The Culinary Chase A peripatetic Canadian living in Bangkok, Thailand discovering food from around the world, postings from my own recipe collection and restaurant reviews. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 29 0 51 2477

Articles from The Culinary Chase

Yangzhou Fried Rice 2008-02-07 03:17:00 Today is the beginning of the Chinese new lunar year; the Year of the Rat. Chinese New Year lasts 15 days and eating is a big part of celebrating the new year. More food is consumed during this time than any other time of the year. Each region in China has its own specialties such as in Southern China the favorite dishes tend to be of rice varieties (sweet glutinous rice pudding or rice wrapped in reed leaves) whereas in the Northern parts of China steamed wheat bread and meat dumplings are preferred. Click here to find out more on the top 10 symbolic Chinese foods for this auspicious time. Legend has it that the Chinese zodiac came into being after all the animals were asked to report to the emperor on Chinese New Year day. Only the first twelve to reach the palace were to be rewarded with a year named after them. The rat was the first to win and therefore is held in high regard. Happy Chinese New Year!Serves 4recipe from The Food of China150g (1 cup) fresh or frozen peas1 table ...

Curry Salmon Slice 2008-02-05 02:09:00 The term 'slice' originates in Australia and there are few things more proudly Australian than the slice! The humble slice can also be seen as a culinary, or even cultural, identifier of Australia's Anglo-Celtic heritage. The slice is not as ostentatious as baking a cake for visitors and yet it says you've made so much more of an effort than just baking a batch of biscuits. What makes them even better is that they don't require much effort. A slice can be savory or sweet. Canned salmon gives you Omega 3 (good fat) plus the added bonus of calcium. The bones in canned salmon are soft and edible making canned salmon an excellent source of dietary calcium, which is vital in the fight against osteoporosis. A single can of salmon provides the calcium equivalent of a cup of milk. Serves 6recipe is from Australian Good Tasteolive oil, to grease300g (2 cups) cooked long grain rice415g can red salmon, drained, skin and bones removed, flaked375ml can creamy evaporated milk2 eggs, lightl ...

Be My Valentine! 2008-02-04 01:46:00 Yes, in 11 days people from all over the world will be scrambling to shower loved ones with greeting cards, chocolates, flowers, candy, dinner, presents and some will choose this day to get engaged or be married. Valentine greetings have been popular since the Middle Ages, a time when prospective lovers said or sang their romantic verses. Written valentines began to appear in the 1500's but it took the enterprise of an American to make money at it. Esther A. Holland produced one of the first American commercial Valentines in the 1840's. Her cards were elaborate creations made with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures. She sold $5,000 worth in the first year! According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)There are many stories as to how Valentine's day came into being however, the origin ...

Whoopie Pies 2008-01-31 23:19:00 This dessert is something I used to make when I was a teenager which brings back some fond memories. I lost the recipe and the one below closely resembles the one I used to make many years ago. Whoopie pies are considered a New England phenomenon and a Pennsylvania Amish tradition. They're one of Maine's best known and most loved comfort foods. A whoopie pie is like a sandwich, but made with two soft cookies with a fluffy white filling. These cake-like whoopie pies were considered a special treat because they were originally made from leftover batter. According to Amish legend, when children would find these treats in their lunch bags, they would shout "Whoopie!" Click here for more on the whoopie pie.Makes 36recipe is adapted from Recipe ZaarWhoopie Pie1 cup sugar6 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 eggs2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup baking cocoa1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt4 tablespoons milkFilling4 tablespoons milk4 tablespoons butter, softened to room temp3-3 1/4 cups ici ...

Chocolate Dipped Cherries 2008-01-30 02:26:00 My last posting I referred to antioxidants and how the eggplant helps fight off free radicals. Right now, cherries are abundant in Bangkok even though they are flown in from other parts of world. I'm a big fan of fresh cherries and I'm even happier to learn that the cherry is being touted as the new antioxidant super fruit. A new study found that a cherry enriched diet helps reduce cholesterol, relieve pain from arthritis and gout, lower blood sugar and insulin levels and reduce risk factors for heart disease. Click here to read more. If you can't buy fresh, then try dried, organic cherry juice or frozen cherries. Cherries are fat free and low in calories.Serves 46 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped24 large fresh cherries with stems Melt chocolate in a heat proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir when melted. Holding the cherries by the stem, dip one at a time in the chocolate, only coating half the cherry. Allow excess to drip off. Store in a cool plac ...

Red Bell Pepper and Eggplant Dip 2008-01-28 02:22:00 I'm always looking for new dips to try and this has two of my favorite vegetables. Bell peppers (capsicum), whether green, red, orange or yellow are rich sources of some of the best nutrients available. They are an excellent source of Vitamin A and C which are very powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals can travel through the body causing damage to cells and are major players in the build up of cholesterol in the arteries. This leads to heart disease, nerve and blood vessel damage in diabetes, the cloudy lenses of cataracts, the joint pain and damage seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and the wheezing and airway tightening of asthma. Click here for more health benefits on capsicum. Add a bit of color and nutrition to your meal by choosing bell peppers, the Christmas ornaments of the vegetable world.Serves 4-6recipe adapted from Australian Good Taste500g eggplant (aubergine)1 large red bell pepper (capsicum) 2 tablespo ...

Caponata (Aubergine Salad) 2008-01-25 02:51:00 Caponata is a Sicilian eggplant (aubergine) relish and has been around since the 1700's. It's usually served as a side dish or appetizer. Many Caponata variations contain celery but celery is not common in Southern Italy. What's more likely is that the celery is a substitute for fennel. Some of Italy's cooking stems from specialties brought to Rome by Jews taken as slaves after Israel's destruction. Aubergines are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. For more health benefits of the aubergine, click here.Serves 4recipe adapted from BBC Food4 medium aubergines, choppedsalt and freshly ground black pepper3-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling1 onion, chopped2 celery sticks, chopped400g (14oz.) chopped tomatoes100g (3½oz.) green olives, pitted and sliced3 tbsp capers, drained and chopped30ml (1oz.) red wine vinegar1½ tbsp sugar or to tastehandful Italian parsley, choppedextra virgin olive oil, for drizzlingSprinkle the aubergines with salt an ...

Balsamic Roast Vegetable Salad 2008-01-23 01:58:00 The best balsamic vinegar comes from Italy in Modena or Reggio. True balsamic vinegar has a syrupy consistency and a sweet and fruity flavor. It is also characterized by its unusually dark color. Balsamic vinegar is made from unfermented juice from white grapes known as “must” which has high sugar content and is typically found in trebbiano grapes. Surprisingly, true balsamic vinegar is usually not found in supermarkets. You'll only find commercial grade balsamic vinegar that is made up of red wine vinegar mixed with must and caramel. True gourmet balsamic vinegar is slowly aged in wooden barrels and take 6 months to several years before reaching its prime. Vinegar has been around for ages and its medicinal usages include: a tonic to relieve fatigue, helps digestion and aids in weight loss. The natural sweetness of this aged vinegar adds instant flavor to this salad. Serves 6recipe from Australian Good Taste magazine 600g pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and cut into 3cm pieces3 zucch ...

Restaurant Snobbery! 2008-01-21 02:57:00 Over the past year I have posted a few restaurant reviews and tend to only post the ones that I felt were good. However, this post isn’t the case. I made reservations for four at Vino Di Zanotti (part of Zanotti restaurant which is down the street from Vino Di Zanotti) on Saturday night as it’s been a place I’ve wanted to try. My husband and I arrived before our friends only to be told that we could not eat inside as my husband was wearing shorts. This was not communicated to me when I made the reservation. The restaurant manager said we could eat outside. Eating outside wasn’t what we requested and my husband was wearing a shirt with his smart casual shorts. The manager then pointed out that his ‘regular’ customers know of the no shorts policy. One could see that we weren’t arriving from the beach in shorts and flip flops! The option to eat outside wasn’t what we wanted as the ambiance was inside………..and we didn’t fancy the idea of eating next to the p ...

Stovetop Chicken and Rice 2008-01-18 02:22:00 I have been making this dish for years and it's a simple one to prepare when you don't have much time or you've run out of ideas on what to make for supper. Having made this for many years, the original recipe is no where to be found and likewise, the exact amounts are a little bit of this and a little bit of that! A nutritional supper in one pan; can it get any better than this?Serves 22 chicken breasts, skins removed 3/4 cup rice1 cup mushrooms, sliced3/4-1 cup carrots, choppedhalf an onion, chopped1 clove of garlic, chopped1 1/2 - 2 cups chicken stockchopped parsley for garnishsalt and pepper1-2 teaspoons ground cumin1-2 teaspoons ground sageIn a frying pan over medium high heat, add a tablespoon olive oil. Then add chicken and sear both sides until golden brown. Remove from pan. In the same pan add another tablespoon of olive oil and add mushrooms, onions, garlic, carrots, cumin and sage. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. If the vegetables are getting dry, add a bit m ...

Fresh Lasagna with Chili Crab 2008-01-16 02:55:00 The ingredients in this dish mingle surprisingly well with each other and not one flavor over powers the other......not even the chili! Chili peppers contain a substance called capsaicin, which gives peppers their characteristic pungence, producing mild to intense spice when eaten. Capsaicin is being studied as an effective treatment for sensory nerve fiber disorders, including pain associated with arthritis, psoriasis and diabetic neuropathy. For more health benefits on this fiery pepper, click here. This recipe is adapted from Marie Claire's Zest cookbook.Serves 44 tablespoons olive oil2 large red chilies, seeded and finely sliced1/2 teaspoon smoky paprika2 garlic cloves, minced3 leeks, finely sliced400g (14 oz.) can chopped tomatoes1 teaspoon caster sugar125ml (1/2 cup) white wine250g (9 oz.) crab meat8 fresh lasagna sheets70g baby spinach leaves15g chives, cut into 3cm lengthsBring a large pot of slated water to the boil. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat a ...

Sant' Eustachio's - The Best Coffee in Rome! 2008-01-14 05:25:00 My husband and I were in Rome during the Christmas holidays and on the first day we enjoyed a cappuccino and panini at Caffè Portofino located up the road from where we were staying. The panini were very fresh but it was the cappuccino that I enjoyed the most! We have had many espresso's and cappuccino's over the years but none that came even close to the ones we enjoyed in Rome. I love how all the bars (coffee shops) we ate at had the servers wearing vests, hats and bow ties. Very smart! My Italian girlfriend, Francesca, had given me some recommendations on where to eat and that we had to also enjoy a cup of coffee (in Italy coffee means espresso) at Sant' Eustachio's. She said it's the best in the city and she was so right! What makes this coffee so special? I don't know, perhaps it's the water, or the way they roast their beans on their premises there. Sant' Eustachio il caffè has been around since the 1930's and is located across the piazza from Sant' Eustachio ...

Dr. Weil's Carrot Cake 2008-01-11 04:17:00 Dr. Andrew Weil has been a favorite of mine for the past 10 years. He has written many books, of which I have two, Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health. I've always been interested in ways to keep your body healthy by learning all about our body's natural healing power. Part of the reason I started this blog was to let readers know about the nutritional value as well as health benefits of ingredients used in every day cooking. The following recipe is from Dr. Weil and his version of the carrot cake is a lot healthier.2 cups firmly packed finely grated carrotsjuice of 1 large orange2 teaspoons vanilla extract1/4 cup light olive oil1 cup honey, liquefied in microwave (30 seconds)1/2 cup crushed or chopped pineapple, drained1 cup unbleached white flour1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground allspice3/4 cup walnuts, chopped (to give you a bit of omega-3 fats)Preheat oven to 180c (350f). In a mixing bowl, stir togeth ...

Tomato Beef Stir-Fry 2008-01-09 04:38:00 A large heavy bottomed skillet, preferably with high sides, will do the job and get supper on the table pronto. This stir fry is so fast and easy you had better get the noodles or rice on the go before you start to heat the skillet! This recipe is adapted from Canadian Living magazine.Serves 4375g lean beef preferably sirloin steak2 teaspoons oil2 onions, sliced lengthwise2 zucchini, slicedhalf red bell pepper, chopped1 clove garlic, minced1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced125ml (1/2 cup) water3 tablespoons oyster sauce1 tablespoon soy sauce2 teaspoons cornstarch1 teaspoon vinegardash of hot pepper sauce (optional)2 plum tomatoes, choppedSlice beef thinly across the grain. In a large nonstick skillet or wok, heat half of the oil over high heat; stir fry beef until browned. Transfer to a plate. Add remaining oil to pan and stir fry onions, zucchini, red pepper, garlic, garlic and ginger for 1 minute or until slightly softened. Pour in water, stirring to scrape up brown bits; cover an ...

Avocado and Shrimp Salad 2008-01-07 03:05:00 Last night we ate at a restaurant called, Thaipaz, which is a global tapas and wine bar in Bangkok (Sathorn area). I liked this salad so much I decided to recreate it. The ingredients and quantities are approximate so adjust to suit to your own taste. Coriander (known as cilantro in the Americas) tastes like hints of lemon peel and sage along with the spicy flavor of anise. Serves 41 avocado, cut into small cubes1 small red onion, diced finely2 medium sized tomatoes, seeds removed and finely chopped100g cooked shrimp, coarsely chopped3 tablespoons fresh coriander, coarsely chopped1 large lime1 garlic clove, mincedolive oilsalt and pepper to taste12 wanton wrappersromaine lettuce, washed and driedPreheat oven to 180c. Place wanton wrappers on a baking tray and lightly spray with olive oil. Bake in oven for 5-7 minutes until golden crisp. Remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile, place 4-5 pieces of romaine lettuce on a plate. In a bowl combine onion, tomatoes, shrimp, garlic and ...