The Cook’s Kitchen

Many of you are probably familiar with the ubiquitous green-lidded bottle of chili-garlic sauce that is sold at most Asian grocery stores. With its trademark rooster image stamped on the front, it’s a common sight in many Viet (and non-Viet) homes. Our family always had a jar of this sitting in our refrigerator door, right […]

This is a dish that reminds me that less can be more. With a few ingredients and some light chopping, you’ll have a simple and elegant dish that allows the delicious flavor of crab to shine. Known in Vietnamese as Miến Xào Cua, I enjoy having this for lunch or as part of a dinner […]

I found fresh fava beans at a local produce market and decided to make a salad with them. While the local weather (25F) does not feel like Spring, I needed something to remind me that the cold will eventually come to an end.
Fresh fava beans are a bit of work to shuck and shell, but […]

Arugula has been one of the hip, “it” greens for some time now. I do think watercress could be next. I mean, if arugula was the popular cheerleader, watercress would be the hot, artsy gal who won’t get fat after college/children. Okay, I kid. But really, watercress, with its versatility, has a lot to offer […]

Baby Greens with Grapefruit and Avocado

Every Monday, at the beginning of each work week, I tell myself that this is the day that I’ll start, once and for all, eating and living right. Of course, by mid-week, I’m like, “bacon is good for you, right?”
The citrus season is perhaps the most happy aspect of winter for […]

Bò Kho is a Vietnamese beef stew that my mother made for us all the time growing up. Not as thick as American beef stew, it’s more like a hearty soup with carrots and spices. My husband says it tastes like Asian-y boeuf bourguignon. It’s quite possible to me that this dish has its origins […]

One snowy Valentine’s Day, I woke up and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. On the table, I found a beautiful postcard of a palm tree-lined Miami. The back of the card read, “Guess where we’re going?”
Early next morning, we were on a plane to Miami. It was my first trip to Florida and […]

When it comes to breakfast, I am a die-hard fan of McCann’s Irish Steel-cut Oatmeal. Its nutty flavor and toothsome texture are far superior than the quick oats that cook in 2 minutes. It’s oatmeal that actually gives your teeth something to sink into. I find a small cup of this satisfies my hunger in […]