Eleanor Hoh

Testimonials from Wok Stars

September 22, 2022 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Every time we cook “The Eleanor Hoh Wok Star System” ( I just named it ) we are at awe how well it works. It is not just the Cast Iron Wok or Butane Stove, it is the entire System that you have so thoughtfully put together. We see years of training and experience in each thoughtful element. You have added a wonderful new element to our routine cooking and dining as well as a bump to our many dinner parties. Bill & Judy

**Bill excited with his new style of cooking!**

World Wok Cuisine

“Thank You Eleanor for giving me the simplest, most impactful way to make flavorful memories! I give you Indian, Italian, Chino Latino and any cuisine you can fathom…it’s always Wok Cooking! This handy dandy cast iron wok has its own suitcase and I never leave home without it! Camping, beach, hiking or let me cook for you at your house! It is the single most important pan for cooking for me! “ Henri

**Henri cooks dishes from all over the world in his wok!**

Creative, Fun and Healthy Family Gift

“Mark opened his Christmas gift this morning and loved it. Thanks so much for this creative, fun and healthy gift for our family. We made our first meal tonight (turkey lettuce wraps and extra veggies), our girls were eager to help. The meal was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Eleanor (9) cooked the veggies and Annabel (7) cooked the turkey.” Heather & Mark

**Annabel, Mark and Eleanor, fun time cooking dinner together as a family!**

Put FUN back into Cooking!

“You’ve made cooking fun again. Wok so much, can’t tell you how much you have changed my eating habits and inspired so much enjoyment for cooking. 🙂 The best part about your no-recipe technique is the technique is so easy to learn and build on without needing any cooking experience at all. I’ve gotten great results with every kind of meat and every kind of vegetable.” Dr. Eric Runyon

**Dr. Eric Runyon finds cooking relaxing!**

How I learned to Cook Like a Wok Star from my Mom!

September 21, 2022 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

I learned to cook from my mom, whose instructions were, “it’s just a little bit of this and a bit of that.” Who knew, decades later, what she taught me became my mantra too.

My mom was born in Singapore and met my Dad in Malacca. When my parents moved from Malaysia to China, then Hong Kong, she had to make do because she couldn’t find many Malaysian ingredients.

It was fascinating and hilarious to hear mom’s stories of chickens laying eggs on her pillow. She didn’t learn to cook till after she got married and she didn’t enjoy cooking at the beginning. My mom was multi talented, I don’t know how she juggled 5 kids, taught at a Boy’s School, gave private tuition, was a Cub Master, as well as taking lessons in crochet, ikebana, cooking and piano. She had such an infectious laughter, she would set off and get us all in hysterics.

Mom looked gorgeous in a Chinese Cheong Sam as well as in western outfits.

Mom enjoyed entertaining with lavish dinner parties and decorating.
I think my sisters and I picked up many of her talents.

When my sisters and I were shipped off to boarding school in England, circa 1970’s, we were at a loss how to imitate her delicious dishes we grew up eating. We would call her up and I’ll never forget a simple thing as using the right vinegar could make or break a cucumber, tomato, onion pickle! She served that with Spicy Malaysian Chicken Curry or Char Quai Teow to cool us down. We were hooked on that pickle and to this day, I make this whenever I’m making a spicy dish.

Malaysian Chicken Curry bowl — Malaysian Chicken Curry

Malaysian Chicken Curry on banana leaf and newspaper setup — Malaysian Chicken Curry

Some of my fondest and best childhood memories were of cooking with mom and my three sisters. What a blast, there was so much giggling and silliness going on, we wondered how we ever got dinner made. To this day, those memories come up whenever I cook. Certain smells of curry leaves, sour tastes from tamarind, sounds of a sizzling hot wok and even the way I peel and score down the cucumber to make a pattern and release its flavors bring back such vivid associations of food I grew up with.

Just the act of preparing dinner for my husband and myself makes me feel I’m taking care of our health and our well being and my mind goes into a state of a relaxation. Being in the moment, appreciating the action of chopping vegetables or stir frying in my cast iron wok, the wok my mom introduced me to using all those years ago!

Now, decades later, whenever my sisters and I have our reunions, we always cook together and reminisce about how fun it was cooking with mom. And now, I get to share everything I learned from my mom including that same cast iron wok she taught me to cook in as well as a few essentials to help you cook at home the same way I learned from her, except easier and faster.

I’m telling you this story because if you knew cooking with your family can bring such joy, creativity, happiness, and incredible memories, you’ll be inspired to start your cooking journey and experience those feelings I have when I cook.

Mid Autumn Festival, How to Celebrate and What to eat?

September 10, 2022 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Mid Autumn Festival is the next most important festival after Chinese New Year! Today, September 10 is the start of Mid Autumn Festival and lasts 3 days. Apart from the traditional Moon Cakes and not so traditional, here are six dishes to eat during Mid Autumn Festival. It’s all about family reunion, fertility, good luck, wealth and abundance.

Beautiful Mooncakes by Natalyia Vaitkeich, Pexels

I remember my family also celebrated Mid Autumn Festival with Lanterns lit up. My sister’s bunny rabbit lantern was a cute, white fluffy thing on wheels so she could pull it along. It wasn’t really associated with our Chinese zodiac. Yay, I found her EXACT rabbit on this site!

There is also a Lantern Festival near the end of Chinese New Year, you can read more about it here.

Chinese New Year I hosted in Coconut Grove!

1. Mooncakes

Mooncakes are enjoyed with family and friends while admiring the full moon on this day. Mooncakes symbolize longevity and reunion. In my youth, I liked MoonCakes with double yolks, they are too rich and sweet for me now but it’s interesting to try them. You can find moon cakes at most Asian supermarkets or even purchase from my Amazon store here.

These Mooncakes from Amazon are made with winter melon instead of sweet Lotus or Red Bean paste. I much prefer melon ones (not water melon), I love the crunchier texture.

Wow, surprised my local Costco was selling Mooncakes? Good price too for double yolk $9.99 compared to Amazon for EXACTLY same brand and size $22!

If you enjoy baking, try this recipe…Sweet Mooncakes with Walnut Red Bean Filling.

I prefer savory Mooncakes to the traditional sweet ones, here’s a Suzhou Savory Pork Mooncake.

More beautiful Mooncakes by Natalyia Vaitkeich, Pexels

2. Stuffed Pumpkin instead of Mooncakes

If you don’t want to eat sweet Mooncakes, you can offer a healthier version and make Pumpkin instead. Here’s my fun Stuffed Pumpkin, a la Wok Star Style.

3. Duck

Duck for Mid Autumn Festival has a historic symbolism. For me duck can be eaten ANYTIME and on all occasions. An easy, cheat way to have duck is to purchase ready cooked Roast Duck. If you live in Miami, there are a few places to pick them up like Land N’Sea in the building where Chinese supermarket, Ifresh Market is located or King Palace restaurant, both on NE 167th street in North Miami.

Here’s a novel way to have Crispy Skin Roast Duck Lettuce Wrap, a Perfect Party Appetizer.

Crispy Duck Skin Lettuce Wrap, a Perfect Party Appetizer

Make this Duck Noodle Soup in under 30 minutes.

4. Pork and Taro

What luck! I made a pork and taro stew so scored the two lucky ingredients in one dish! Taro brings luck and pork symbolize wealth and abundance, who doesn’t need that?! Posts for both dishes coming soon.

What about a Pork and Mushroom Stew? Round shaped mushrooms symbolize reunion and togetherness.

Pork Belly, Bok Choy, Mushrooms, Rice Sticks

5. Lotus Root

Again, round shape symbolizes reunion. You can shallow fried them or grill under broiler. Gives any dish a textural dimension, very lovely. Post how to prepare lotus root coming soon.

6. Water Melon

Water melon shape symbolizes fertility and reunion. This photo was taken in Mexico where they made beautiful sculptures with water melon and also presented them in miniature balls.

You can watch a cute video about how Mid Autumn Festival started.

Enjoy Mid Autumn Festival!
Eat some of these foods with family and friends to bring good luck!