Revisiting Korean Cuisine

This Month's Film: The Way Home
Cuisine: Korean

About this same time last year, when my weblog was in its infancy, I chose Korean cuisine as my monthly focus, with a darkly delightful film called 301/302. This time I have chosen a much lighter Korean film and a different menu of Korean dishes to go with it. Having only eaten Korean barbeque in a Tokyo restaurant a couple of times, I was still fairly new to the cuisine last year, so I did quite a bit of research on Korean food in general. Here is what I discovered:

In my research of Korean cuisine, I learned that, although exotic to my western palate, the most popular traditional dishes are mainly composed of commonplace meats, seafoods, vegetables and seasonings. No doubt, it's the way they are combined that give them their ethnic flair. Typical dishes include fresh green salads, hearty soups, savory stews, meats and seafoods simmered with fresh vegetables, barbequed meats, fermented seafoods, pan-fried omelets, rice medleys, steamed or pan-fried dumplings, and boiled, pickled or sauteed vegetables. The most esoteric ingredients appear to be chrysanthemum greens, bellflower root, and chili paste. Other than that, even the spicy kimchi recipe doesn't call for anything I can't buy at my local grocery store.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

09:42 AM PDT Permalink |

The Way Home: About the Film

Sang Woo is seven years old. His deaf-mute grandmother is 75. Sang Woo is spoiled rotten. His grandmother lives a simple, rustic life with few amenities...and they're stuck with each other in rural Korea for two whole months while his mother looks for work in the city. Directed by Jeong-hyang Lee, and starring Eul-boon Kim as the grandmother in a remarkable first and only motion picture performance, The Way Home deftly manages to pull off one of those 'heartwarming tales' without trespassing into the realm of the saccharine or formulaic. I love this movie.

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01:41 AM PDT Permalink |

Welcome to Chopstick Cinema for the Month of July

Those who have visited my weblog before will notice that it's now going by a new name: Chopstick Cinema. After much deliberation, I decided that Chopstick Cinema is short, simple, snappy and embodies the concept of both Asian food and film. And with the new name, I have begun launching each month's film and cuisine with a photo of a pair of chopsticks given to me by one of my readers. And since I don't yet have any chopsticks from Korea, I decided to feature a pair from Hong Kong given to me by my publisher. Thank you Albert for the lovely gift.

And now, without further ado, this month's cinematic selection is The Way Home, a delightful Korean film given to me a few months ago by my dear friend Betty who lives in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama. She and I were best friends in high school, and now share a mutual love of Asian film. Over the next few days, I will be researching recipes and designing a menu of Korean dishes to go with it.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

10:23 AM PDT Permalink |

Looking Ahead

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Last week, I set aside some time to browse Amazon.com for all the films I've chosen for the next year, and most of them have already arrived. Among the countries represented are India, Korea, Turkey, Mongolia, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore. I have so many wonderful films and cuisines on my list that it's hard to decide which one to feature next. But choose I must, so check back tomorrow to find out what's in store for the month of July.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

09:30 PM PDT Permalink |

My 'Indochine' Film Review

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Indochine is one of the best Asian epics ever made, both in its depiction of the far-reaching political implications of French colonialism in Vietnam, and the fictional lives of a family torn by its tragic drama. Amid a constellation of impeccably cast characters, the ever French and
trop belle Catherine Deneuve is unforgettable as Eliane, and her performance in this film is perhaps the defining role of her career.

Here is a link to the Film Review.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

12:30 AM PDT Permalink |

My 'Indochine' Vietnamese Dinner Recipes & Photos

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Throughout the month of June, I have been preparing the various courses of a Vietnamese dinner to go with the vintage classic 'Indochine', starring Catherine Deneuve. The menu includes Shrimp and Beef Skewers with Lime Dipping Sauce, Crab Filled Summer Rolls, Lemongrass Chicken Soup, Golden Fish Nugget Salad with Mango Salsa, Stuffed Crabs, Shrimp Noodles, Asian Stir-Fry Medley and Coconut Creme Caramel. These dishes are simple, tasty, elegant and remarkably easy to prepare.

Here is a link to the Recipes and Photos.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

12:21 AM PDT Permalink |

Chilled Coconut Velvet

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

I awoke earlier than usual this morning and couldn't wait another minute to find out how my Coconut Creme Caramel turned out. I removed it from the fridge, filled a bowl with hot water to warm the ramekin before loosening the custard with a sharp knife and turning it onto a plate. Much to my delight, it let go of the ramekin without coercion and sat up perfectly on the plate.

I garnished it with a fresh sprig of mint from my garden, put it under the lights and took a picture before it had time to suffer the effects of two 100-watt bulbs bearing down upon it. Then I had a taste. The only words I can find to describe it are...Chilled...Coconut...Velvet. And...Delicieux!

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

11:59 AM PDT Permalink |

Adventures in Creme Caramel

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

It was an easy-going Sunday afternoon in my kitchen, and I was all stocked up on everything I needed to make my Coconut Creme Caramel, so I did. But little did I know what travails awaited me in my attempt to caramelize the sugar for the glaze. The recipe called for 3/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of water to be heated over a low flame until it turned into a golden brown syrup.

With the first batch, I made the mistake of stirring the syrup with a metal spoon, which turned the syrup back into a dry lump of granulated sugar. So I threw it out. The second batch I burned to a smoking, molten slag heap in the bottom of the pan, which, to my relief, dissolved with a little hot water...and I threw IT out.

Feeling a little foolish and inept, I took a break, read up on custards and caramelizing sugar in the Joy of Cooking, and had another go at my stuffed crab recipe for tonight's dinner [which turned out infinitely better this time].

After supper, I got back in the kitchen for yet another attempt at carmelized sugar. Feeling just like Goldilocks, I am pleased to say that the third batch turned out just right, mostly because I watched it like a hawk and removed the pan from the fire before it got too brown. Next I poured it into the bottoms of the custard dishes, filled them with the egg and coconut cream mixture and placed them in a bain marie to bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

By the looks of them, they turned out perfectly, but they have to chill overnight, so I won't know until they come out of the fridge tomorrow evening. And the moment of truth will be turning them onto plates for serving. I'm keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that they won't get mutilated in the process. Tune in tomorrow for a photo of the finished result.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

12:52 AM PDT Permalink |

All Stocked Up

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Yesterday's visit to Tin's Market in Oakland yielded a bounty of Asian ingredients, all of which are destined to become part of many dishes and dinners in the near future. First up is the dessert course of my 'Indochine' Vietnamese dinner. Within the next few days, I will be experimenting with a recipe for Coconut Creme Caramel. What better way to blend the French and Vietnamese culinary influences. Fortunately, I stocked up on unsweetened coconut milk at Tin's Market, so all I will need to complete the recipe are a few eggs and some half & half from my neighborhood Safeway.

And once I've written my film review and created the photo and recipe web page, I will be embarking on a whole new Asian cuisine and a new film for next month's Dinner & a Movie. Thanks to yesterday's shopping excursion, I already have all the Asian ingredients I will need.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

04:31 PM PDT Permalink |

My Favorite Aisan Market

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

We started our day on the beach at Pacifica again today, where we enjoyed the leftovers from last night's croissant sandwiches and concluded yesterday's chat. Afterwards we headed toward home, with a stopover at Tin's Asian Market in Oakland for a few essentials. It seems that I ran out of everything at once...soy sauce, nuoc mam, gari shoga, sesame oil, rice vinegar...

I assured Rene as we were crossing the Bay Bridge that it would just be an in-and-out visit for a few basics, but once inside, I couldn't resist the temptation to look at every item on every shelf and filled not one but two handbaskets with all the exotic ingredients that I had to substitute and improvise in some of my recent Dinner & a Movie recipes. So I also bought sticky rice, dried bamboo leaves, hoisin sauce, chili garlic paste, char siu, kim chi... And at less than a dollar apiece, I couldn't resist the urge to buy a few serving dishes with the classic blue-and-white Chinese motif.

Rene was his endlessly patient self, wandering about the market taking photos with my digital camera while I loaded up on the makings for many Asian dinners to come. And on the way home, we stopped off to pick up my son Will in American Canyon. He got his driver's permit yesterday and had his first experience behind the wheel of his dad's mini-van today.

We arrived in Napa in the mid-afternoon to find all's well. It was a fantastic two days of fun and relaxation that felt more like a week. Rene spoiled me rotten, so it's not going to be easy to resign myself to the keyboard for the rest of the summmer.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

11:17 PM PDT Permalink |

The Birthday that Never Ends...

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Since Rene had to work on my birthday last week, as a belated celebration, yesterday he whisked me away for a little getaway, a series of destinations which remained a surprise until time to enjoy each one.

We began with a visit to Hakone Garden in Saratoga, a classic Japanese-style topiary garden featuring a koi pond with turtles sunning themselves on the rocks, a tatami tea house, a wisteria arbor, a bamboo forest, and a zen garden. It was a beautiful summer day, and in that perfect setting, it was as if we'd been magically transported across the Pacific to the foothills of Mt. Fuji.

Next, Rene drove us to the town of Campbell, where we had dinner at Furu-Sato, a serene and impeccably appointed Japanese restaurant. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered a combination sampler of nigiri sushi, which included standards such as shrimp, tuna, yellowtail, tilapia, snapper, and freshwater eel, as well as a couple of unusual items, bonito and albacore, both served seared. The sampler also came with six California rolls made with the freshest and most delicate crab and avocado. And among the nigiri selection was a single serving of salmon, which I saved for last. And wisely so, because it was the best two bites of food I've eaten in a very long time. Hours later, I was still savoring its perfection in my mind and even toyed with the idea of sweet-talking Rene into going back for seconds.

One of the benefits of celebrating a birthday in June is the late sunset, so we still had time to enjoy it after we checked into the Holiday Inn Express in Pacifica. Once we were settled into a room with a view of the ocean, we walked down to the beach to share a few quiet moments at day's end before retiring for a warm bath and restful night's sleep. In fact, we liked the hotel so much we decided to stay an extra day.

We began our day today with a nice long chat while sitting on the rocky cliff overlooking the beach watching the waves crash beneath our feet. It's one of the best balms in the world for putting things in perspective and leaving your worries behind. Afterwards, we headed to Chinatown for a dim sum lunch at the Far East Cafe on Grant Street, and at long last, a visit to the Asian Art Museum for their after-hours admission, which is open until 9 p.m. The collection is awesome, with artifacts from Tibet, Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan. There are ancient sculptures, dazzling metalwork, intricate textiles, delicate scrolls, and opulent jade carvings in every imaginable color. And never in my life have I been in a room with so many statues of Buddha.

I was still walking on a cloud when we stopped afterwards at a late-nite deli for a couple of croissant sandwiches to go, and headed back to Pacifica for another night's rest with the sound of the waves to lull us softly to sleep.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

09:49 PM PDT Permalink |

How My Indochine Vietnamese Dinner Turned Out

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Last night's Vietnamese dinner was every bit as beautiful and delicious as I'd hoped it would be, although I did have to spend all day in the kitchen to make it happen on the eve of my little getaway with Rene. The Lemongrass Chicken Soup was even better than I'd envisioned, but it took two tries to get the rice right. The first batch soaked up too much of the broth and turned to mush, so I had to strain it out and start over. But the result was a subtle, lemony, warming bowl of soup that's sure to cure whatever ails you.

The salad was doubly delightful, since the greens were harvested right from my own garden. My patch of mesclun greens yielded baby romaine, red leaf lettuce, and frisee, which were the perfect match for the peppery spice of my homegrown watercress. I topped them with a colorful mango salsa and nuggets of orange roughy, dusted with golden turmeric flour and delicately deep fried.

The stuffed crabs were attractive, however, the seasoning in my recipe needs a little work. I used nuoc cham to moisten the bread crumbs and it turned a little bitter in the baking process. So I'm going to have another go at it using a different blend of ingredients to see if I can improve upon the finished dish.

The shrimp noodles were an attractive yet simple alternative to rice as a side dish, and the stir-fry vegetable medly is always an easy, tasty and colorful complement to any Asian meal, especially when the snow peas are picked fresh from the garden.

Photos and recipes will be posted at the end of the month along with my Indochine film review.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

08:57 PM PDT Permalink |

My 'Indochine' Vietnamese Dinner

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

It was a busy day in my kitchen today as I prepared five Vietnamese dishes for my 'Indochine' dinner: Lemongrass Chicken Soup, Golden Fish Nuggets with Fresh Baby Greens and Mango Salsa, Stuffed Crabs, Shrimp Noodles, and Asian Stir-Fried Vegetable Medley.

I had originally intended to prepare the soup and salad as a separate meal, but I got caught up in too many other things to devote two whole days to the task, so I doubled them up and served them as a three-course meal. Fortunately both Rene and my son Will were here to help and enjoy the bounty on my dinner table. The photos and recipes will be posted at the end of the month.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

08:32 PM PDT Permalink |

First Harvest

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

It was a beautiful summer day in my garden when I went out this morning to survey my crops. When I first planted them, I went out twice a day, morning and afternoon, to scrutinize the newly tilled soil for signs of life. And once they'd germinated, I had to run a tight patrol for the garden pests that can destroy a young sprout overnight. But I've been so busy with other things this week that I've only gone out there to turn on the sprinkler, not to mention that we had a couple of rainy days which fulfilled that task for me.

So imagine my surprise this morning when I discovered that my snow peas had matured and produced enough to make a generous serving for my 'Indochine' Vietnamese dinner. I got the scissors and snipped all the mature pea pods that I could find amid the tangle of thick stalks, broad leaves and tightly coiled tendrils. I can't wait to add them to my Asian Vegetable Stir-Fry Medly tomorrow.

I also went shopping today for all the fresh ingredients for tonight's soup and salad course, as well as for my main course dishes tomorrow evening. Among them is a recipe for stuffed crabs, however, the only crabs I could find still in the shell were huge Dungeness crabs, which when filled would probably serve six. I guess I was foolishly hoping to find some nice little blue crabs like the ones we used to get back home on the Gulf Coast.

So I had to settle for the next best thing. I bought a couple of halved snow crabs with the legs still attached, and on my way home, I stopped at Shackford's, a quaint little kitchen and restaurant supply store downtown and found some unglazed ceramic dishes shaped like little crabs. I'm going to fill them with the stuffing mixture and save a couple of the leg sections to use as a garnish so they look like crabs. No doubt the effect won't be quite the same, but sometimes we have to make do with what's available. And all this talk of stuffed crabs has reminded me of the ones my Mom used to make when I was growing up in Alabama. If mine turn out half as good as hers, I will declare them a success.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

03:06 PM PDT Permalink |

Revisiting My 'Indochine' Vietnamese Recipes

This Month's Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

With the schedule of festivities I've been keeping for the past week, the Soup and Salad phase of my Indochine Vietnamese dinner is about to collide with the day I have chosen for the Main Course. So I will be shopping for both events at once, and preparing them on two separate but consecutive days.

I sent my son Will to the market on his bicycle yesterday for chicken and some fresh ingredients that I will use to make the soup, but I still need some fish filets to make the Golden Fish Nuggets for the salad, some lemongrass for the soup, a fresh papaya, some ginger root, and [fingers crossed] some fresh crabs in the shell for my stuffed crab entree. If not, I may have to improvise with something like crab cakes, which, come to think of it, sound almost as good.

So it looks as if a trip uptown to Trader Joe's and a couple of other gourmet grocers is in store for me tomorrow. But the good news is that the mesclun greens in my garden are ready to pick for my salad, and perhaps a few snow peas too. So I'll be making the soup and salad when I return from my shopping trip, and the main course the following day.

A Call for Chopsticks Click here for details.

12:12 PM PDT Permalink |