food la vie @shelly-zou - Tumblr Blog

August

Wanna enjoy sunshine when spring is coming? Dine in a place with a glass roofed garden. ;D

August at west village, address is

359 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Braised Pork Knuckle

Asian people favor pork knuckle in terms of the collagen inside of the ingredient, and they believe collagen can help their skin looks more elastic. So, today I am going to share this traditional dish with you all.

You need:

Pork Knuckle

Oil

Cooking Wine

Szechuan Pepper

Dry Red Pepper

Star Anise

Myrcia

Ginger

Cinnamon

Salt

Soy sauce

Water

Steps:

1: Boil the pork knuckle in a large bowl for 5 mins, wait all the dirt comes out and float on water.

2. Pour the water out, and drain the pork knuckle dry.

3. In a large pan, pour a cup of oil, and fry the pork knuckle with 3 slices of ginger.

4. When the color of the port knuckle turns to gold, take them out and put in a large bowl. add 5 Tbps soy sauce, 1 piece of cinnamon, 1/2 cup szechuan pepper, 1/2 star anise, 1/2 myrcia, 3 dry red pepper, and 1/4 cup sugar, mix them well.

5. Then pour 3 cups of cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. Blend everything in the bowl, wait for the soup to boil.

6. Turn the flame to low after boiling, and wait 40 mins.

7. You are all set. Don't forget to test the flavor before serving. :P

卤猪脚其实很简单！大家不要总为了找这道菜烦心啦，只要找齐材料，家里也可以溢满卤味的香气哟~

需要的材料：

猪脚

食用油

料酒

花椒

干辣椒

茴香

香叶

桂皮

盐

糖

生抽

老抽

水

步骤：

1. 先把猪脚(两个)洗净，超市的猪脚都是切好的，所以冲洗一下就好啦。

2. 把猪脚放在汤锅里，倒入刚好浸没猪脚的水量，把水烧开。可以放两片生姜进去去掉腥味。

3. 会慢慢看到猪脚里的杂质浮上来，可以用勺子挑一些倒掉。大概水开五分钟后，关火。

4. 把水倒掉，猪脚取出来放在碟子里。

5. 在炒锅里倒入油，放入两勺糖，把猪脚放进去翻炒成金色。

6. 加入老抽、生抽、姜片、八角、花椒、干辣椒、桂皮，翻炒匀。

7. 倒入300ml的料酒和200ml的水，拌匀，然后等汤开。

8. 汤开以后，把火关小，然后慢慢炖大约40分钟就可以出锅啦！

小贴士：炖的时候可以适当添加一些调味料，根据个人口味调配哦。 :)

是不是很简单呢，找齐材料自己动手一试吧，满满的胶原蛋白都会流进皮肤里噢 ^^~

#pork knuckle #asian #braised #chilli pepper #szechuan

Movie - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This week's movie is "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", it is not about food, but this family-oriented movie would take your memory back to your childhood ... Just like a time machine brings you back to all bitter and sweet moments...

The story line of the movie talks about a little boy Charlie (Freddie Highmore) wanted to win a gold ticket in order to visit the biggest chocolate factory in his town - Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, Fortunately he got the chance and lucky enough to visit the factory with four other children. The owner of the chocolate factory, Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) designed the whole trip inside the factory and tested all children's character and morals. His purpose was to find "the one" and let him/her inherit his factory. Charlie performed the best and appeared to be the one Wonka was looking for. However, because of Wonka's distressed childhood, his rule is his heir must leave his family just like what happened to him previously. The happy ending of the movie is Charlie helped Wonka find his long-lost father, solved the old misunderstanding between then and changed Wonka's mind.

You never know how important a person's childhood is, but from a psychological perspective, everything happened in your previous life will reflect your thinking and behaviors later on. So, always thinking about the reasons of a person's decisions and actions before you make judgments.

One quote from the movie:

Narrator: This is a story of an ordinary little boy named Charlie Bucket. He was not faster, or stronger, or more clever than other children. His family was not rich or powerful or well-connected; in fact, they barely had enough to eat. Charlie Bucket was the luckiest boy in the entire world. He just didn't know it yet. (source:imdb.com)

#charlie and the chocolate factory #willy wonka #johnny depp #chocolate

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

Chocolate

Qi - Bangkok Fantasy

If you step into Hell's Kitchen (Midtown West Manhattan) , I bet you will add tons of restaurant on your wishlist. and today I wanna share my experience at Qi, a Bangkok Eatery.

Qi has many locations at NYC, and the one I like the most is located at 675 8th Ave (b/w 42nd and 43rd St.), close to Times Square.

Its decoration is full of glass and light. All crystal lamps shine when the lights are all on.

With this modern look, you can enjoy drinks from the bar and Asian fusion cuisines. I ordered Stewed Beef Noodle,

The beef is braised just close to well done, and you can taste the flavor of different spices originally from oriental region. Qi uses thin rice noodle to clear greasy taste from the beef soup. With green onion and cilantro on the top, you can get a complete sense of a decent beef noodle soup.

p.s. Coconut juice is a must try, it brings sunshine to your table. :P

Website: http://www.qirestaurant.com/timesquare/

#thai #qi #bangkok #times square #eatery #beef noodle soup #asian fusion

Shortcut to get Boeuf Bourguignon? No Oven Needed

In movie "Julie & Julia", two women with similar names all have their passion for cooking. The movie shows their separate lives in different cities, New York and Paris, but with the same theme - how food is satisfying not only your taste, but also you soul. The hilarious story line shows you how two women find themselves in cooking.

Boeuf Bourguignon is the main dish rercipe in this movie, which is also a peak of their cooking journey. So today, I wanna also share my dumb recipe with you, and I swear it is simple and easy ;-)

This recipe will not use oven, and all things can be done on the stove. YAY!

Below is the shopping list for you, I also listed specific brand names as well, I always believe better ingredients can help a dumb cook like me.

Ingredients needed:

Beef Shoulder Chuck - 2 pounds/ cut into 1-inch cubes

Onion - whole/ sliced

Mushroom - 6/ sliced

Carrots - 3/ cut into 1-inch chunks

Garlic - half/ chopped

Bacon (Hormel Black Label)

Olive Oil - 2 Tbsps

All-Purpose Flour - 2 Tbsps

Beef Broth (Rachael Ray's beef broth) - 2 cups

Tomato Paste - 2 spoon

Red Wine (I used Pinot Nior) - 500 ml

Thyme (fresh thyme used)

Bay Leaf

Salt & Black Pepper

Don't be scared, this is a dumb recipe, and the steps will be easy to handle ;P

1. Cure the beef cubes with salt and pepper, leave them for 30 mins.

2. Cut bacon into pieces, and fry them in a fry pan, take bacon out when the color changes to gold.

3. Fry beef cubes. When the color turns to golden brown, flip to another side.

4. Fry carrots chunks and onion slices with garlic, add salt pepper.

5. Put all cooked ingredients into a big bowl, add flour, red wine, beef broth, tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaf. Mix well, and turn the stove to low-flame.

6. Wait 45 mins, don't forget to stir the soup once a while.

7. Add mushroom slices and wait an extra 15 mins.

8. You are all set, and you can start decorate your dish woohoo!

Now pick up your favorite wine to pair with this dish. Cabernet Sauvignon goes best with beef.

Bon appetit!

#julie and julia #boeuf bourguignon #french #beef #recipe #pinot nior #beef broth #thyme #bay leaf #cabernet sauvignon #bon appetit

No Post Today

Hi All,

Due to my tight schedule this week, I will post both movie and related recipe on this Saturday (March 22nd). Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thanks for your understanding.;P

Best,

Shelly

Pates Et Traditions

When my friend Michelle and I was walking to a painting studio in Brooklyn several weeks ago, we stopped by a French restaurant called Pates Et Traditions.

It is a south-of-France focused spot sells rustic savory crepes and dessert crepes. The highlight of the restaurant is the decoration inside. The owner is actually from France and there are many photos on the wall that are take in southern France.

With this rustic atmosphere, we ordered Forestiere (ham, mushroom, Swiss cheese etc) and Roquefort (roquefort, cream, Swiss walnut) with egg on the top.

The flour crepe is a little crispy and the salad is just a great side for savory crepe. Makes the flavor not that salty and strong.

Dessert crepes is a good option for sharing as a dessert too. We had Banane Flambee, and the fire caused by rhum became the sparkle of the night.

#french #crepes #savory #dessert #banana #rhum #brooklyn #nyc

Quick Sense of Basil Pesto

Today I am introducing a quick and easy basil pesto pasta. Only 15 mins preparation time and your can easily get a sense of basil pesto just like your grandma's traditional dish.

Basil Pesto is an traditional Italian paste originally from the northern Italy. It is a blend of basil, olive oil, potato, pin nuts, garlic, and sea salt. You can find it in every single Italian restaurant as a classic cuisine.

Ingredients:

Any kinds of pasta

Basil pesto paste

Olive oil

Cheese powder (Parmesan)

Salt

Black pepper

Lemon Juice

Steps:

1: Simply boil pasta in water, 11 mins for medium firm. Don't forget to put salt into water.

2. In a pan, add olive oil, and stir in pesto paste, add extra chopped garlic as you like.

3. Mix the sauce with cheese powder to make it creamy.

4. Add pasta inside and add your favorite ingredient. (I added asparagus, you can get others like shrimp, pork, tofu etc.

5.Add black pepper before serving, and add some lemon juice for freshness. ;P

It's a quick dish that saves you from starving, store all the ingredients in your kitchen, and you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy your weekend!!

#basil #basil pesto #italain #pasta #eataly

Movie - No Reservations

Do you keep dreaming that, the one you are in love with is a chef, and you can easily close your eyes and open your mouth everyday, enjoy the dish made by your loved one with love. but, without love, will you give the same compliment to the chef?

This story is about a workaholic chef Kate (Catherine Zeta-Hones) of the 22 Bleecker Italian restaurant. She is a type of person who has cooking as the only interest, and she prefers all things to be done exactly right. Kate’s personality makes her desire to make everything under control.

Something unexpected happened to Kate’s life after her sister Christine dead in a car accident, Kate needs to take care of her niece, Zoe. The problem is Zoe does not eat anything Kate cooks. In the meantime, a sub-chef Nick (Aaron Eckhart) comes to the restaurant. Kate is so tangled because she is so afraid that Nick will take her position, and she does not know how to take care of Zoe.

Just like all fairy tales, the main actor Nick is the life saver, he solved the problem between Kate and Zoe, made them feel closer. Furthermore, Nick falls in love with Kate, and when everthing is right, they eventually live together happily ever after.

The best moment in the movie that touches me the most is when the strict Kate keeps her discipline and says,"I wish there was a cookbook for life, you know? Recipes telling us exactly what to do". And her therapist replies, “Well what I was going to say was, you know better than anyone, it’s the recipes that you create yourself that are the best.”

I believe the best way to make the one you wanted is not following the rule, but your heart.

#catherine zeta jones #no reservations #movie #italian #aaron eckhart

Aroma Kitchen & Winebar

Aroma Kitchen & Winebar is a great place for a romantic and intimate date. Service, selection of Italian wines, decent Italian dishes, light, music and atmosphere, everything is so right for a night dinner.

The place regularly has wine tasting events for wine lovers and makers to meet up and discuss their favorites. Each event has a specific feature and you can get great stories from a winemaker and know the history of the brand. Aroma Kitchen opens for private party as well, just like go to your own kitchen room, you can welcome your guests just like at home.

Aroma Kitchen also has great dishes that are hard to find in the city, the rare black linguine is available and it's one of my favorite. It comes with squid and combo shrimps in a tomato based soup.

If you would like to touch a sense of Italian food in a cozy and romantic way, Aroma Kitchen is your best choice.

Location:

36 E 4th St St New York, NY b/t Cooper Sq & Bowery in NoHo

Website:

aromanyc.com

#italian #black linguine #kitchen #winebar #noho #nyc #italian wine

Rosemary Lamb Chops

This weekend is for meat lovers, simply get all the ingredients below, and you will end up with a delicious lam chop dish ;D

Ingredients

Lamb Chops

Rosemary

Garlic

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Balsamic Vinegar

Steps:

1. Simply mince rosemary and garlic, mix them with sea salt, black paper, olive oil, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar.

2. Place the paste on lamb chops evenly, and leave it for 20 mins.

3. Place the marinated lamb chops into oven for 20 minns (350 F)

4. Add your favorite sides.

#lamb chop #rosemary #weekend #garlic #dish

Movie- Chocolat(2000)

In movie “Forrest Gump”, Forrest always repeat the quote from his mom, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’are gonna get.” Where new things come to your life, will you stand stand still, or follow your heart and move further?

This is the topic of the movie “Chocolat(2000)”. The story tells about a single mom Vianne (Juliette Binoche) moves with her 6-year-old daughter into a small French village. As an expert chocolatier, she opens up a chocolate shop across the street from the local Catholic church. She uses cocoa, milk, nuts, fruits and spices to bring a sensual pleasure to the people in the village. However, she is so not welcomed at the beginning because she does not fit into the ordinary type. She is a single mom, no religion, and wears provocative cloths. Local people are refused to change and do not step into her shop.

With the help from gypsy Roux (Jonny Depp), more people some people come to her shop, share their stories with Vianne and make her know more about the village. In the mean time, Vianne’s optimistic and friendly personality win the people in the village one by one, and Viannne actually motivates the people to accept new things and change.

Enjoy a piece of chocolate can be a moment to touch the upcoming event in your life. It can be prepared or unexpected, the only thing you need to do is, take that as the beauty of your life or make it a transformation.

#chocolat #movie #jonny deep #juliette binoche #love

The Best Pho Place in NYC

If you really love Pho, and look for a place sells decent Pho, Saigon Shack is the one you would fall in love with.

The place is located at Greenwich Village near NYU. The place is really cozy like a bar. The place do not take reservation and credit card. So be sure bring cash to the restaurant before you go there.

The best part everyone likes is the soup base of the pho at Saigon Shack. You can order the signature Saigon Shack Pho if that’s the first time you go there. It contains all kinds of beef, including beef balls, tender, beef pieces. With all mint, lime, and bean sprouts come with the soup, you would fall in love with it.

#pho #nyc #saigon shack #greenwich #nyu

Movie- Eat Pray Love

Have you ever thought about yourself? and pick one word to describe yourself?

Maybe you are too busy to think about this question in this fast paced life. Now, give yourself one second and think about this:

Now, Do you love the way you are?

Now, Do you love the city you are living in?

Now, Do you love the job you are living for?

If you doubt any of these questions above, you may match the movie I recommend today- Eat Pray Love

This romantic comedy-drama movie is based on the best selling book written by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray Love. Julia Roberts takes the starring role as the main character, Elizabeth. A lost and confused women leaves her unhappy life in NYC and travel across Italy, India and Indonesia to find what she really wants.

Here are the quotes I took from the movie:

- Not looking at the world through your head, look through your heart instead. That way, you will know god.

- Ruin is a gift, it is the road to transformation.

- We need to prepare for endless waves of transformation.

- We should appreciate life with all that comes with it.

If you wanna get some clues to find yourself, leave a night for this movie, and you will gain move than you expected. Hopefully you will find the answer to it, and get a sense of the sweetness of doing nothing. ;D

#eat pray love #julia roberts #elizabeth gilbert #find yourself #travel #movie #love

Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

If you are looking for a place to hang out with friend and enjoy a high tea afternoon. Lady Mendl's Tea Salon is a perfect place to go for a very decent tradition of afternoon tea.

This tea salon is located at 56 Irving Place, in the center of Gramercy Park, near the union square. It opens 7 days a week at 12:00, 2:30, and 5:00. This romantic place offers a five-course tea for only $35, including a selection of fine teas, varieties of finger sandwiches, fresh scones, and some sweets. You will get a over-brewed cup for your selection of tea, along with a flower shaped sugar. Raspberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream are there for your choice as well.

The best part of this high tea experience is the elegant ambience, The Victorian style architecture and furnishings provides you a vivid sense of the old tradition. White gloved waiters are very polite and friendly during the whole 2 hours. Reserve a table now and get a sophisticated afternoon tea experience. ;P