Three different stir fried veggie side dishes with grilled hoisin pork bistec done in half an hour surprised me too, so I wanted to share!
Pork ‘Bistec’ is spare rib steaks with lovely marbling but thinner not chunky chops so they cook much faster, perfect for quick weeknight dinners. I really had a craving for hoisin and used same 3 seasonings for my signature Hoisin Spare Ribs, you can get how to make the marinade here.
While the hoisin pork bistecs were grilling, I prepared my veggies. I decided I didn’t want all my veggies in one dish. So, it was a matter of frying them separately which I do anyway so as not to lower the heat of the wok and cause veggies to sweat and become soupy (a very common mistake!)
Chinese eggplant & red bell pepper went together, then Shanghainese Bok Choy & scallions and last I blanched some ready chopped kale left from a soup I made.
When you can smell yummy grilled pork, it’s time to turn them over & grilled till sauce looked cooked and slightly crispy edges. Not too long cause chops are thin. Get your butcher to get these chops for you if you don’t see them, they’re the answer to quick, tasty dinners! I switched off grill and let them sit till I finished stir frying. They were perfectly done, tender & juicy. I hate ‘tenting’ which is covering your meat with foil to let it continue cooking, it never works for me, it’s too scientific.
Hubby and I shared one chop with a spare chop for our lunch, yippee. Another tip: always cook more to save time and effort! Enjoy.
Quickie Dinner
You can cheat but still keep it healthy! These types of meals are perfect for busy weeknight dinners when all you want is just something tasty but fast.
Answer? A ready cooked roast chicken, I got Mojo flavor, yum and blanch a big bunch of greens like rapini!
The quickest way to blanch rapini is in a wok! A wok has a wide opening and depth to hold lots of water.
Tip for keeping veggies bright green is to add a few drops of oil into water. Use a colander with handle and sieve them out if you have to do batches. Plate and add salad dressing, add a dollop of BBQ sauce to spike chicken and you’re done! Enjoy!
September Miami Events
SEPTEMBER IS MIAMI SPICE
Hakkasan: We went for their delicious Dim Sum served at lunchtime on weekends! A little tip: mention to server at the beginning that you want your dishes to come out staggered so they don’t get cold while you are still working on the previous dish! Dim Sum should be eaten hot. The decor is magnificent. Click here for details.
Zuma: Had lunch with foodie friends. They did a beautiful presentation but not sure worth $23, desert was outstanding! They are located inside the Epic Hotel so you don’t wander along Biscayne Blvd. like I did. Click here for details.
I’ll be trying Milos and Sushi Samba Dromo. Do share which restaurants you think are worthy to try or not!
2nd Annual Taste of the Beach in Collins Park
Sat. Sept. 28 and Sun. Sept.29, 12-8pm
Wok Star presentation, Sat. 9/28, 2-3pm
Curated to celebrate and feature the great culinary creations of Miami Beach restaurants and eateries.
This year’s event itinerary includes cooking demonstrations including Wok Star Eleanor Hoh, the “Art of Mixology” cocktail craft, live entertainment provided by Honor Roll, and a performance by the renowned Mango’s Dancers. Attendees will be encouraged to eat-n-tweet from the “BeeFree Lounge”and sip-n-tweet from sponsor themed bars: Sweetwater Beer Garden, Radio Bar, Mango’s Mojito Bar and Charles St. Mixology Bar.
$5 General Admission
Includes live entertainment and a raffle ticket eligible for winnings with ULTIMATE MIAMI Weekend, American Airlines, and a Miami Beach five-star status staycation.
$20 VIP Reception
Includes Access to CHARLES St. NYC Kitchen VIP Reception Saturday, September 28th, 7-9 PM with guest DJ Reid Waters and a LIVE performance by Nikki Blitz.
Click here for schedule, ticket information.
SWEEPSTAKES TO WIN FREE BARCELONA TRIP FOR TWO!
ESTRELLA DAMM WYNWOOD TAPAS JOURNEY
Estrella Damm’s Tapas Journey engages South Florida’s culinary palate with participating restaurants to create three small dishes to be sold with an Estrella Damm lager for the price of $20 between September 16 – October 6, 2013 in Wynwood Arts District. Patrons will have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a free trip to Barcelona for two and enjoy tapas at the world’s best tapas restaurant. Estrella Damm works in partnership with the world’s most award-winning chef Ferran Adrià to promote the “Tapas” concept globally.
Visit here for full details of participating restaurants and how to enter sweepstakes for FREE Barcelona Trip for two!
PRESERVATION, WINE WEEKDAYS
18250 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 305-974-0273 $30 for 3 courses paired with wines eatpreservation.com for full menu and details
Experience the innovative culinary creations of Chef Ryan Harris at his restaurant, Preservation! Their “Wine Weekdays” menu is an absolute steal, you should definitely go try it and tell Ryan, Wok Star sent you! My hubby and I were lucky enough to enjoy Chef Ryan’s innovative seven course tasting menu and got a chance to sit and get into his head. I will be posting about that experience soon. The food, music, service, atmosphere, decor were faultless! Ryan asked me to caution that wines and dishes are subject to change due to Eat Preservation and Mas Vino’s extreme imaginations! Love that. I’ve chosen Preservation to celebrate my birthday dinner, can’t wait to see what surprises Ryan comes up with.
SHELLEY-BELLY’S UNDERGROUND DINNER
Saturday, September 28 email shelleybelly@att.net secret address revealed when it’s a done deal!
Everything including menu is shrouded in secrecy till you arrive and see the menu board! Password to get in, meeting eclectic group of folks, beautiful setting, one dish at a time, breaks in between to chat, all the stuff I enjoy about a dining experience. Shelley perfects everything she does, so you’re just spoiled rotten. You’re in for a real treat. Read about my dinner here. Get all the underground details here.
ESSENSIA MIAMI SPICE MENU
The Palms Hotel
They’re offering exclusive Miami Spice lunch and dinner menus! It’s a beautiful setting with outdoor patio dining and the food is always fresh and delicious. Chef Julie Frans uses organic and local ingredients for 3-course farm to table meals.
HOME DESIGN AND REMODELING SHOW
Wok Star Demo : Sunday September 1st, 3:30pm Use #HDRS2013 @FLHomeshows @wokstar on twitter and Instagram
Click the “Like” button on my Facebook page for FREE tickets. Excited I’ve been invited to present at the Home Design and Remodeling Show for a live Wok Star cooking demonstration! Stop by for a tasting of Easy Tender Stir Fry Steak with onions and colorful peppers for busy weeknight dinner (my Hispanic friends know it as Lomo Soltado!) and a Simple Veggie Stir Fry with asparagus, sugar snap, orange bell pepper and maitake mushroom and amaze all the parents with kids because they’ll enjoy eating these crispy, crunchy veggies!
You’ll also get a chance to win a raffle prize for a Wok Star Class certificate for 2 guests valued at $130 and a Giveaway bag of goodies from premium sponsors!
Sept. 20 and Sept.21
James Beard Foundation’s Taste America®
Saturday, September 21: FREE Cooking demonstration from All-Star Ted Allen and Top Chef Just Desserts winner Yigit Pura of Tout Sweet Pâtisserie, a cookbook signing with Allen, as well as tastings from South Florida artisans Healthy Greek Eats, Laurie’s Pantry, Nikki’s Bikini Pies and Pika Sauce.
Pick up free tickets at Sur La Table starting September 20. Sur La Table, located at 428 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. To purchase tickets and find out more information, visit surlatable.com.
For more information about Taste America events in Miami, visit James Beard Foundation site.
Norwegian Getaway Spice It Up Sweepstakes
From now through September 30, 2013, foodies and travel aficionados alike can enter the “Norwegian Getaway Spice It Up Sweepstakes” at I Love Miami Spice.
Enter for a chance to win a seven-day cruise on-board Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Getaway. With choice of 26 incredible dining options, including Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian’s three dining concepts. The Illusionarium, an all-new dining and entertainment experience that invites guests to experience the astonishing illusions of world-class magicians and supernatural special effects. GRAMMY® Experience includes artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum® along with live performances by past GRAMMY® winners and nominees. To cap off a spectacular cruise experience, every sailing will feature a dazzling fireworks show at sea, set to music, as part of a dance party in the ship’s outdoor club, Spice H20.
POP-UP TAPAS COOKING CLASS
- photo credit: chatchowtv
EDGE, Steak & Bar offers a great outdoor dining experience, you’d never know you were in the middle of Brickell! We dined there recently, post coming soon! They’re participating in Miami Spice, so take advantage of it. Click here for details.
Special for this class only, Executive Chef Aaron Brooks partners up with Chef Todd Erickson of South Beach’s renowned Haven and HUAHUA’S Taqueria for a “Small Bites, Big Appetites” modern global tapas cooking class. A portion of the proceeds will go to the No Kid Hungry Campaign! A popular monthly interactive cooking class with 20 participants and includes a welcome cocktail, three-course meal, wine and beer during class, hands-on instruction and a take-home gift bag. I have to get to one of Chef Brooks’ classes one day but always seems to fall on same day I’m giving one! Click here for details.