Thursday, April 23, 2009
Review: Whole Foods Sushi
I decided to drop by the Whole Foods in Charles River Park on the way home from work to grab a quick bite to eat. Grocery store sushi usually isn't anything to write about, but I thought it would be worth noting the Boston roll I found. What is a Boston roll and why have I never heard of it before finding it at WF? Looks like poached shrimp and salmon and for $8.29/8 pieces it's not too bad (and WF definitely has the best grocery store sushi you'll find here).
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Chicken Adobo
Filipino restaurants don't exist in Boston. Actually, you're lucky to even find a Filipino person. If you want chicken adobo, you'll definitely need to make your own but, luckily, the main ingredients are pretty common. Most recipes I've seen use chicken thighs, but I prefer drumsticks. The following recipe is good for about 6-7 chicken drumsticks. For a spicy kick, you can also add some cayenne pepper and/or habanero (I use both).
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
0.5 cup vinegar
0.5 cup water
0.25 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp whole pepper corns
2 bay leaves
salt
pepper
6-7 chicken drumsticks
cayenne pepper (optional)
1 chopped habanero pepper (optional)
Directions
In a large pot, add olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken, then add to pot, stirring frequently to lightly sear. Add a dash of cayenne pepper while stirring. Then add water, vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, peppercorns, and habanero pepper. Keep stirring frequently until liquid comes to a boil. Slightly lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, occasionally stirring. Serve with white rice using lots of sauce!
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
0.5 cup vinegar
0.5 cup water
0.25 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp whole pepper corns
2 bay leaves
salt
pepper
6-7 chicken drumsticks
cayenne pepper (optional)
1 chopped habanero pepper (optional)
Directions
In a large pot, add olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken, then add to pot, stirring frequently to lightly sear. Add a dash of cayenne pepper while stirring. Then add water, vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, peppercorns, and habanero pepper. Keep stirring frequently until liquid comes to a boil. Slightly lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, occasionally stirring. Serve with white rice using lots of sauce!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Bun Cari Ga
Bun cari ga is Vietnamese chicken curry with vermicelli noodles. Unlike other curries, Vietnamese curry is more like a stew and is usually eaten with vermicelli, baguette, or rice. If you're looking for some good bun cari ga, the best place that serves it is Pho Viet's in the Super 88 food court at Packard's Corner. However, their chicken usually turns out really dry, so I like to make my own.
Ingredients
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1 pinch of ground black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 bay leaves
4-5 tsp curry powder (to taste)
4+ tsp chicken bullion powder (to taste)
2 cans light coconut milk
2 cans of water
4 medium-large yukon potatoes (peeled and cut into medium chunks)
2 carrots (chopped)
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 pound chicken breasts
1 pack vermicelli noodles
Directions
Make sure the chicken breasts are thinly sliced and then cut them into bite-sized chunks. You can use drumsticks as well, but I prefer chicken breasts because they're easier to prepare in a stew. Heat up a large pot with olive oil and minced garlic, then add the chicken sprinkled with 1 tbsp of chicken bullion, 1 tsp of salt, and ground pepper. When the chicken is about half-cooked, add mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes. Cook for about 1 more minute while adding another tsp of chicken bullion. (Note: If you're using drumsticks, it's very important to partly sear the chicken before adding the liquids. This is so the meat doesn't fall off the bone while stewing.)
Add 2 cans of light coconut milk followed by water (just fill up the same cans you just used). Then add sugar, salt, and bay leaves. Stir for a bit, and then add curry powder until the stew turns into a nice yellow color (usually about 4-5 tsp should do the trick). Then add the remaining chicken bullion, stir, and cover on medium heat for 40 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
While waiting for the curry, boil the vermicelli noodles in another pot for about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. Rinse and leave in a strainer.
When the stew is ready, give it a taste (it will probably turn out a little bland) and keep adding more chicken bullion until you're satisfied. Then ladle the hot stew into a large bowl of vermicelli and enjoy! (I also like to add some white pepper and Sriracha.)
This recipe makes about 5-6 servings.
Ingredients
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1 pinch of ground black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 bay leaves
4-5 tsp curry powder (to taste)
4+ tsp chicken bullion powder (to taste)
2 cans light coconut milk
2 cans of water
4 medium-large yukon potatoes (peeled and cut into medium chunks)
2 carrots (chopped)
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 pound chicken breasts
1 pack vermicelli noodles
Directions
Make sure the chicken breasts are thinly sliced and then cut them into bite-sized chunks. You can use drumsticks as well, but I prefer chicken breasts because they're easier to prepare in a stew. Heat up a large pot with olive oil and minced garlic, then add the chicken sprinkled with 1 tbsp of chicken bullion, 1 tsp of salt, and ground pepper. When the chicken is about half-cooked, add mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes. Cook for about 1 more minute while adding another tsp of chicken bullion. (Note: If you're using drumsticks, it's very important to partly sear the chicken before adding the liquids. This is so the meat doesn't fall off the bone while stewing.)
Add 2 cans of light coconut milk followed by water (just fill up the same cans you just used). Then add sugar, salt, and bay leaves. Stir for a bit, and then add curry powder until the stew turns into a nice yellow color (usually about 4-5 tsp should do the trick). Then add the remaining chicken bullion, stir, and cover on medium heat for 40 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
While waiting for the curry, boil the vermicelli noodles in another pot for about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. Rinse and leave in a strainer.
When the stew is ready, give it a taste (it will probably turn out a little bland) and keep adding more chicken bullion until you're satisfied. Then ladle the hot stew into a large bowl of vermicelli and enjoy! (I also like to add some white pepper and Sriracha.)
This recipe makes about 5-6 servings.
The Basics: Grocery shopping
Congratulations! You've been accepted to a prestigious school or landed a great job in Boston! What now? So much to think about: Where to live? Car or no car? How's the nightlife? And of course... what's there to eat?
Good food selection is relative. Those moving from cities with small Asian populations might find Boston food incredibly diverse, whereas those coming from areas with a higher concentration of Asians (California, some parts of Canada, Asia, etc.) will find it extremely lacking. Most Asian restaurants here are Thai, but if you're looking for exceptional Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, or any other non-Thai Asian cuisine, you're out of luck.
But don't accept defeat just yet. The ingredients may be difficult to find, but you can make a lot of great Asian dishes yourself. All you need to do is find the right grocery store(s).
The first thing to consider before going grocery shopping is your location. Living right next to a grocery store is great, but not necessary. As long as both you and the grocery store are T-accessible, you should be fine. If not, imagine having to carry groceries in windy freezing temperatures and start planning your new apartment search. If you have a car, this won't be an issue (although driving and parking will be).
Here's a list of grocery stores I've been to and what they can provide:
Johnnie's Fresh Market
Location: Brookline (near Saint Mary's St.)
Small grocery store with convenience store prices. The only really exceptional thing about Johnnie's is the very fresh and low-priced meat. The produce is also great, but not so cheap.
Ming's Supermarket
Location: South End (on Washington St.)
This place is tiny. I've only been here once so I don't remember much about the food selection, but it's fantastic for essential dinnerware (chopsticks, soup spoons, bowls, dishes, etc.) Their porcelain bowls and dishes look great and are very reasonably/low-priced compared to other places.
Shaw's Supermarket
Locations: Copley Square, Packard's Corner
If you're from Southern California, this place is the equivalent of Albertsons. It's your generic big-brand supermarket with one Asian isle, but it's open 24 hours so if you need something at odd hours, this is the place to be. Just from looking at it, you might think Shaw's is cheaper than other stores but it's not. However, it is useful for finding Shin Ramyun when other places are out (each pack is about $1.25). Basic things like Sriracha, soy sauce, and instant miso soup are also easy to find, but don't count on getting much more from it. (Note: The Copley location has a huge alcohol selection, but the only IDs they consider valid are a Massachusetts driver's license and a passport)
Stop-and-Shop
Location: South Bay Center
Similar to Shaw's but bigger (although I don't think they carry Shin Ramyun).
Super 88
Locations: Packard's Corner, South Bay Center
From the name, you can probably tell this is an Asian grocery store chain. The one at South Bay Center is much bigger, but the Packard's Corner location has a nice Asian food court in the front. This place is great for cheap Asian produce you won't find in American stores (Chinese eggplant, bittermelon, ya pears). Their regular produce is also the cheapest you'll find anywhere. The dinnerware selection is all non-disposable plastic, but still cheap. Their selection of sauces and bullion are unmatched in Boston. This is also the place to go if you're looking to buy a nice Japanese rice cooker or water boiler/warmer.
Trader Joe's
Locations: Back Bay, Coolidge Corner
The Back Bay location is possibly the smallest Trader Joe's you'll ever find. However, it's a great place for reasonably-priced frozen seafood. They have plenty of vacuum-packed uncooked fish steaks as well as shrimps and scallops. If you don't have a car, this is where you should be getting your jasmine rice (if you do then obviously, the 50-pound rice bags at Super 88 are a fine option). Jasmine rice packs here are cheap and go FAST. They also have good frozen gyoza and frozen pri king. The Coolidge Corner location is pretty much the same thing, but bigger and has a wine section (all state-issued IDs are accepted here).
Whole Foods
Locations: Charles River Park, Symphony
If you don't have time to go to an Asian grocery store, Whole Foods is your next best bet. The Asian isle has a very well-stocked selection of Asian ingredients. The Charles River Park (CRP) location has a big produce section and even if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, chances are there's a good substitute (e.g. tamarind concentrate instead of the actual fruit). The produce here is surprisingly cheaper than Shaw's and is high quality. The food bar has sushi (about $7 for 9 pieces) as well as lots of other good food. CRP is definitely much bigger and better than the Symphony location.
And finally, don't dismiss Chinatown. It may not be ideal for big grocery shopping but it's useful for finding cheap kitchenware. There are a few restaurant supply stores that have essential tools for Asian cooking (rice washing bowl, santoku, etc).
Good food selection is relative. Those moving from cities with small Asian populations might find Boston food incredibly diverse, whereas those coming from areas with a higher concentration of Asians (California, some parts of Canada, Asia, etc.) will find it extremely lacking. Most Asian restaurants here are Thai, but if you're looking for exceptional Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, or any other non-Thai Asian cuisine, you're out of luck.
But don't accept defeat just yet. The ingredients may be difficult to find, but you can make a lot of great Asian dishes yourself. All you need to do is find the right grocery store(s).
The first thing to consider before going grocery shopping is your location. Living right next to a grocery store is great, but not necessary. As long as both you and the grocery store are T-accessible, you should be fine. If not, imagine having to carry groceries in windy freezing temperatures and start planning your new apartment search. If you have a car, this won't be an issue (although driving and parking will be).
Here's a list of grocery stores I've been to and what they can provide:
Johnnie's Fresh Market
Location: Brookline (near Saint Mary's St.)
Small grocery store with convenience store prices. The only really exceptional thing about Johnnie's is the very fresh and low-priced meat. The produce is also great, but not so cheap.
Ming's Supermarket
Location: South End (on Washington St.)
This place is tiny. I've only been here once so I don't remember much about the food selection, but it's fantastic for essential dinnerware (chopsticks, soup spoons, bowls, dishes, etc.) Their porcelain bowls and dishes look great and are very reasonably/low-priced compared to other places.
Shaw's Supermarket
Locations: Copley Square, Packard's Corner
If you're from Southern California, this place is the equivalent of Albertsons. It's your generic big-brand supermarket with one Asian isle, but it's open 24 hours so if you need something at odd hours, this is the place to be. Just from looking at it, you might think Shaw's is cheaper than other stores but it's not. However, it is useful for finding Shin Ramyun when other places are out (each pack is about $1.25). Basic things like Sriracha, soy sauce, and instant miso soup are also easy to find, but don't count on getting much more from it. (Note: The Copley location has a huge alcohol selection, but the only IDs they consider valid are a Massachusetts driver's license and a passport)
Stop-and-Shop
Location: South Bay Center
Similar to Shaw's but bigger (although I don't think they carry Shin Ramyun).
Super 88
Locations: Packard's Corner, South Bay Center
From the name, you can probably tell this is an Asian grocery store chain. The one at South Bay Center is much bigger, but the Packard's Corner location has a nice Asian food court in the front. This place is great for cheap Asian produce you won't find in American stores (Chinese eggplant, bittermelon, ya pears). Their regular produce is also the cheapest you'll find anywhere. The dinnerware selection is all non-disposable plastic, but still cheap. Their selection of sauces and bullion are unmatched in Boston. This is also the place to go if you're looking to buy a nice Japanese rice cooker or water boiler/warmer.
Trader Joe's
Locations: Back Bay, Coolidge Corner
The Back Bay location is possibly the smallest Trader Joe's you'll ever find. However, it's a great place for reasonably-priced frozen seafood. They have plenty of vacuum-packed uncooked fish steaks as well as shrimps and scallops. If you don't have a car, this is where you should be getting your jasmine rice (if you do then obviously, the 50-pound rice bags at Super 88 are a fine option). Jasmine rice packs here are cheap and go FAST. They also have good frozen gyoza and frozen pri king. The Coolidge Corner location is pretty much the same thing, but bigger and has a wine section (all state-issued IDs are accepted here).
Whole Foods
Locations: Charles River Park, Symphony
If you don't have time to go to an Asian grocery store, Whole Foods is your next best bet. The Asian isle has a very well-stocked selection of Asian ingredients. The Charles River Park (CRP) location has a big produce section and even if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, chances are there's a good substitute (e.g. tamarind concentrate instead of the actual fruit). The produce here is surprisingly cheaper than Shaw's and is high quality. The food bar has sushi (about $7 for 9 pieces) as well as lots of other good food. CRP is definitely much bigger and better than the Symphony location.
And finally, don't dismiss Chinatown. It may not be ideal for big grocery shopping but it's useful for finding cheap kitchenware. There are a few restaurant supply stores that have essential tools for Asian cooking (rice washing bowl, santoku, etc).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
