AsiaLife Magazine: Blue Elephant Cooking School
I tried my hand at the delicate art of Royal Thai cooking…
All posts tagged: cooking
In case of an emergency… bite the bitter melon |Gin Jay in Bangkok’s East Side
I’m a walker. In search of my usual strange, I’ve been out and about, scouring the lengths and breadths, of breathless Bangkok. Back in good olde London town, I had been known to take the odd walk or two, from my old haunt in Walthamstow – to central London. No kidding. I’d set out with the intention of taking a nice little stroll and before I knew it, the music of the city would lure me further and further away from my titchy little house in East London. The Liverpool street area, especially happens to be one of my favorite places. On the weekends it becomes this eerily. You have to see it for yourself to understand it’s magnetic pull. At the time, everybody thought I had lost it. I actually think I had. My final year at university was a really dark time for me. But what really kept me going was the walking. Walking helps me think. It helps me soften all that self-debasing pressure, that resides within me, that occasionally gets the courage …
Salad Series #3 | Hot and Spicy Thai Winged Bean Salad
I live to try new things. It’s a snobby habit I’ve often tried to kick in the morning, only to pick up again that very same afternoon. I was the teen that brought homemade sushi to college and then, as soon as it’d caught on and became a thing, I ditched it for tacos and flasks of soy milk chocolat chaud. I crave the new like a drug. (In my head) I’m the coolest kid on the block. I did say, “in my head right?” Because if you’ve ever met me, you’d know it couldn’t be further from the truth. The lyrics: “I am a weapon of massive consumption, it’s not my fault, it’s how I am programmed to function…” Really should be my theme tune. If my life was a comic script, these words would be scribbled, underneath grease and marinara stains, all over; the already battered pages of my twenty (odd) year old life. That’s why Bangkok is perfect for me. Everyday here, literally has me wading through a blizzard of new experiences. The more I …
Dolmades | A taste of the homemade Mediterranean cuisine in Bangkok
“When you want something done properly, do it yourself” Right? Well, the same can be said about Dolmades, a distinctive Mediterranean dish; that I tried for the first time, tried nearly a decade ago. You’ll probably remember me mentioning the fact that I used to work for a Greek company, in Chelsea. As with most things, it was a mixed bag of highs and lows. There were magical memories, but also some incidences that I’d gladly give anything to forget. The time spent there, gave me a deep understanding of myself and what I wanted from my career; but more importantly, I snagged some great authentic Greek recipes. Quick and Easy Dolmades A simple Google search will show you that the practice of stuffing vine leaves with rice, meat and various herbs, is by no means unique to Greece or her islands. From Italy to Lebanon, to even as far out as Russia, its popularity is undisputed. It is only natural then, that with such a rejoiced dish, there will always be countless variations. What I love about this particular recipe …
Bangkok Discoveries #2: Koji Suzuki and the Sushi that Saved Me
[Updated 11/07/2015 : I have since been informed that Koji’s place in Ekkamai has shut down. I’ve contacted Koji and am waiting to find out more] My head is on fire and my nose is runny, but were it not for the kindness of the owner of 男の割, Koji Suzuki, I would not have had the strength to write this. Dramatic much? Wait until you hear the story, then judge. Over the last couple of days, you could say that I’d been enjoying myself a little bit too much. But who could blame me, my German had come to see me. Long distance relationships are hard, and they don’t get easier just because you’re married. Anyway, long story short, I found myself on the wrong side of Tuesday, (now feeling) sick, alone in my tiny apartment and with nothing in my fridge but broccoli and a rather generous bunch of mint leaves. I made a soothing tea with the mint, had the broccoli steamed with some rice, but before I could go out to restock my supplies, …
Make mine a … Thai Omelette
Ever since I started my youtube blog, I must admit that I’ve somewhat neglected my writing. I’m not any good at vlogging. Its a frustrating but nonetheless inspiring conclusion. Will I give up? Hecks no. How can I? I’m learning so much. There are tons of things, that I’m just learning how to control. Lighting, sound and even the simplest things like controlling the camera, have all left me stumped so far. But Boy is it fun. Its a world entirely on its own. I got back late yesterday night from visiting my German, in the South of Thailand. My fridge is empty and I’m feeling quite down. I need food. This is my go to ‘lazy day’ recipe (I am aware that it is a Monday). Its tasty, quick and is perfect when you’re down to the bare bones, both physically and emotionally. Thai Omelette Ingredients 2 tablespoons oil 1 onion, sliced 1½ teapoons light soy sauce 1½ teaspoons fish sauce 1 Bunch coriander 3 eggs 1 Spring Onion Lime wedge, to garnish Instructions Heat 1 tablespoon of …
Meat Bone Soup and other wild concoctions
My birthday was everything I could have wanted. Just me and the German lapping up the sun, sea and sand. Oh Singapore. If all goes right, next year, my blogs will be written somewhere from that glorious city-state. One reason (hopefully not my main one) is that Singaporeans know their soups. You’ve never had a good broth till you’ve tried one in Singapore. Singaporean cuisine has Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese and Western influences. It is a melting pot of cultures, and what a sweet sweet gumbo they’ve made. As soon as the warm wetness of Bak Kut Teh, or meat bone tea (if you translate it directly from the Chinese: 肉骨茶) hit my lips. I was hooked. So hooked that every night, we’d go a-searching for my next fix. Happy birthday to me and here’s to hoping that I will live a long and fulfilled life, full of more surprise tastes and more delicious smells, such as this. I’d like to share my taste of Singapore with you: Chicken Bak Kut Teh / Chik Kut Teh Ingredients 1 pack of Bah …
On…Pad Thai
I will be healthy. I will stay healthy. Not that I have ever lived slovenly. Its just very hard here to stick to any type of regimen. Bangkok is a food lovers paradise! And though legend has it that you can get sick of eating Thai food. There are countless others just waiting in the wings (yumm crispy chicken wings), ready to deliver marvelously wondrous pieces of heaven, directly to your mouth. I’m old school. Eating out, on a regular basis, always makes me feel guilty. It was a treat; meant to be savored. An occasion to be counted down, something you spent time looking forward to. Here, its just run of the mill. I love cooking, but I’d be a fool if I didn’t go out (on a quest-like mission) and sample all the tasty food, this town has to offer. Firsts stop. I follow my friend Yok to Klong Toey to try: Quite Possibly Bangkok’s best Pad Thai This is it! And isn’t it marvelous. Its a little roadside restaurant with both eat in and out facilities. I’m not …
What the oeufs wrong with you?
Get it? That’s what three years of French gets you. Its October, a blistering 34 degrees and I’m getting a little home sick. October is not only my birthday month but when I get cracking on picking my winter coat, buying tights and all my usual thermal undergarb (mostly from Uniqlo). I’m not doing any of that and its just downright strange. “But you’re in a tropical paradise! Shut up”, says the constant contradictory voice in my head. “Nobody likes a moaner”. To get me out of my tiny funk, I’ve decided to dream up places I’d be visiting insead and imagine all the tasty dishes I’d be sampling. Numero Uno. Paris, France. I won’t bore you with the usual tripe of how its enchanting and romantic. That’s what they all say. To be honest my first memories of visiting France were as a child. You really have to be into romance to get all worked up about it. And I wasn’t. No sir, not icky boys. Except for if you count my bizarre crush on the dashing Tuxedo Mask …
Thinking is a terrible crime
I have that Saturday morning feeling. But not the good kind. Is there such a things as a good kind? For me it involves restlessly replaying thoughts in your head, to the point where you feel as if you’re going to wind up on the weekend news as a shocking case of spontaneous combustion. There only one thing for it… eat. “Let food be thy medicine…” I’m not the kind of person that ‘eats her feelings’ (that’s a lie), but I do believe that tastes have magical power. Just like a little electricity can alter brain signals, why not salsa? For me, it’s the sour and salty tastes, that can kick-start my batteries. It’s an Oriental take on the simple salsa. You actually have quite a bit of left over teriyaki, which is perfecte, because you can store it for later and use it with your chips. What’s that you say? Teriyaki and chips! Eugh? Well I say nicht. You sir, haven’t lived till you’ve had fish and chip with teriyaki sauce. Yumm. Move over vinegar. I like …
SheDoesLiving 