The Real Chef of Bangkok

We all know that Bangkok is a dynamic city of stars, culinary adventurers and shine. As visitors, we often rely on guide books that reveal restaurants that in many cases paid for advertising. But what we dont know are the hidden treasures of culinary marvels that the city of Bangkok has to offer. Forget TV for instance, as we have some guys that are doing a great job in discovering Bangkok cuisines on Youtube.

JAY FAI (ร้านเจ๊ไฝ)

Jay Fai (ร้านเจ๊ไฝ) is no doubt one of the most legendary Thai street food restaurants in Bangkok - some people are loyal fans, others say that it’s overpriced. It’s a Thai restaurants in Bangkok that I had been wanting to eat at for a long time, but never got around to it - partly because it is so expensive.

So finally one day for lunch, Ying and I drove over to central Bangkok to try Jay Fai (ร้านเจ๊ไฝ) for the first time. But really quickly, about the name.... In Thai, Jay (เจ๊) means a Chinese Aunty and Fai (ไฝ) means a mole, yes a mole.

What I can tell you first about the restaurant is that the owner is absolutely awesome. She wears ski goggles and a snow cap while she’s cooking, and she cooks over huge fire charcoal, fanning the flame as she expertly cooks. She’s also quite a character, and she loves to chat - so while I was filming she shared all about herself, and how her method of cooking her legendary Thai crab omelet ensures that it doesn’t soak up very much oil. It’s indeed the most amazing omelet you might ever see in your life.

Crab omelet (ไข่เจียวปู) - You can either order the 800 THB or the 1000 THB crab omelet, I went with the 1000 THB. It’s huge, but only uses 2 eggs, but it’s packed with shell-less crab nuggets. The omelet is cooked burrito style, and it’s massive. It’s a must-order when you eat at Jay Fai (ร้านเจ๊ไฝ).

Eating at Thai street food restaurants like this can be all about expectations. You have to go in knowing the prices are very high and you’re going to spend way more money than going to any other corner Thai street food restaurant. That being said, it’s a one-of-a-kind historical culinary legend of a restaurant in Bangkok.

Address: 337-261 Maha Chai Rd, Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand

The True Story Behind Tsukemen Ramen

Ramen, glorious ramen: The food that sees us through the good, the bad, the lean times, the lazy times… When in Japan, indulge in as much ramen as you can because it’s a truly spectacular meal when done right. But leave some room; there’s a secret dish, still somewhat unknown outside of Japan, that all food lovers must try: Tsukemen. And there’s only place to go to get it: the basement of the Tokyo train station. Over the years, Tsukemen Ramen became more popular throughout Japan and since 10 years very popular in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, London and Vancouver.

Founder of Taishoken Ramen Mr. Yamagishi

Like all great things, Ramen’s origins are a bit mysterious, but according to Hiroshi Osaki, a man with perhaps the greatest job title ever — “Ramen Expert” —the first truly specialized Ramen shop opened in 1910. It wasn’t until 1958 that we got instant Ramen noodles and college kids everywhere were saved from starvation.

Turns out the 1950s were a big decade for Ramen. Kazuo Yamagishi invented Tsukemen at 17 while apprenticing at a ramen restaurant in Tokyo in 1951. The story goes that Yamagishi saw a man dipping some noodles into a cup of soup and a culinary event was sparked. 

By 1961, Yamagishi added his new dish to his menu but called it “special Morisoba,” which consisted of a bowl of cold soba noodles and a bowl of hot soup to dip them in. Tsukemen differs from traditional Ramen in two big ways: the noodles and soup are served separately, and the broth for Tsukemen is thicker to better coat the noodles dipped in it. Yamagishi’s creation was a massive hit. Sadly Mr. Yamagishi is no more here with us but his legacy continues to inspire millions of Ramen enthusiasts around the world. 

At first some Ramen purists balked, but Tsukemen has only grown in popularity, in no small part thanks to Ryosei Mita, who studied under Yamagishi. Mita opened Rokurinsha in 2005 and it wasn’t long before he was dealing with lines wrapping around his tiny shop, patiently waiting their turn for a bowl of thick, savory soup and a bowl of either warm or cold noodles. Eventually, Rokurinsha needed to move to accommodate its legion of hungry fans and ended up in Ramen Street in the Tokyo Station basement.

This little 12-seat restaurant is smack in the middle of a massive concourse of Ramen options and still

Traditional Ramen Bowl Set

it has a line for the food. You’ll be able to use that time to choose your meal so you’re ready to tap it into the automated ticket machine at the entrance. Do you want hot or cold noodles (hot noodles help keep the soup warm as you dip, but it’s personal preference), want a normal serving or the extra large (normal is fairly substantial), and what toppings do you want — a boiled egg or shredded pork? You really can’t go wrong, even if you get to the machine that’s completely in Japanese and panic, glancing at the snaking line waiting behind you. Push any one of the pictures of Tsukemen on the machine and you’ll be in gastro-heaven. Conveniently enough, you can use your subway card to pay.

Rokurinsha’s tsukemen broth is simmered for 13 long hours, using a secret recipe that includes things like pork, chicken bones, fish, like dried mackerel, and veggies. It blends together to form a thick, flavor-packed liquid designed to perfectly coat the plump, chewy noodles. In addition to any toppings you might’ve ordered, you’ll get a bamboo shoot and, floating delicately on top, a piece of seaweed holding powdered fish. Maybe some of these ingredients sound unusual or you’re not sure how it’ll all come together, but boy does it. It’s been described as umami and that’s the closest word.

The noodles are specially designed for Tsukemen and are heaven in their own right. They have to be, since they’re essentially the main event in this dish; the broth is more of a dipping sauce to compliment the Chinese-style noodle. They have their own rich, sweet, delicious flavor, so try a few sans broth.

There is some etiquette to enjoying Tsukemen. At Rokurinsha, you’ll place your order and pay at the automated station, then will be shown to a seat. A glass of water will appear, a bib (you will definitely need it), and moments later, your two bowls: broth and noodles. Slurp and slurp loudly as you eat, though try your damnedest not to spray the people around you.

Slurping is a compliment to the chef. In between bites, however, don’t stick your chopsticks into your noodles in lieu of using the holder; this resembles a funeral ritual involving rice. Once you’ve finished your noodles, if you have any broth left, you can ask for soup-wari, which a lighter broth used to dilute the concentrated broth so you can eat every craveable bite. Don’t linger; as soon as you’ve finished, head on out so the next person in line can finally eat.

Taishoken Restaurant at Eifukucho in Tokyo, Japan

Umami powder to unlock the 5th flavour

Rokurinsha is far from the only place in Japan to get Tsukemen, but it’s unequivocally some of the best in the country. They have other locations now, like in Tokyo Skytree, but there’s something about enjoying a world-class dish from a world-class restaurant in the bottom of a busy train station. Only in Japan.


Kazuo Yamagishi the founder of Taishoken Ramen passed away at the age of 80

Hiroshi Osaki, 56, a ramen critic who has frequented Taishoken for 35 years, commented, "What makes good ramen is said to depend on the pork stock, chicken stock and personality, and I think that's the phrase for him (Yamagishi). His ramen represented his gentle character. I will miss him."

A wake for Yamagishi will be held at Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on April 7, followed by a funeral ceremony the next day. Mr. Yamagishi but his legendary Tsukemen Ramen (Mori-soba) is the greatest legacy for Ramen fans around the world.

How to make Tsukemen Ramen

The richness of the Tonkotsu broth is well worth the half a day it takes to simmer, just make it a day or two in advance and it will be ready to go. Toppings and extras really make the ramen experience so don’t skimp — and make sure to slurp your noodles like the Japanese do! Although this might not be the authentic recipe but still close to the original version.

Serves 4 – 6


INGREDIENTS

For the Tonkotsu (pork bone broth)
2 pork trotters, cut in half length-ways (ask your butcher to do this for you)

1 kg pork leg bones, cut into small chunks (ask your butcher to do this for you)
2 brown onions, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, bruised
5 cm piece ginger, sliced
200 g swiss brown mushrooms, sliced
250 g piece fatty pork belly skin
4 litres water

For the braised pork shoulder
1 kg piece boned pork shoulder or boned and skinned pork belly
100 ml thin soy sauce
150 ml mirin seasoning
100 ml cooking sake
60 g caster sugar
½ teaspoon ground white pepper
2 spring onions, sliced into 2 cm batons
4 cm piece ginger, sliced
2 cloves garlic, bruised
500 ml tonkotsu broth or chicken stock

For the soup

1 medium eggplant, cut into 1 cm dice, salted and rinsed
40 ml canola or peanut oil
1 small leek, thinly sliced
½ cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
6 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
reserved tonkotsu broth
reserved braising liquid
5 g katsubushi (dried skipjack tuna flakes) or bonito flakes

3 Tbsp Japanese sesame paste (neri goma)
1 Tbsp genmai miso paste
100 g black fungus, sliced or torn

For the eggs

4 – 6 soft boiled eggs, peeled
150 ml soy sauce
10 ml dark soy sauce
40 ml mirin rice wine seasoning

To serve
400 g Japanese ramen noodles
8 – 12 scallops
1 Tbsp butter or oil
1 large handful bean shoots
8 – 12 sheets toasted, salted nori sheets
menma (fermented bamboo shoots)
shichimi togarashi, Japanese chilli sprinkle
extra katsubushi (dried skipjack tuna flakes) or bonito flakes

TIPS

The Tonkotsu stock can be made up to a week prior and stored in the fridge until required. It will solidify when cold but will return to liquid when heated.

Genmai miso is a fermented soybean paste made with brown rice (genmai) instead of the more traditional polished white rice. White or red miso can be used if you’re unable to find the genmai variety.

Salting eggplant removes excess moisture and bitterness. Place diced eggplant in a colander, sprinkle generously with salt and set aside 10 mins. Rinse to remove salt, then pat dry with paper towel.




METHOD

To make the tonkotsu broth, place trotters and bones in a large stock pot over and cover with water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain through a colander and discard the dirty water.

Wash pot, trotters and bones, scrubbing where required to remove any excess congealed blood and scum. Return the trotters and bones to the clean pot and cover again with cold water.

Heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 – 7 minutes or until onions have begun to caramelise. Add onion mixture and mushrooms to the pot of bones, place over a high heat and bring to the boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Skim the surface of the liquid to remove any scum released from the bones, then place the piece of pork belly into the pot.

Simmer for a further 4 – 6 hours, or longer if possible. Check regularly and top up with water to keep bones submerged until the final hour, then allow the broth to reduce a bit and concentrate. Cool slightly then place a muslin-lined colander over a bowl and strain. Reserve stock and discard solids. The stock can be made up to a week prior and stored in the fridge until required.

To make the braised pork shoulder, place the pork in a saucepan that is an inch or two wider than the meat and a few inches deeper — you want it to have a little bit of room when it is braising but not too much. Add remaining braised pork ingredients (soy sauce through stock) and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 – 1 ½ hours or until tender. Turn off the heat and allow the pork to cool in the stock. When cool, move the pork to a plate and cover until ready to serve. Don’t slice the pork too early or it will dry out. Strain the braising stock through a fine-meshed sieve covered with muslin, reserve liquid and discard solids.

To make the soup, heat oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over high heat. Add the leeks, corn, shitake mushrooms and rinsed eggplant and cook, stirring, until vegetables are golden and tender. Add reserved tonkatsu, braising liquid, and bonito and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 5 – 7 minutes until the stock has slightly reduced.

Remove pan from heat and immediately whisk in the sesame paste and miso, then stir through the black fungus. You don’t want to bring the soup back to the boil at this point as the stock will split.
While the soup is cooking, prepare the noodles according to packet directions then plunge into cold water to chill.

For the eggs, place soy, dark soy and mirin in a small saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Add the peeled soft boiled eggs and simmer for 2 minutes or until the yolks are cooked to your liking. Ensure the eggs are completely submerged, topping up with a little boiling water if required.
Heat a medium frying pan over high heat and quickly sear scallops in the butter for 30 seconds on each side.

Divide ramen noodles into serving bowls. Thinly slice pork and halve the eggs, and arrange on top of the noodles. Finish each bowl with scallops and a few pieces of nori. Serve with bean shoots, extra bonito, menma (fermented bamboo shoots) and shichimi togarashi on the side.

Kamikoto Sharpest Knives on Earth

To begin with, I am not a Kamikoto representative, this blog post is to share my experience and review on my recent Kamikoto set purchase. When I first started cooking I quickly figured out that having a sharp knife was important to success in the kitchen. The first cooking class I attended showed me which knives work best for which purposes, and what to look for. Fast forward to last year, when I was taking online courses, and learned even more about kitchen tools. I’ve been pretty obsessed with cutlery since then, and I even have a Santoku tattooed on my arm! Hence, why I am very excited to share my review on this Senshi Kamikoto knife set, with you. I bought my Kamikoto Set on Amazon, you may find further Kamikoto reviews here.

Kamikoto Knife Set: Chef’s Knife

Butternut squash: I used this to peel, slice in half and chop the squash. For the larger cuts, it takes a second to get used to the one-sided edge, because it wants to curve into what it’s cutting. If you know this going into it, it’ll be easier to cut straighter lines. Other than that, the blade is supremely sharp and cuts through the hard squash, effortlessly. For the chopping, there are no issues, and the one-sided edge helps to push the cut pieces away from the blade as you go. The large blade was great for cutting thin slices and Julienne cuts of the squash, as if it were soft!

Butter lettuce: On the other side of the spectrum, soft and airy lettuce can sometimes be smashed while being chopped or cut off of the whole head. With a couple of subtle back and forth motions, the Chef’s knife sliced through the fragile lettuce without smushing it or super visibly oxidizing the edges, which can happen with duller knives.

Rice paper: Now, this one may seem odd, but if you have ever tried making rice paper bacon, you know that chopping uncooked rice paper is HARD! If you don’t have a good knife, you end up cracking the paper into unusable pieces. It can be very frustrating! For this test I ran 1-cm of the tip across the rice paper, then cut down, rolling the blade over the score and it was beautiful. The length of this knife really helps to get a full strip out of the paper.

Avocado: Lastly, I wanted to see if this large blade was versatile enough to get the thinnest slices out of something soft. As you can see from the photo, the slices are oh-so-thin, consistent and this avocado was super buttery. All it took was a few up and down motions and it was effortless. Avocado roses for everyone!

Kamikoto Knife Set: Utility Knife

Carrot: I used this smaller knife to peel, and do an assortment of cuts on a single carrot. Because the blade is nimble, it was not intimidating to use for more delicate or precise work. On the other end, even though the blade is small, it still cut through the dense carrot easily. I really enjoyed cutting the 1/8-inch Julienne sticks with this blade, perfectly.

Tomato: I feel like we’ve all seen the infomercials with a weird knife or tool cutting through tomatoes in one fell swoop. That’s not realistic, or necessary. Cutting tomatoes should require a motion that goes both down and across, to get a uniform slice. The utility knife nailed it, and got thin slices, even from a very soft tomato.

Lemon: I found that I really liked using this blade on the left side of the lemon to slice off thin pieces for zest/drinks. It was super sharp, really easy to work with on smaller items and cuts like this. Then I went for the hyper-thin slices, which sometimes can get messy with dull blades (again with the smushing!). But, in this instance, they were stunning.

Green onion: I love topping Asian-style dishes with green onions! So, I thought it appropriate to try out some delicate angled cuts on one for garnish. The utility knife cut uniformly and completely through, which can sometimes be hard for small, fibrous veggies.

Kamikoto Knife Set: Conclusion

A classical Kamikoto knife set

If you are looking to seriously invest in knives that will possibly outlive you, this knife set is a great choice. Especially, with their lifetime warranty! The price may be a little off-putting, at first, but they have options for everyone. After looking at their site, I found that you can get a great deal on a knife that is made-to-order! The Santoku from Kamikoto can be ordered ahead of time for a fraction of the price, at even less than some competitors of lower quality.

Most importantly, you can really feel the quality of the blades, and the sharpness is pretty incredible. I’m very excited to have these knives in my kitchen, and know that I will be using them again and again. Though, I certainly won’t be lending them out, anytime soon.

The Perfect Asian Spicy Prawn Dish

If you love Asian food, you’ll go mad over these Chilli Garlic Prawns! The sticky sauce is spicy, sweet and garlicky and I think you will be surprised how few ingredients it requires. And when you taste it you will be amazed what great depth of flavour it has! I often wonder who doesn't like spicy prawns unless alergic to it.

This takes 15 minutes to get on the table. Cross my heart. So start cooking the rice before you start

these prawns (shrimp)!

When I go to a restaurant and try a dish I like, I usually have a fair chance of getting pretty close replicating the dish at home. Even if I can’t make something straight off the top of my head, I’ll know where to look to find a recipe to use as a base, or a Chef that makes something similar.

I promise I’m not trying to blow my own horn here (and I can’t do desserts!!), I’m just explaining how this recipe evolved. And it came to be after I had a Stir Fried Prawns (Shrimp) in Chilli Jam at a Thai Restaurant.

I was going to try to replicate it using a homemade Chilli Jam recipe, but then I got lazy. Instead, I tried to achieve the same flavours using a little bit of this, a little bit of that, a dash of this and a splash of that. And what do you know? It came out darn delicious. Really, really tasty and pretty close to making this with a homemade Chilli Jam, but just a whole lot easier and faster.I promise I’m not exaggerating when I say that this really does taste like Spicy Stir Fries you get from modern Asian restaurants. I don’t claim this to be authentic Asian because it probably isn’t an authentic Asian stir fry but every ingredient in the sauce is certainly used in many Asian dishes!

I served this with rice and steamed baby buk choy. Here is my real lazy but very effective way of steaming Asian greens. I know it is not environmentally friendly and one of my friends totally “had a go” at me about this, but I can’t help it, it’s ingrained in my DNA because it’s how my grandmother used to steam Asian greens!

All you do is rinse the vegetables under the tap, shake excess water off (but don’t dry), wrap in cling wrap then microwave for 1 1/2 minutes (or so). That’s it!

You can do this with most Asian greens – Chinese broccoli (gai lan), choi sum etc. And if you want a really great sauce to serve on steamed Asian Greens, try my Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Saucewhich really does taste like what you get at Chinese Restaurants and Yum Cha (it’s made with more than just Oyster Sauce!). I love Lee Kum Kee Oyster sauce which fits perfectly.



Putting rice aside, and assuming you use raw peeled prawns / shrimp rather than peeling your own, my Chilli Garlic Prawns really is a 15 minute dinner. Here is how it goes down:

Finely chop garlic and ginger (green onions/shallots and fresh red chilli is optional garnish);

• Cook prawns (3 minutes tops);
• Make sauce (4 minutes);
• Steam greens (1 1/2 minutes); and
• Serve and look like a hero!

PS I know that I am usually a prawn snob and I really urge you to peel your own prawns but for a quick meal like this, pre-peeled is the way to go. Fresh, if possible. Frozen prawns are just not the same.

ASIAN CHILI GARLIC PRAWNS (SHRIMP)

Juicy prawns / shrimp in a sweet sticky, spicy, garlicky sauce. A quick dinner that tastes like a homemade Chilli Jam stir fry you get at modern Thai restaurants!
Recipe type: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Serves: 2-3

INGREDIENTS

10oz / 300g prawns / shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1 tbsp vegetable oil (or canola)
1 tsp sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ginger, grated or finely chopped (can be omitted)
1 - 2 tsp chilli flakes* (Note 1)
½ cup water
2 tbsp Sriracha (Note 2)
1½ tsp soy sauce, light or all purpose
2 tbsp brown sugar (or sub with white sugar)
Garnish (optional)
Sesame seeds
Finely chopped shallots/scallions
Finely chopped red chilies

INSTRUCTIONS

Coat prawns in vegetable oil. Heat well seasoned skillet or non stick pan over high heat. Cook prawns for 2 minutes, or until light golden and just cooked. (Note 3) Transfer onto a plate.

Remove skillet from stove to cool down slightly, and decrease stove to medium.

Add sesame oil into skillet, return to stove. When heated, add garlic, ginger and chilli flakes. Cook until garlic is fragrant and starting to turn golden.

Add water, then remaining ingredients. Stir, increase heat to medium high, and let it simmer for 3 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken to a syrup consistency.

Return prawns into skillet and toss to coat in sauce and reheat, and cook until the sauce thickens a bit more.

Garnish with sesame seeds, fresh chilli and shallots if desired. Serve with rice and steamed baby Buk Choy (Note 4)

NOTES

Sriracha by Huy Fong

* Adjust spiciness to taste with chilli flakes not Sriracha because the sauce needs the vinegar in the Sriracha.

1. Also known as Red Pepper Flakes. You could also use a jar of minced chilli or chilli paste but do not try to saute it with the garlic because it will spit everywhere! Stir it in when you add the water. Even this Masterfoods Chilli Paste from Woolworths in Australia is fine.

2. Sriracha is an Asian chilli sauce that is made with more than just chilli. It is now common in most supermarkets in Australia, US, Canada and UK. Hereis the one I use from Woolworths.

You can substitute with another hot sauce, even Frank's!

3. How to tell if prawns are cooked: Raw prawns hang straight by the trail, perfectly cooked prawns form a "C" and overcooked prawns will curl into an "O". Overcooked prawns have a rubbery texture and are not nice - so don't do it!

4. This is how I steam baby Buk Choy: Rinse under tap, shake off excess water, wrap with cling wrap and microwave for 1½ minutes on high. Remove cling wrap immediately (careful of steam) and serve!

5. Nutrition per serving, assuming 2 (generous) servings. Prawns and sauce only.

The Instant Noodles Review

EARLY DAYS

To understand about instant noodles we have to go back at least 40 years. Right at the epic invention by Mr. Ando. Instant noodles are sold in a precooked and dried noodle block, with flavoring powder and/or seasoning oil. The flavoring is usually in a separate packet, although in the case of cup noodles the flavoring is often loose in the cup. Some instant noodle products are seal packed; these can be reheated or eaten straight from the packet/container. Dried noodle blocks are cooked or soaked in boiling water before eating.

Invented Instant Noodles - Sir Momofuku Ando

The main ingredients used in dried noodles are usually wheat flour, palm oil, and salt. The dried noodle block was originally created by flash frying cooked noodles, and this is still the main method used in Asian countries, but air-dried noodle blocks are favored in Western countries.

Instant noodles were invented by Momofuku Ando (born Go Pek-Hok) of Nissin Foods in Japan. They were launched in 1958 under the brand name Chikin Ramen. In 1971, Nissin introduced Cup Noodles, a dried noodle block in a polystyrene cup (It is referred to as Cup Ramen in Japan). Instant noodles are marketed worldwide under many brand names.

It was first marketed on 25 August 1958 by Ando's company, Nissin, under the brand name Chikin Ramen. Ando developed the production method of flash frying noodles after they had been made, creating the "instant" noodle. This dried the noodles and gave them a longer shelf life, even exceeding that of frozen noodles. Each noodle block was pre-seasoned and sold for 35 yen. Initially, due to its price and novelty, Chikin Ramen was considered a luxury item, as Japanese grocery stores typically sold fresh noodles for one-sixth their price.

THE NOODLES

Indomie Mi Goreng is an instant noodles product line made under the Indomie brand by the Indofood company, the world's largest instant noodle manufacturer, located in Indonesia. Mi Goreng is Indonesian for "fried noodle". Indomie Mi Goreng is simply abbreviated as Indomie goreng by most Indonesians. Indomie Goreng is a type of instant noodle served without soup and is stirred well with soysauce, oil, and seasoning. This instant noodle derived its inspiration from traditional Indonesian dish called mi goreng, a variant of fried noodle common in Indonesia. Many street vendors sell it and traditional mi goreng is considered as common food by the people. I found these instant noodles while living as a young adult in Singapore and fell in love with them. Not only is the seasoning powder tasty, this instant noodle also comes with seasoned oil, hot sauce, sweet soy sauce, and fried onions. What American brand of instant noddle can compete with such amazing choices for a party in your mouth?!

Instant Noodles ''Mama'' Shrimp Tom Yum Flavour. Here is a dish we eat regularly, Instant Noodles Shrimp Tom Yum Flavour. A spicy hot & sour noodle containing aromatic lemon grass & kaffir lime leaves, and galangal. This Tom Yum recipe has a nice spectrum of tastes and aromas with the red chili oil droplets on top of the soup. You can jazz up this instant noodle with lots of delicious ingredients. Recommend adding shrimps, Tofu and vegetables to this authentic Thai flavors tasting broth. These are really delicious and much better than plain ole top ramen. It comes with chili powder, the lime shrimp sauce and a bit of an oil, all in separate little packs so you can control how much you put in.

Samyang Bulldark Spicy Chicken Roasted Noodle! When the package came, the noodles were all in one piece, no broken or smashed pieces! The instructions are easy to follow, of course after watching all the challenge videos, most people probably won't need to rely on the instructions on the package. The noodle itself is pretty hot. At first, it doesn't seem too bad, but as you keep eating the heat rises. These ramen also had a hint of sweetness to me, which I really enjoyed. I can usually handle my spicy really well, I wouldn't rate the spiciness as intense as the internet makes it to be. Personally, I would give the spice rating a 8/10. Overall, I really enjoy the ramen and I even crave it sometimes! I love spice, and I make a point to put hot sauce on nearly everything I eat. My taste buds were primed for a spicy noodle of this magnitude, but it was still a pleasure to try something that really gets my mouth burning.

Nongshim, meaning farmer’s heart in Korean, represents our care and dedication for the food we bring to your table. We carefully select the highest quality ingredients with the same mind of the growers in the field to create exceptional products with delicious flavors. With the mission of providing better food and services, we continue our efforts to create a variety of noodles and snacks. From our Chefs Best Taste Award winner Bowl Noodle products to everyone’s favorite snack Shrimp Crackers, we strive to satisfy the cravings for tasty food. I have been eating these noodles since I was a young child. Whether you eat them straight up with nothing added, or you add meat, seafood or vegetables....they are awesome. Highly recommended!

These are sweet and spicy. While i don't feel they are as good as the original flavor, they are still pretty good and worth trying.The flavor can be a little bland so you may want to add some kecap manis or some siracha. Otherwise, these a pretty good. I cannot say enough good things about this. After years of Top Ramen and Maruchan, I decided to give this a try. I was thrilled. It has the standard salty seasoning packet, but it also comes with separate soy sauce, chili sauce, oil, and fried onions that you can combine in different ways for a unique flavor experience each time. The seasoning is a little on the sweet side, so you'll almost certainly want to use the chili sauce to cut it. The noodles are very dense and give this a real sense of substance. Good either by itself or mixed with vegetables, tofu, or meat.

I am not a ramen expert by any means, but this brand is quite tasty. I dress mine up with veggies (bok choy or spinach), sliced hot dogs (I know it sounds weird, but the fatty content and salt add to the flavor), mushrooms, and an egg. The price is steep compared to maybe what might be available at a Chinatown, so in the end it doesn't end up being quite the cost cutting convenient meal you might think instant ramen should be. Again, this is my favorite ramen, and well worth the ~$2/each price tag, especially if you add some protein to make it a full meal. I can only hope Amazon restocks soon, as I've had a craving for these lately only to find them out of stock.

Fire hot! really hot! If you like spicy noodles these are very nice. Chili is listed before sugar which is quite rare in my experience. Ottogi still makes their noodles in South Korea, so you know you're getting the real thing without a modified taste profile or reduced heat. At its current fluctuating price of $22-24 its a really good deal. If you like Nong Shim, spend a few extra bucks and try these ! But watch out, before you try make sure that you have at least one glass of water ! haha

This Ramen Noodle Soup by Maruchan is what you can expect visiting a Ramen shop. The taste can keep up with the major Ramen brands. The good point is that this has ZERO trans fat which can be sometime rare to get. Maruchan offers a wide variety of delicious Ramen flavors. Maruchan also offers less sodium Ramen and tasty ethnic food flavor products as well. I personally love this Maruchan shrimp flavored ramen.

Nissin Chicken Ramen is the ultimate Ramen experience. Epic in taste and flavour is excellent! This is a one-of-a-kind, Ramen Noodle (the first one marketed, I believe,... 55 yrs ago). This is the second time I've ordered these Nissin Chicken Ramen Noodles. They came in a timely manner and were packed securely. I simply love this flavour.. it's one of my all time favorite. This classical instant noodle ramen brings up memories, I wish I had a time machine! 

Made my first bowl and it was very good. I only used half the packet of sauce, and the soup broth was just right, good flavor. I added green onions, bok choy, barbecue pork and an egg - a full meal. Next time I'll add some homemade shrimp dumplings (like shrimp won tons). Really liked the texture of the noodles. Saved the remainder of the sauce packet in a glass jar, couldn't see throwing it out; will use it later with some soba noodles. After eating this ramen I don't think I can go back to eating the ramen you normally find in the supermarket. Will certainly buy more! Will try other flavors in the future.

Matcha - The Green Gold

Matcha is known to be highly beneficial, the more you know about Matcha the more you would want to find out. At least this is how I felt when I had the opportunity to hear about the wonders of Matcha and the benefits for our body and health in general. But before we go deeper into Matcha, make sure that when you buy its authentic. There are lots of cheap versions floating around the markets and often sold cheaply with an abundance of pesticides. For four hundred years, people partaking in chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony, have enjoyed matcha. The tea’s unique creamy texture has a vegetal, fresh, sweet aroma and tastes pleasantly astringent.

Growing matcha requires an extra step that its other green tea cousins don’t—matcha tea bushes spend several weeks growing under trellises that protect them from the sun. This protected growth time actually changes the internal chemistry of the leaf, resulting in an extra-rich taste, additional beneficial amino acids, and higher antioxidants. Matcha leaves also get extra attention when they are processed. In fact, matcha is only made in specialized tea factories designed to turn bulky, fresh tea leaves into finely milled, silky smooth powdered tea. In the matcha factory, once the stems and leaf veins have been removed from each leaf, the remaining torn bits of leaf are funneled into small granite mills consisting of two opposing and very finely scored grinding stones. The movement of the stones is slow and precise—it takes approximately one hour to obtain a half-ounce of matcha. Because of this meticulous process, matcha delivers the most nutrients per cup of any green tea. It is estimated that you only get 30 to 40 percent of the healthy nutrients—including vitamins A, E, and beta-carotene—from leaf teas, whereas matcha retains nearly 100 percent of the available nutrients.

Ido Tea Bowl, Korean, Yi (Joseon) dynasty, 16th century

The result? A bright green powder that does not dissolve in hot water (it is not instant tea) but is so microfine that it “surrenders” to the water, leaving a fine layer of tea sediment at the bottom of the cup. When shopping for matcha, take time to look at ingredients—many types of powdered green tea are sold in the market but most aren’t authentic matcha. Avoid powdered tea that contains sugar, milk products, or other stabilizers—true Japanese matcha is comprised of only ground tea leaf, pure and simple. Matcha should be purchased within the year that it was produced, so look for an expiration date. Real matcha can be costly, but the pleasure it gives is priceless.


A glimpse back in history 

Tea Culture of Japan: “Chanoyu” Past and Present illuminates the importance of Japanese tea culture and examines the ways in which it has evolved over the centuries. Imported to Japan from China during the ninth century, the custom of serving tea did not become widespread until the thirteenth century. Before the rise of the simple wabi aesthetic, tea service involved precious objects displayed lavishly in a large room. By the late 15th and 16th centuries, powdered tea was ceremonially prepared by a skilled tea master and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting; this way of preparing tea became known as chanoyu. Tea Culture of Japan brings together approximately 100 objects—drawn largely from distinguished private collections and supplemented by the works in the collection of the Yale University Art Gallery. Objects on view range from the ninth century through the present day and include ceramic tea bowls from Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam, as well as bamboo tea scoops, iron kettles, maki-e lacquer incense containers, and Zen-inspired calligraphic works.



Amongst its many health benefits, Matcha…

• Is packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg
• Boosts metabolism and burns calories
• Detoxifies effectively and naturally
• Calms the mind and relaxes the body
• Is rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins
• Enhances mood and aids in concentration
• Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
• Prevents disease
• Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Making authentic Matcha

Want to make a cup of matcha? You will be surprised that making matcha is not high tech and very simple. Whisk matcha and hot water vigorously with a traditional bamboo tea whisk or a milk frother to incorporate the tea powder well.

Cooking with Matcha

Try matcha in fruit smoothies, tea cocktails, and desserts such as cookies, custard, ice cream, and pound cake. Matcha smoothies are easy to make: Whisk 2 teaspoons (or more) of matcha into one cup of plain yogurt. Add 2–3 cups of fruit and/or fruit juice, and sweetener or ice cubes (optional). Matcha is particularly delicious with these combos: mango and apricot; cantaloupe and strawberry; apple and raspberry; or banana and pineapple.

Here are some additional quick and easy ideas for incorporating matcha into everyday foods.

Put a little matcha into a fine hand-held strainer and gently tap some “matcha snow” over a dollop of whipped cream to accompany poached pears, a pecan pie, or a cup of hot chocolate, or dust onto a serving of fresh fruit salad topped with yogurt.

For a tasty addition to your favorite sandwich or chicken salad, make a colorful matcha mayonnaise in a snap by using 1 teaspoon matcha powder per ¼ cup of mayonnaise. Blend until smooth and add a few drops of lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

Sprinkling grainy sea salt on salads, vegetables, or meats adds crunch and flavor—try mixing ½ teaspoon matcha powder to 1 tablespoon grainy sea salt for a splash of color and flavor.

Tea, Green Tea and Matcha History

• All tea varieties, including white, green, oolong and black tea, grow from a plant with the botanical name Camellia sinensis, which originated in Southwestern China.

• Tea as a diffusion was discovered by chance nearly 5,000 years ago, when tea leaves blew into the steaming cup of water set before Chinese Emperor and botanist Shen Nong. The same process has been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
• Japanese monks visiting China carried tea leaves home, inspiring the concept of ceremonial tea and infusing itself into the Japanese culture by around 805 A.D. Small tea-growing operations improved for several hundred years until around the mid-1500s, when the matcha process was established.

The process of making Matcha in Japan

There are basically 5 steps to make matcha, the processing itself is not high tech. The aim to make match is not to have too much human interference in the product itself.

In the beginning of April, when the tea buds grow. Tea fields are covered with black sheets to block out the sunlight. Shielding sunlight inhibits theanine, the flavor component, from changing to tannin, an acerbity component. It also generates the sweet flavor unique to matcha, called "Oika", and the vivid green color. Tea leaf harvest begins from the 88th day from the beginning of spring (Hachiju-hachiya).

Picked tea buds are delivered to aracha processing factory. High-temperature steaming stunts the fermentation enzyme activities and retains the vivid green color of tea. Then, tea leaves are dried by removing the water content slowly in a large drier. The leaves in this condition are called aracha or tencha aracha.

Stems and veins are removed from aracha and only the leaf part full of nourishment and palatability are left as ingredients. Specifically, aracha is refined in a process of size- sorting, air sorting, re-drying, electrical sorting, and color sorting.

Refined tencha is delivered to the matcha factory. Micron-sized matcha is produced using tea grinders in a manufacturing room under constant temperature and humidity 24 hours a day. High-class matcha for tea ceremony is ground very carefully so one tea grinder can only produce 40 grams per hour.

Ground matcha is packed after final inspection. Only products that pass the final inspection are kept fresh and delivered across Japan and worldwide.

Chinese Steamed Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)

One of my all time favorite is the traditional Chinese Steamed Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao). I remember as a kid when I was strolling down the allies of Hong Kong, my friend always loved to buy Steam Pork Bun's. There are plenty of places not only in Hong Kong but throughout China selling Chinese Steamed Pork Bun's. Each and every province in China has it's own way to make the fabulous bun's. There are also Japanese steam pork buns and you can easily find them in Okinawa too. But all this is a different story and would need different type of ingredients. One thing is sure, the more steam buns you try, the more steam buns you will eat! hum hum hum! yummi as hell! For this reason, steamed pork buns, also called steamed roast pork buns have been on our to-do list for a long, long time. We’ve had lots of questions from readers on how to make steamed buns, and for good reason. This great variation is a super star on dim sum tables, enjoyed by people of all ages. If you never had experience in making steam buns before, well, this is the ultimate recipe this will give you a good start to enter the world of bun's.

Traditional Bamboo Steamer

After much research, I finally found a recipe in Chinese that worked after some testing and tweaking. Now I know that the key to a pull-apart, snowy white bun is actually cornstarch, and that baking powder helps crack open the tops.

Unlike other steamed buns, which usually start with cold water and are steamed over medium heat, these buns require you to pre-boil the water in the steamer, forcing the buns to rise quickly so the top cracks. Pretty cool stuff, I have to say! How satisfying it is to be able to finally crack open the secret to a mystery.

Amazing Ingredients

For the dough:

• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• ¾ cup warm water
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• ¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
• 2½ teaspoons baking powder

For the filling:

• 1 tablespoon oil
• ⅓ cup finely chopped shallots or red onion
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1½ tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1½ cups diced Chinese roast pork (you can buy it ready-made, or see our recipe to make your own)

Bun's with steamer tray cloth

How to make Steam Pork Bun's

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment (you can also just use a regular mixing bowl and knead by hand), dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Sift together the flour and cornstarch, and add it to the yeast mixture along with the sugar and oil. Turn on the mixer to the lowest setting and let it go until a smooth dough ball is formed. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 2 hours. (I haven't forgotten about the baking powder. You'll add that later!)
2. While the dough is resting, make the meat filling. Heat the oil in a wok over medium high heat. Add the onion and stir-fry for a minute. Turn heat down to medium-low, and add the sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and dark soy. Stir and cook until the mixture starts to bubble up. Add the chicken stock and flour, cooking for a couple minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the roast pork. Set aside to cool. If you make the filling ahead of time, cover and refrigerate to prevent it from drying out.
3. After your dough has rested for 2 hours, add the baking powder to the dough and turn the mixer on to the lowest setting. At this point, if the dough looks dry or you're having trouble incorporating the baking powder, add 1-2 teaspoons water. Gently knead the dough until it becomes smooth again. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for another 15 minutes. In the meantime, get a large piece of parchment paper and cut it into ten 4x4 inch squares. Prepare your steamer by bringing the water to a boil.
4. Now we are ready to assemble the buns: roll the dough into a long tube and divide it into 10 equal pieces. Press each piece of dough into a disc about 4½ inches in diameter (it should be thicker in the center and thinner around the edges). Add some filling and pleat the buns until they're closed on top.
5. Place each bun on a parchment paper square, and steam. I steamed the buns in two separate batches using a bamboo steamer (be sure the boiling water does not touch the buns during steaming process). Once the water boils, place the buns in the steamer and steam each batch for 12 minutes over high heat.

There are so many ways on making chinese pork buns around the world. One of the bests are in California. The chinese comunity brought original recipes from China and some are modified to better versions of chinese pork buns.