Kushiyaki is a Japanese technique that includes various skewered and grilled meat, seafood, or even vegetables and tofu. The ingredients are placed on bamboo skewers and are typically seasoned with either salt (shio) or a reduced and sweetened version of soy sauce that is known as tare.Kushiyaki should always be freshly prepared and served immediately after grilling, while the typical accompaniments usually include edamame, salads, or pickled vegetables.Here is a Japanese asparagus dish using belly pork bacon, based on a meal I had in Hong Kong in 1987, where this was one of the side dishes served with yakitori chicken. […]
Tag Archives: lunch
Whelks are a type of sea snail commonly consumed in various parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, France, and South Korea. They are known for their firm texture and have a slightly sweet, briny flavour. In the UK, whelks are often enjoyed as a popular seafood delicacy.While they might not be as popular as some other types of seafood, whelks are appreciated by many for their unique taste and texture. If you enjoy trying different kinds of seafood, it might be worth giving whelks a try to see if you like their flavour and texture. Exports of […]
I was introduced to this ‘Norwegian’ Oyster Stew by an American friend from Wisconsin as a traditional Christmas Eve dish. The stew is a delicious seafood dish that combines the rich flavours of oysters with a creamy, savoury broth.However, while Norway is known for its rich seafood culture, including various preparations of fish, shellfish, and other marine delicacies, oyster stew is not a traditional or commonly known dish in Norwegian cuisine. Norwegian culinary traditions are more closely associated with dishes like various types of cured and smoked fish, as well as preparations of salmon, herring, and other seafood sourced […]
Goan fish curry is a popular and flavorful dish from the coastal state of Goa in India. It is known for its rich and aromatic blend of spices that create a tantalising curry. My first experience of Goan fish curry was in Oman. I had been working in a location where we usually ate in a fine-dining restaurant located on the compound. At first, I went for rich dishes like Lobster Thermidor, but after a few weeks, I hankered for something else. Then I saw one of the Goan waiters tucking into a curry, which was not on the […]
Reindeer Stroganoff is a dish that puts a unique twist on the classic Beef Stroganoff by using reindeer meat as the primary protein. Reindeer meat is lean and has a slightly gamey flavor, making it an interesting and unconventional choice for this Russian-inspired dish. I first ate Reindeer stroganoff in a hut on the East coast of Svalbard. Outside, the temperature was a bracing -30C℃, but inside, it was a toasty 22℃. Our Italian guide prepared the meal, which he served with rice. It was delicious.It’s essential to cook the reindeer meat thoroughly, but be careful not to overcook […]
The first time I cooked this, I was feeding some West Indian friends. They were very polite and did not comment on my use of ‘peas’ instead of ‘kidney beans’. I live and learn. This aromatic and flavorful rice and peas dish is a staple in Caribbean cuisine and pairs exceptionally well with many West Indian dishes.In many Caribbean recipes, “peas” refers to legumes such as kidney beans rather than actual peas. The classic Caribbean dish “rice and peas” traditionally uses kidney beans.
When I think of jerk chicken, my memory takes me back to visits to Jamaica and also the Notting Hill Carnival, where the smells of jerk chicken cooking on barbecues fill the air. Jerk chicken is a popular dish from Jamaica, known for its spicy and smoky flavor.
Somaliland, a self-declared independent state, is known for its rich culinary traditions, often incorporating locally available ingredients such as camel meat, which is a staple in many dishes. One of the popular dishes featuring camel meat is “Hilib Ari,” a traditional Somali grilled camel meat recipe. My visit in December 2019 also taught me not to try camel milk before a long journey. My hosts suggested it would have had a laxative effect. When we got back from the long drive from Hargeisa to Berbera (and back), I tried camel milk tea and noticed no particular ‘side effects’.
My good friend Nitza introduced me to Mexican food in San Diego in 1988. Compared with Mexican food I had tried in Europe, it was delicious. This is my take on the ‘San Diego fish taco’.