Cuteness in the Kitchen

Bunapi Shimeji aka. White Beech or White Clamshell mushroom

Bunapi Shimeji are cute little white mushrooms from Japan which are found in East Asia. 

These cuties taste rank when they are eaten raw, really bitter, once you cook them they turn into these slightly firm slightly nutty flavoured yumminess!

I sauteed mine with a little bit of butter on a low heat until golden brown and ate it with some scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and rye bread for breakfast. 

I took of the lobsters clawcuffs and it grabbed the chopstick.


Whilst I was waiting for the big pot of water to boil, I decided to do lobster races and lobster fight. 
The lobsters weren't in the mood to play.
I hope trying to make them race doesn't classify as animal cruelty!

Hanging out at my Godfathers hangout spot:

Ever since I can remember my godfather John and his buddies loves to go to The Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong. 
Seeing as I have been to this place so much with him, I felt that a blog post must be created for The FCC.
So first off The FCC isn't really a place to jam for the younger crowds, majority of the people in there are of the older generations. 
Hehehe loads of big bellies everywhere,they probs eat there everyday for lunch, as well as din din on a regular basis. Oh and let's not forget all the booze!!





Mmmmm this Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Preserved Plum Sauce is a WINNER!! The slow cooking makes the pork belly so delicate and tender that the chewing process is almost nonexistent. Slow cooking also allows the pork to absorb as much of the sauce as possible making it very flavoursome.
I am not very keen with plum sauce, I think it was from when I was severely hung over once and had a dish with plum sauce that still haunts me to this day. 
I love hog roast sandwich with apple sauce which is very similar in some way or another. So I just made sure not to think too deeply into my previous incident with the plum sauce and focus on my relationship with hog sandwiches.

Look how massive this pig is biggest recorded pig in the world shot by 11 year old in Alabama. They made around 500-700 pounds of sausages out of his meat.

The Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab with Salt and Chilli was Absolutely fantastic I tell you...

It was crunchy and spicy what a fab combo! 
It worked well with the pork as it was two completely contrasting taste and texture sweet & tender, spicy & crunchy. 
It really allowed me to leave with a satisfied tummy instead of being a glutton and eating when I am full just to satisfy my needs. 


The Fried Rice with Salted Fish & Diced Chicken was not to greasy, that is sometimes the problem with fried rice. 

Salted Fish is rich of sodium and calories, it isn't the best thing too eat if you have high blood pressure or nasopharnygeal cancer. Especially in chinese salted fish, it can cause mutations in bacteria. 

However if you have low blood pressure it is almost good for you. 

For further reading:

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Headneck/Typesofheadneckcancers/Nasopharynx.aspx

The FCC is quite expensive for me to go and eat there but luckily my Godfather loves going there hehehe yea free din din for me woop!!

I hope that in the future me and my buddies find a hang out spot as my Godfather and his buddies have!

Master taught me how to make Xiao Long Bao!

I started my internship at Bo Innovation, it is fantastic! 
I have tried a lot of amazing food. 
The Master (translated into english, he just cooks chinese food) has taught me how to make xiao long bao. 
They are steamed in a bamboo case and comes from Eastern China. 
Here's my attempt:

My xiao long bao isn't as well crafted as masters but he can pleat that thing so well you would of thought it was made by a machine. 


The main point of this little tasty thing is when you bite into it soup should burst out, and mine didn't pop in the steamer, which only means popping process will only take place in the mouth! Woop woop go me with my xiao long bao making techniques...
It had this tasty soup full of flavour that breaks out in your mouth. My palate was going crazy taking in all the flavours and textures. Especially with the sichuan pepper, it really leaves your tongue tingling.

MEATliquor

I must say there is something very satisfying about a nice greasy burger. Mmmmmmmm! Especially this Green Chilli Cheeseburger...

I went with my family to MEATliquor, I managed to  tell them that the 2 hour queue would only take 5 mins. He he he...

I circled them, as you can see they look a little out of place as MEATliquor is very "trendy", the crowd ranges from early 20s to early 30s. 
Children over 16 are not allowed after 6pm, I thought this is fantastic no offence to kids or anything. 
After the queue you enter into an amazing room with 'street art' style illustrations all over the place, the centre of the room consists of a dome that has been illustrated with different characters such as a Pig Butcher an Owl waiter or just dressed smart, either way looks like at waiter to me.

The contrast between the beautiful arches and the goreish, bold illustrations doesn't sound to promising for a restaurant but it just adds to the whole ambience.
This combined with the simplicity of the menu, the idea of using no cutlery or plates but a roll of kitchen towel and glasses that are recycled jam jars turns the whole experience into a unique expedition almost with you, your friends (in my case my fam) and your burger with his sidekicks (booze and fries). 
The start of your journey being the wait, where you queue up outside next to bins perhaps with a beer in hand (must add that you will also get whiffs of burgers being cooked not from the bins but from the kitchen), then coming into this amazing room blasting with classic tunes from artists such as Jimi Hendrix. 
I have great difficulties with menus and the only difficulty I had was choosing the extensive cocktails (luckily you can always have more then one without feeling bloated, I can't really do that with burgers), you meet your new buddies that you end up drinking and eating.
The food itself was greasy in the perfect way (if it makes any sense), I don't even know if it is the best burger or I only think it is due to waiting for 1 hour. 
However I do suggest not to bring parents or the Grans as I don't really think it is really their cup of tea!   





Just look at my parents!


I would definitely come here again, it is not to pricy and a great place to start the night. 
A suggestion perhaps don't wear high waisted shorts or anything that would restrict your stomach from expanding. 


If you would like to visit MEATliquor check out their website for more details:http://www.meatliquor.com/

It's a horrible horrible day...Rain Rain go away come again another day!! PLEASE

It is not very nice outside, perfect day to sloth around, ha ha talking about SLOTHS here is a cute lil sloth who is just a little itchy, Taz the sloth....hehehe:

I love sloths they are soooo cute!!! 

I also love TK Maxx.

They are from Mark Jacobs.

I love jelly shoes!

I love velvet!

I love green!

But I am not so in love "Charlotte au Chocolat" 

- Chocolate Bavarian Cream encased in light chocolate biscuit sponge which is just a chocolate mouse cake with a sponge biscuit -

I made it at school.

It is is very tasty The lightness of texture from the chocolate sponge works really well with the sweetness and 'airiness' of the chocolate bavarian cream, makes it easy to eat and not as rich as most chocolate cakes where you feel sick after one piece. 

However that could be a bit of a problem as It is quite fattening although it doesn't have any butter in it, there is a lot of sugar and the cream is not low fat. You can almost describe it as being deceiving, next thing you know one slice turns into half the cake into the whole thing being in your tummy!!! 

I am hoping that my buddy Warren will come and take it so I don't eat it all, hehehe...

The photo looks much better then it really does in real life. It looks like bum bum up close and personal.

Oh well better luck next time...

Also I love the new Muppets film:

I love Jason Segal!! 

Well that is all the love for now.

My first time making bread and I made a buddy!

Today I made fresh bread it was really fun you can make loads of shapes with them.

Here is my turtle bread:

This is how you make bread at home.

You will need:

(Yields 16 rolls)

• 500g strong flour 
• 30g melted butter 
• 10g salt 
• 20g yeast 
• 300ml water 
• 20g sugar 

For decorations:

• Poppy seeds
• Onion 
• Olives 
• Sesame seeds
• Rolled Oats 
• Hard cheese grated 
• Sun - dried tomatoes 

Method:

1. Sieve Flour and put it into a round bottom bowl ( if you don't have one a bowl big enough will do but it makes it much easier.)  
2. Make a well in the flour, add tepid water and melted butter. 
3. Crumble the yeast in with fingers, if hands are sticky wash them and dry well before you start kneading. 
4. Use a scraper to mix together, then knead for 10 - 15 minutes. To know when your dough is done press 2 fingers into dough and the print should hold for a few seconds. 
5. Work into a round ball, cover with cling film & put into oven at 36°C - 40°C for 10 mins. Or you can put a kitchen towel on top of bowl and leave out for 2 hours till the dough doubles in size.
6. Preheat your oven to 190°C - 200°C 
7. Make sure you have a clean surface before you split your dough into equal amounts. This is called sealing, split your dough to 45-50g each. 
8. Mould your dough into shape
9. Put into oven for 12-15 mins. 

MMMMM bread...

For more information about sea turtles visit WWF on:

http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/safeguarding_the_natural_world/wildlife/marine_turtles/

Apple Genuis Spotting

A new hobby of mine is called Apple Genius Spotting, similar to bird watching or train spotting you go to the Apple store and stalk the Geniuses, EASY!!! I love geeks, it's geek chic.

Although My Buddy Warren is not too happy, he thinks that they think they are way too cool now that they are "working for Apple instead of when it was all about the Windows 95 when they all got bullied."

Hopefully my laptop will be ok too I miss her!!!

Here is a song dedicated to her:

 

The Shirelles: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Here is my first time making pasta: 

It is Linguine with Parmesan sauce, I cooked it well part from I did not season enough! 

Thought I would also add my cutie pie of a doggie Boo Boo:

  AWWWWW!