Tofu Kimchi Gyoza

Experimented the other day with Tofu Kimchi Gyoza...It was a successful experiment. But then again, I LOVE GYOZA.

Started off with one block of extra firm tofu cut up into cubes, 2 green onions chopped up, one grated zucchini, and a healthy heap of chopped up kimchi:


Mash up the tofu and mix everything well. Add a splash of shoyu (aka soy sauce), 1 beaten egg, mirin and sake (if you have some). Make sure to taste it at this point to see if its seasoned to your liking (can't do this if you're using raw meat sucka!):


Then you become a gyoza wrapping factory...I like to lay out my wrappers and then use a teaspoon to put on the gyoza skins. Make sure you don't overfill! It will make it hard to seal if it's exploding with filling...Dip your finger into a bowl of water and wet the edges of the gyoza skin to help seal the sides.






You can shape the gyoza however you like...this is how I do mine :)


I've found that they keep in the fridge without the skins getting glutonous for one day...apart from that, I'd put them in the freezer for safe keeping :)


To cook: Pan fry in a little bit of oil (I used olive oil b/c that's what I have at home) for 3-5 minutes until the bottom of the gyoza is golden brown and crispy looking. Then, add about 1.5-2 cm water into the frying pan, put a lid on it, and let the gyoza steam until the water evaporates...about 5-7 minutes. Then enjoy! I like to dip mine in a combination of shoyu and rice vinegar to taste.

I miss you

The Portland Cream donut from Voodoo Donuts:



This meal tied with the pho food cart I ate at in the Pearl District. This meal is from Nong's Khao Man Gai. I can't describe how delish this simple Thai dish is:


I also miss you Rogue...this is the Morimoto Soba Ale:

And we're back...sort of.

I got my laptop up and running again...in a janky sort of way. I borrowed our old roommate's computer monitor and hooked it up to my laptop. My laptop screen is still black, and eventually I'll need to either fix it or upgrade to a new laptop, but at the moment that seems like an unnecessary expense (esp after my most recent dental visit...super expensive to re-fill four fillings yo!...and we had to get the garage door re-keyed the other day...which was unexpected)

Anyways, it's nice to have my laptop alive again.

We recently ate at Jyoti Bihanga...it's this vegan/vegetarian restaurant down the street from where we live. It's run by Sri Chinmoy practitioners, and they are all super mellow and friendly. Must be from all the meditation!

Anyways, I had hibiscus mint ice tea to drink...



And the NeatLoaf Sandwich for my lunch. I generally like vegetarian/vegan alternatives (R not so much) so I gobbled up my meal happily:




R had the curry...I think it had mock chicken in it. It also came with a carrot ginger soup (which was light and refreshing), but I failed to take a picture of it before R consumed it all. I think he was afraid that I was going to eat it all in my "one bite" that I requested. hehe (he always teases that I consume all the food in the house while he is gone and threatens to hide the groceries so that he can have some. hah!)



I'd like to go back and try the other things on the menu. There are a lot of options to choose from and the atmosphere of the restaurant is really relaxing and peaceful. I also love that we can walk there!

San Diego-a-go-go...in New York!

Just came back from a refreshing long weekend in New York spent enjoying the company of my good friends (from back "home") and exploring some good eats around town. Conclusion: There is not enough time to eat all the good foods offered in this city.

At Xie Xie (not your average Vietnamese sandwich shop)...this is my friend C's Sweet Glazed Pork sandwich


My Vietnamese BBQ Beef sandwich...it was epic:


My friend works in front of a building that has a DESSERT TRUCK parked out in front!!! AMAZING. How she doesn't eat from the truck every single day at every single chance she gets never ceases to amaze me. Here is a pumpkin whoopie pie...bite size. Not too sweet, but hits the sweet spot nonetheless:



We spent some time at MoMA, though we didn't get a chance to look at the Tim Burton exhibit (it was sold out!)



We were puzzled by the works of Marina Ambrovich:


There was a lot of naked bodies involved with her exhibits. We even ventured through the one exhibit which had us walk inbetween two naked women in a hallway. I was afraid that I was going to graze them. While our one friend N just looked one of the women straight in the eye while walking inbetween them. How brave! You can't imagine how uncomfortable it made me feel...

Back to the food...At Inoteca in East Village...an assortment of bruschetta:


Considering this was a tapas restaurant, we left feeling quite satisfied. This was the octopus and garbanzo beans:


Prosciutto panini:


Thai Delivery from Land Thai...I'm blown away at how many things can be delivered in New York. I feel like I would never leave my home. All this food for $60!


A ginormous chocolate chip walnut cookie from Levain's bakery. The dough pre-baking was the size of a baseball. It was beautiful:


We also went to the Spotted Pig for brunch:


My cubano sandwich:


C's burger with roquefort cheese and shoestring potatoes (the neverending MOUND):


N's corned beef and hash with poached eggs:


Mini Cupcakes from Baked by Melissa...I AM OBSESSED with mini cupcakes! I had the red velvet and also a mint chocolate chip one:



Saw an awesome performance called Streb Slam in Brooklyn. A combination of gymnastics and dance and acrobatics...it was cool to say the least:



Also ate at Otto's:
Ramp's pizza:


BUCCATINI AL' AMATRICIANA (hollow spaghetti and crispy pork cheek):



Also had an anchovy pizza:


For dessert I had a triple gelato...Olive Oil, Guiness Stout (OH SO GOOD), and Pistachio!

Spring into Spring...

with a Burger Bar Party!

This is actually from a few weeks ago, but living in San Diego, are there really seasons? :P hehe

Check out the view from our friend's new condo in Little Italy. She has a kick ass community roof top BBQ area in the building:




Yummy vanilla bean cupcakes from Trader Joes, complete with sprinkles:



I sneaked a small piece before eating my lunch (don't tell my mom!)


More yummy goods from Trader Joes...the broccoli salad:


Hey, where are the burgers??? After all, it was a burger party, right?

An assortment of toppings for the burger bar:


More toppings:


I loaded my turkey burger:


It was a fantastic way to spend a Sunday...friends, food, good times :)

San Diego-a-go-go...The Naked Cafe

Oh my god...YUM!

The Naked Cafe is my new favorite breakfast joint.

Blackberry-Banana pancakes:
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I'm ready for my closeup:


The Yin and Yang (roasted potatoes, black beans, avocado, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes and salsa served with a tortilla):


It really hit the spot.

The Big Buff Breakfast burritos:


The Transcendence Wrap with a big heap of quinoa:


Dear Naked Cafe,
I will be back for more!
Love,
Me

Isn't it funny how the simplest things in life make you the happiest? Today's happiness stemmed from getting glass jars to put pasta in. :)

San Diego-a-go-go...O'Brothers (Horton Plaza)

A few of my friends and I are on a never-ending quest for the Best Burger in San Diego...In fact, our friend, F, has set up a handy dandy spreadsheet/grading system for this burger quest. It's awesome!

Tonight we made plans for an early dinner (4:30pm! And no early bird special yo!) and met at O'Brother's in Horton Plaza. We've tried to go to this burger joint three times now before we realized that they closed at 7pm on Sunday's. (Hence why we met extra early today to ensure that we could enjoy a burger there) We were all equally impressed.

The menu is simple (maybe a total of 6 burgers to choose from), and everything is organic...even the beer! I love the concept of farm-to-table restaurants!

F & I both opted for the The Big O burger (w/cheese, bacon, avocado, tomato and onion). F paired her Big O burger with an organic oatmeal beer, I opted for some green tea:



Each burger comes with your option of fries (tossed with generous chunks of minced garlic and salt) and two dipping sauces (ketchup and a ranch-flavored dip) or you could opt for a side salad:


(F & I both opted for fries!)

N opted for the Western Burger (bacon, cheese, w/homemade bbq sauce, onion rings) & the side salad & some classic root beer:



After taking a look at N's onion rings, F & I got a side order of onion rings too. hehe...but I mean, looking at this, wouldn't you want to try it too?



Meal = Amazing. I guess it is on the pricier side seeing as it was a $9.50 burger...but you get what you pay for at this joint.

In fact, before we left I got R a Big O burger to-go. He enjoyed his as well. I'm sure we'll go back...just maybe not for dinner (since how often do you eat dinner at 4:30?)

Next up, we'll be having a Burger Bar at our friend's...on her lovely outdoor BBQ/patio area. I can't wait.




O'Brothers
www.obrothersburgers.com
188 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 615-0909