole-in-the-wall Chinese bakery in the heavily Hispanic Mission neighborhood, I cannot stop raving about their coconut buns — soft buns filled with sweet buttery coconut filling that are truly addicting. These buns are actually reminiscent of the coconut buns I grew up with back home — pan de…

May 10, 2010

How to Make Mango Lassi with Cardamom and Honey

I almost had forgotten about the champagne mangoes ripening in a paper bag sitting on my kitchen counter. They were leftovers from my mango-rhubarb pie the other day. After quickly browsing through my pantry supplies, I pulled out a tub of Straus yogurt from the fridge and laid it out on the counter together with my…

May 5, 2010

How to Make Carnitas (Slowly Braised Pork with Bacon)

Nopalito in NoPa is a bit of a trek from the Dogpatch. So whenever we have an unyielding craving for carnitas we make it ourselves with this really simple recipe. It’s really simple but it takes quite a bit of time, after all carnitas is slowly braised pork. We like to use pork loin, a…

May 4, 2010

Nopalito’s Carnitas with Salsa de Tomatillo on Corn Tortillas

It was Winter. Middle of February. The heat of the lamps in the patio felt amazingly good that chilly afternoon. It was our first time at Nopalito. We rarely take the trek to the North of the Panhandle to dine but the rave reviews of Nopalito’s savory carnitas had been begging us to finally check…

May 3, 2010

Mission Pie’s Apple Rhubarb with a Dollop of Whipped Cream

The first time I fell in love with Mission Pie was over a slice of their banana cream pie. That was back when they were still serving pies in the space where their kitchen sits now. I recently returned to Mission Pie and was impressed at how much the cafe has changed. The dining room…

April 30, 2010

How to Make Mango Rhubarb Pie with Cornmeal Crust

I had planned to make mango rhubarb pie. All the gorgeous rhubarb pies that has flooded the blogosphere has made me crave for my own. I thought the sweetness of the champagne mangoes would wonderfully complement the tartness of the rhubarb stalks. And I thought the vibrant golden mango and red rhubarb colors would…

April 28, 2010

My 100th Post: The Joy of Food Blogging

It truly has been an interesting journey getting here — from what started as a well-deserved homage to San Francisco nine months ago to what it is now, 100 posts later, a constantly evolving collection of elegant photographs and personal stories about food. It has been fascinating learning about brining my own chicken and corning…

April 26, 2010

On Top of Bernal Heights Park Enjoying a San Francisco Sunset and King’s Coconut Buns

The best things in life are free, so they say. Or, at least, it costs 50 cents a bun and a short drive to Bernal Heights Park. The view on a gorgeous San Francisco day on top of Bernal Heights Park is truly breathtaking. From the north side of the park you can see everything…

April 22, 2010

Bananas Drizzled with Honey and Covered with Almonds

Honey is a great way to have kids excited about eating. Honey and peanut butter sandwiches are always a huge hit among kids, and big kids, too. Delicious layers of crystallized honey and creamy peanut butter sandwiched between slices of tasty crustless white bread always hit the spot. But here’s another simple way to enjoy…

April 20, 2010

Chinook Salmon Fishing Off the San Francisco Coast

It was a perfect Spring day. The sun was beaming but the cool sea breeze was refreshing; breezy but not windy and so the waters were not choppy at all. It was a perfect day to be out on a boat in the deep blue Pacific. It was a perfect day to reconnect with the…

April 18, 2010

Vanilla Yogurt Topped with Honey, Almonds, and Strawberries

Honey drizzled over warm buttered biscuits is great in the morning. Perfect on toast or on scones, too. But there’s another tasty (and healthier) way to enjoy honey in the morning. It’s something I discovered on our trip to Marshall’s Farm — vanilla yogurt topped with honey, almonds and fresh strawberries. It’s so simple yet…

April 15, 2010

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls (Anadama Bread Recipe)

One of the best things in life is enjoying a freshly baked cinnamon roll. Fresh out of the oven, cinnamon rolls can be sinfully addicting with its soft and buttery interior enveloped in a crisp crust drizzled with a smooth and gorgeous glaze. Best enjoyed with a delicious cup of drip coffee, they really are…

April 13, 2010

What’s the Buzz About Marshall’s Farm Honey?

If you have been to the Saturday Farmers’ Market at the Ferry Building, chances are you’ve met the friendly folks at Marshall’s Farm. Their artisanal honey in glass jars, bear-shaped squeeze bottles and rainbow-colored straws are always a huge hit. They have been featured countless times in print and television and their honey has landed…

April 11, 2010

Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto, Fried Bread, Poached Egg, and Aged Balsamic Vinegar

When I think of Spring I think of bright sunny days, strawberry rhubarb crisps, green garlic, and blooming wildflowers. But what happened to Spring? One day I’m scratching my eyes out and the next day I’m wet, cold, and miserable. It’s gray outside and Spring is anything but gray! We’re supposed to go salmon fishing…