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Saturday, August 2, 2008

Thai hawker food

Customer Review: CUTE ILLUSTRATIONS
I wanted this book because I saw Thai hawker food on television and it looked like old Chinese snacks from my childhood. This book confirms that not only are the Chinese snacks but also the Thai snacks are the same as those I remember being fortunate to be given as a child. The homemade snacks are still some of the most delicious food I have ever tasted - Hongkong dimsum does not compare. It's no wonder that tourists return to Thailand if one of the components of the life there is that these snacks can be bought. In my childhood, one could only get these treats if you were liked by its creators and receiving them was an honor; the makers couldn't be coaxed or flattered to give away their special handmade treasures. This book doesn't contain all the Chinese treats and not the best ones I saw on a Thai television show (they were not identified as Chinese on the show) but it does have enough of them to encourage me that the traditions live on in some part of the world and outside of private Chinese homes even if the standards may not be as high. This book is also interesting because of the vocal Thai Chinese element. Thai voices on the internet usually claim to have a Chinese ancestor but that Chinese have disappeared into the Thai culture. This book's contributors are a tiny bit more open about the Southern Chinese influence that still exists.


Now to learn all the benefits of green tea and everything you've ever wanted to know about green tea. There are also other ways of enjoying green tea. One common way is by drinking an iced green tea drink. To make an iced green tea correctly take four green tea tea bags and brew them in boiling water for around 3 minutes. Allow the green tea to cool and place into a small pitcher. Continue to add water to this iced green tea until it turns a pale yellow color. Sugar can also be added if you wish but don't use too much. Green tea beverages don't have to be enjoyed on their own either. There are many ingredients that you can add to your green tea when making it that will make it even more delicious. Some ingredients that can be added when you make your green tea include honey, spearmint, sliced ginger and lemon. When using honey add just one teaspoon for every cup of green tea, brew the tea, allow it to cool and then pour over ice cubes. It's also very easy to make a delicious chai green tea by simply steeping green tea in hot vanilla soy milk and then adding a dash of ginger, allspice, cinnamon and black pepper on top.

The best water temperature for making green tea is between 79 and 85 degrees celcius. In order to make the best green tea it is recommended that you let the water just reach boiling point and then cool it down to the perfect green tea temperature mentioned above. Until you have perfected the time it actually takes to reach the ideal temperature of between 79 and 85 degrees Celsius I would suggest that you use a cheap candy thermometer for this purpose that is usually readily available. The ideal brewing time for green tea is not long at all. In fact, in general between 30 and 60 seconds is usually ideal. However, certain green tea brands have different requirements. For example, Chinese Dragonwell teas are best after being infused for 7 minutes and Nilgiri and Darjeeling green teas are usually ideal after 3-4 minutes. In order to make the best green tea I would also suggest that you pour the green tea over a tea strainer even though high quality green tea loose leaves will usually sink to the bottom of your tea cup.Of course, it is easier preparing green tea by using green tea bags, however, the same water temperature requirements apply. It is always important to make your green tea cooler than hot but warmer than tepid temperature.

Green tea drinkers are frequently wondering how to make green tea correctly. The fact of the matter is if you don't make green tea properly you won't get the many benefits of green tea. This article will discuss how to get the full benefit of green tea by learning how to make it correctly.Green tea leaves need to be handled gently, just as you would handle fresh fruits and vegetables. It's important that the loose leaf green tea leaves are handled very gently in order to preserve their integrity and to reap full benefits.When it comes to making green tea, spring water is a recommended choice, then followed by filtered water. I would recommend that you never use distilled water of any kind when you make green tea. Distilled water and green tea would be flat without the essential minerals. In order to make the best loose leaf green tea I recommend using a small food scale. If you are brewing green tea in a small teapot then measure 3 grams of tea for every 5 ounces of water on the scales. If you are not using spring water then measure on the scales 4 grams of tea for every 8 ounces of water.

Tea pots come in a large variety of shapes and sizes so it is recommended that you accurately measure the water in a measuring cup so that you have the accurate amount of green tea leaves per water. It is also important to bear in mind that loose leaf tea quantities will have different weights. For example, small, dense loose leaf green tea will weigh a lot more than larger leaves in a teaspoon. Your green tea drink will reflect this variation. Additionally, it may be enough for your green tea to only use one teaspoon of small, dense loose leaf green tea. On the other hand, if you are using larger green tea leaves you may need to use a few teaspoons for a comparable cup of tea. It is also recommended that green teas should be made from water at a much lower temperature than boiling point and should be brewed for less time than normal black and oolong teas.



Thai Fresh Lemongrass - 8 stalks

Lemongrass, or citronella root, is the reason Thai and Vietnamese dishes often have a compelling flavor that's not exactly lemon, but a subtle lemon perfume. It is sold by the stalk which resembles a green onion. Serving tips: Use the portion of the white base up to where the leaves begin to branch. If slightly dry, soak in warm water to rehydrate. Shred or finely slice and add to soups, curry dishes, and sauces for seafood.Get a nice large quantity for generous use, 2 lbs is about 12 stalks. Will keep for weeks in the fridge, or cut into 4 inch pieces and freeze in a ziplock.We are pleased to offer a special deal on select fresh produce essential for Thai cooking. We pack the produce carefully and ship every Mon/Tues/Wed via USPS Priority Mail (2 day delivery) to ensure freshness, and orders may not ship until Wed due to Mother Nature & harvest conditions. We also offer Fresh Kaffir Lime Leaves separately in addition to Thai basil, green papaya, whole fresh tamarind and Thai eggplant. Additional images, recipes and detailed description at ImportFood.com.


Azema, on Angel Carranza at about Honduras or Gorriti. The menu is a fantastic combination of French, Creole, Vietnamese, and Caribbean flavours. The chef is ever present, comes round to chat with pretty much every table if it's not too busy. Best to go with 3-4 people -- usually we just order the whole first page of tapas and then share a few of the mains. The flavours are excellent. Save room for the dessert platter.

De Olivas i Lustres, (Palermo) Go for their version of a tasting menu. They have two different menus. Theres the criolla and the mediterranean option, if you're 4 you could select one of each. The food is very good, sort of an Argentine take on avant-garde cuisine.

Here are some of the best restaurants in Buenos Aires. It's not in any order.

Olsen, on Gorriti in Palermo. Their deep chilled vodka list is fantastic. Go for their set menu lunch and if it's sunny make sure to try and reserve a seat in the garden. Brunch is the best in the Buenos Aires.

And of course, for cheap asado and cheap wine, go to Las Cholas. It's northern Argentina cuisine (from Salta) Arevalo y Arce. Prepare to wait. On a Friday night the line will be there until midnight. If you're 2 people you can usually sneak in fairly quick, otherwise put your name on the list and go have a wander around for a few minutes. Then just wait and see which one you'll get into first -- they're all packed, and for good reason.

Buenos Aires Restaurants - 4 of the Hottest Places to Eat in Palermo and Las Canitas



Thai and South-East Asian Food & Cooking

This book takes readers ona journey through Thailand and South-east Asia, discovering the region's culture and food, illustrated by over 1400 beautiful photographs.


For a gourmet lunch at not-so-high prices, "Bibendum" serves up a varied feast from fish 'n chips to open ravioli of lobster and samphire with girolles. "The Capital," a French restaurant that bears a two star Michelin recommendation, offers wonderful 3-course set lunches and dinners at very reasonable prices.

A visit to London's best restaurants is incomplete, however, without at least one visit to the renowned "Beefeater." More than just another opportunity for a good meal, Beefeater provides for an entire experience that cannot be missed. Themed for medieval times, the restaurant-a torch-lit vaulted cellar-goes all out on ambience, putting out a medieval banquet complete with King Henry VIII, minstrels, troupers, dancing wenches, jousting knights, and strolling players. The mood is upbeat and there is plenty of excitement and entertainment to be had through the night.

For those who would like to venture into something more exotic, try "Tamarind"-an upscale Michelin star restaurant that serves Indian food. Japanese food is served at the trendy "Roka" on Charlotte Street. Due to its strong popularity, advance reservations are an absolute necessity. The tasting menus offered are often the most satisfying of all.

Gastronomic delights abound in London and vary from upper crust ritzy cuisine to cheap eats at a fish 'n chip store. Whatever your budget may be, London will not disappoint.

Traditional pub grub at the local gastropubs is also very popular in London. Here you can get delicious food at great prices. The "Anchor & Hope" is as renowned for its no-nonsense style of business as it is for the food. Guests are well-advised to arrive early as the wait for a table can be quite long as the night draws on. (Reservations are not entertained at this pub.) "The Atlas," another famous gastropub, offers a cozy environment with an old-fashioned charm.

Fans of Gordon Ramsay's style of cooking (made famous by the reality show "Hell's Kitchen") will be happy to know that he has several restaurants set up around London that cater to various preferences. Some of these restaurants include "Restaurant Gordon Ramsay," "Petrus," "Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's," "Boxwood Caf," "Maze," "Plane Food," and "Foxtrot Oscar."

British food is best sampled at restaurants that specifically cater to that preference. "Butlers Wharf Chop House" is arguably one of the best English restaurants in the city judging by the rave reviews it continues to receive despite the modest ambience.



Philippine Love - So You Want To Marry A Filipina?

19. Do you like hot climates or hate them? Mosquito's? Poisonous snakes & spiders?

So I have set a little test for the prospective husband to see if he really knows anything about his possible future wife, country, culture and customs. There are no fixed answers to the questions, but they will assist you to see beyond the tunnel vision of love.

The ladies from these countries, tend to have totally different languages, different religions different cultures, different ways of eating food, the only thing they portion is the Pacific Ocean if they can travel to their local beach.

3. Do you know what are the main regions of the Philippines?

11. Do you like fish products?

16. What is the difference between Tagalog, Filipino, Bisayan, Cebuano, Ilongo?

2. Do you know what is the Capital City of the Philippines?

7. Do you know why innumerable Filipinos have Spanish names?

14. Do you expect your Philippine wife to be submissive and obedient after the marriage?

22. How long are you prepared to wait to get her to the UK? It can be done within 6 months from original contact, but usually a year. If they are already wed, this can take as long as two years to get an annulment (usually a few thousand pounds). If they have children they wish to bring with them, and the farther is named on the birth certificate, this can cause further delay and costs.

4. Do you know who is the President of the Philippines?

8. Are you prepared to have children, if so, are you prepared for many and various children?

In that sense, if I am honest, I really ought to deter British Men from marrying Philippine ladies simply because they are 'Filipina' perpetuated by most mythical notion that Filipina's are wonderful, submissive wives that never answer back, and are fantastic in the bedroom!

12. Do you know what eating implements are preferred? Chopsticks, cutlery or fingers.

The Test:

1. Can you find the Philippines on a map?

Philippine Love - So You Want To Marry A Filipina?

20. Are you tolerant of Bureaucracy or are do you not suffer fools gladly ?

15. Are you just getting married for sex? Be honest about this.

17. What do you think the differences are between a Thai woman, A Japanese woman or a Philippine woman?

Very often Philippine girls are shoved in the same pigeon hole as all other ladies from the South East Asian countries, such as China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea.

9. Are you prepared to provide 'Sustento' (alimony) for your extended Philippine family for education and other expenses, if they need your benefit?

18. Are you wanting to marry a Philippine lady because you think you dislike British ladies? Be honest with yourself.

Getting married to a Philippines woman is a great thing but not always great for everyone, it's that old story, a Philippines girl can be all things to a man, but not every Philippines lady can be all things to every man, in other words it's not a good idea to stereotype Philippine women.

13. Do Filipinos bow to each other?

6. Do you know what the main religions practiced in the Philippines?

5. Do you know what are the main languages spoken in the Philippines, and your potential wife's local dialogue?

21. Are you prepared for the costs involved? At least one visit to the Philippines plus all the visa fees (UK presently over �1000).

Remember one very authorized point. A very small minority of Asian ladies are out to get money off you nothing else. If a Filipina ever asks for hard cash before you have met, move on, or you will find yourself with more problems you can handle. You can tell a true Filipina, they will NEVER ask for hard cash.