Healthy and Authentic Chinese Dinner

This was a girls night. My mom and I met my Aunt J for dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. This restaurant it owned by a patient of my Aunt J and Uncle M. The chef studied in China, so I was informed that the cooking is quite authentic. We had a special pre-fixed meal, which was really delicious.
Amuse buche: Carpaccio of white fish and boiled asparagus, served with a spicy sauce
First Course (Clockwise): Baby squids and baby zucchini
Simmered Japanese eggplant
Simmered chicken
Raw vegetable and duck spring roll
Simmered lotus root and jellyfish 
Second Course: Carp simmered in a black bean sauce
Third Course: Simmered shark's fin with baby bok chou
Fourth Course: House made dumpling 
Fifth Course: Beef cooked in a light broth
Sixth Course (A): Spicy mabo-tofu and rice
Sixth Couse (B): Spicy dan dan noodles
Dessert: Almond tofu with a melon sauce

My favorite part of the meal was the tea, which was served at the end. This green is from Taiwan and apparently required a special brewing method. The tea was light in color, but surprisingly flavorful. I quite enjoyed it! The small tea pot was very cute and I enjoyed the ceremony of making multiple cups, to strengthen the flavor. Yum!
I have to say, this is some of the poshest Chinese food I've ever eaten! The flavors were perfectly balanced and the meals were both tasty and delicious! I enjoyed every bite and look forward to eating there again!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gordon Ramsay's Cheesy Potato Dauphinoise

Image
I am fairly impressionable --- at least when it comes to cooking. When I see a recipe or a dish that intrigues me, I become obsessed and determine to give it a go. I have been obsessively watching Come Dine With Me  for at least one month and a dish that keeps popping up is: Potato Dauphionoise. I've eaten this side dish a couple times in my life, but not recently. It looked so delicious and easy to make, and I was determined to try my hand at this posh looking side. As per usual, I consulted the internet to look for recipes. As most of you know, I am obsessed with Gordon Ramsay. He is always my go to. If he doesn't have a recipe for something I want to make, I'm always feel a little lost, but luckily, that wasn't the case this time. I was delighted to have stumbled upon Gordon Ramsay's "Gratin Dauphonoise." He has yet to let me down and you know what, this dish was a winner! Something that I am adding to my repertoire.  This dish was incredibly e
Read more

Truffle Cream Cheese & Chive Spread

Image
So, I realize that this post is rather late…but I figure, better late than never, right? Over New Years, I was searching for recipes online, when I stumbled upon a new Gordon Ramsay recipe. As we all know, I LOVE Gordon Ramsay, in fact, I should probably just change my username to that.  Chef Ramsay has a recipe for a deliciously decadent, but oh so easy truffle cream cheese spread, and I couldn't resist. The ingredients are simple, you may even have most of them, and it takes no more than ten minutes to make. Oh, and it's delicious.  Whether you are entertaining guests or spending time alone, this spread is perfect for all occasions. It's great with bread and crackers, it's also delicious with grapes. The fluffiness of the cream cheese/sour cream, coupled with the decadence and amazing aroma of the truffle oil makes this a really luxurious spread that everyone will love! For Gordon Ramsay's video, please click this link .  Ingredients: - small con
Read more

Tawaraya - One of Kyoto's Most Famous and Oldest Ryokans

Image
On this visit to Kyoto, rather than stay at a hotel, my parents and I were fortunate enough two spend two nights at the very famous and exclusive Tawaraya ryokan . Tawaraya is considered one of the most famous and posh ryokans in Japan. Past guests have included Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, and even Marlon Brando! (Many famous Japanese people have stayed here as well, but these three just popped into my head). We made our reservation one year in advance, but even then, we had difficulty getting a room!  To quote Wikipedia: "A ryokan ( 旅館 ) is a type of traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo Period (1603 ~ 1868), when such inns served travelers along Japan's highways. They typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner…Most ryokans offer dinner and breakfast, which are often included in the price of the room. Most visitors take their meals at the ryokan, which usuall
Read more