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Eat Dinner at Lunch…

February 15, 2021 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Here’s a Chinese New Year Resolution you might consider…eating your main meal at lunch, and eat lighter at night!

This makes total sense and has so many positive health benefits from everything I’ve read. No matter what diet you’re on, you could benefit from eating your main meal at lunch.

As they say, Eat like a King for breakfast, a prince at lunch and pauper for dinner. Another says, Big Lunch, Small Dinner Plan.

1. Eating the main meal during lunch gives us more time to digest instead of going to bed with a full tummy.

2. For a blogger like myself, it gives me more time to videotape.

3. Lunchtime provides more natural light to videotape.

4. I’m not rushing home from my evening walk and feeling pressure with time constraints to prep and cook.

Anyone doing this? Share in comments if this swap works out better for your digestion or other reason?

Ha, ha, we’ve had pescatarian for last 3 days, not intentionally but just happened.

The usual stir fry process: hot wok, add oil (avocado or grape seed), add garlic & ginger. Cook vegetables first, take out, then use same steps for protein.

Vegetables were Baby Yu Choy or Choy Sum, the name I grew up calling them. Had some snow pea tips and cubed a baby Bella. This is the size between a bell pepper and mini sweet pepper.

Wild caught shrimp were so delicious and tasted of the ocean vs farm raised, what a difference.

Salmon skin came out juicy, golden and crispy, yay. Both were fried in my cast iron wok and Iwatani gas stove setup with just a sprinkle of Celtic sea salt. If you want crispy anything, dry off well with paper towels before frying.

I’ll keep you posted of our results.

Filed Under: blog, Diets, dinners, new year resolutions, seafood Tagged With: diet ideas, eat dinner at lunch, healthy habits, main meal at lunch, new year resolution

How to celebrate Chinese New Year in Miami, 2021

February 11, 2021 By Eleanor Hoh 1 Comment

Welcome Chinese New Year with feasting, lion dances and a magnificent Light show, ENJOY!

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Chinese New Year is Friday February 12.
It’s Year of the Metal Ox. Celebrations go for 2 weeks culminating with Lantern Festival on February 26.

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Chinese New Year Radio Interview
WDNA  with radio host, Linda Gassenheimer
Ensure your luck through Chinese Year, get tips what to eat, do’s and don’ts.
Receive Chinese New Year gift for 50% discount to my online class here. Use code: LINDAG2021, all uppercase, expires February 14!

Here are some wonderful ways to celebrate Chinese New Year starting with…

ILLUMINATE CORAL GABLES
link to download map and artists bios

Do NOT miss this light exhibit!
Get yourself there!!! You’re welcome. 

A first of its kind stunning interactive art, video projections, and light sculptures will be activated on Chinese New Year, this Friday, Feb 12 in downtown Coral Gables. A free month-long exhibition with 8 amazing artworks to experience created by 16 local, national, and international artists. Artworks 24/7. 

Colorful, handcrafted, lit lantern “Fireflies” artfully hung from pedicabs by internationally acclaimed Chinese artist, Cai Guo-Qiang will be the first I want to see! 
Local Cuban artist Carlos Estevez with his animated, light projections, Urban Universes are best viewed when dark from 6-10pm, Wed.-Sun. 

This exhibit is curated by Lance Fung Collaboratives whom I’ve gotten to know and really enjoy his sense of humor. 

Then FEASTING…

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TRAN AN and Zitzsum (indoor/ outdoor)
This is the most fun collab!
Sunday, February 14th ONLY, takeout available
2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (or sell-out)

Announcing first-annual YEᗩᖇ Oᖴ TᕼE O᙭ socially-distanced festivities. Tran An will team up with Zitzsum for a Chinese New Year inspired collab that promises to ignite the senses. Chef Jon Nguyen of Tran An and Chef Pablo Zitzmann of Zitzsum(opening soon), will be serving up a-la-carte selections brimming with authentic and nostalgic flavors! The limited-release menu (see flyer) is designed to promote prosperity, longevity, unity, luck and other aspects of good fortune for the coming year. First come first serve. See you there!

2KoreanGirls (takeout only)
Ghost kitchen for pickup and delivery only
Check for hours on their website

2 Korean Girls is celebrating Lunar New Year with an exclusive Korean New Year dish offer, Impossible Kimchi Mandu ($10) and Spicy Crab Mandu ($12), only available this weekend for takeout and delivery. The Korean Dumplings are served with a side of Umma’s special Korean Teriyaki sauce for dipping.

To round out your New Year feast, order these dishes with cute names: OB, Original Bibimbap, Ribeye Bulgogi; Kimchi Fried Rice and Napa Cabbage Kimchi; Fish Better Have My Money! –Korean Miso Cod; Phat Buddha –  Adashah; Impos-Seoul-ible – Impossible Bulgogi Meatballs.

P.S. The gals use my cast iron wok and gas stove to cook your dishes, you’ll notice the superb flavors and textures people! In their words, “it’s a game changer!”

P.P.S. will post about them in separate blog, love story how they learnt to cook from their mom. 

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Palmar (indoor/outdoor)
Friday, Feb.12

Modern Chinese with a tropical vibe, like that. I couldn’t get a definitive, I think they have 3 special dishes for Chinese New Year and this is one of them, Fried Rice. So, call before you go!

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HAKKASAN at Fountainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach (indoor)
Lion Dance Friday, Feb.12, 8pm
$108 pp prix fixe, Feb.11-15

The Year of the Ox is centered around the principle of “Peace, Love and Sharing” with Chinese New Year itself falling on Valentine’s weekend this year. Dishes include The Celebration Garden, an authentic Cantonese salad made with Smoked eryngii mushroom carpaccio with bee pollen and plum dressing; ingredients renowned in China for bringing prosperity and good fortune. Other dishes include Double Treasure Fortune with Quail blossom puff paired with a Seafood jade dumpling; Braised Abalone Roasted Duck Fried Rice and more.

Signature cocktail – Fire and Grace – with Don Julio Reposado. 

P.S. Remembering when Hakkasan hosted a 13 course Yum Cha for my Wok Star Supper Club gathering. People still rave about it to this day. If interested in joining my gatherings, sign up for my free newsletter in right side bar —>>
so you’ll be first to know and get access.

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HUTONG in Brickell (indoor/outdoor)
Friday, Feb.12, lion dance, music 
$168 pp available only for this night

This is one of our favorite restaurants, decor, service and excellent execution.

Example of Chinese New Year feast:
WAGYU BEEF MILLEFEUILLE;
GOOD LUCK CHAO SHOU: Scallop & prawn wonton in a homemade chilli oil.

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PHUC YEA (indoor/outdoor)
Thursday, Feb. 11, lion dance
$55 pp with take-home surprises

5 course prix fixe menu like…
Five-Spiced Duck Confit with curried chickpeas, cranberries, water chestnuts;
Truffled Fried Rice and Bun Bo Hue made with oxtail, cha lua, cabbage, pineapple in a spicy beef broth.

$13 hand-crafted cocktails featuring Espolon Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal and Campari.

DJ set by La Negra Fabulosa  

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL, Brickell (indoor/outdoor)
Lion Dance with beating drums, cymbals and gongs
Feb. 12, Feb. 13, 7pm

MO Bar + Lounge will serve Dan Dan Noodles including pork roasted peanuts, green onion, chili oil [USD 20] and Pork & Shrimp Shu Mai including tobiko and black truffle aioli [USD 16]. Specials are available February 1-15. 

“Sip for Luck” cocktail made with Oxley gin, sparkling sake, passion fruit, lemon and ginger syrup [USD 17].

La Mar by Gastón Acurio will serve Min Pao steamed buns filled with Chifa flavours, XO, scallops, lobster and water chestnut [USD 25] and Long Life Noodles including wok stir fried egg noodles, vegetables, duck, shrimp and pork [USD 55].

Filed Under: blog, Chinese New Year, Miami Events, Miami restaurant Tagged With: "Chinese food", "Miami Chinese Restaurants", Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year Miami 2021, Coral Gables Art Exhibit, Miami Art, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh, Year of Ox 2021

Roundup of Festive Dishes, Wok Star Way

December 27, 2020 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

If you need some last minute ideas what to cook for a festive occasion, I’ve put together a Roundup of Festive Dishes, the Wok Star Way. It’s what being a Wok Star is all about!  Do things differently and out of tradition with your own twist!

Let’s start with a few appetizers that are sure to please…

This wok frittata or tortilla can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature. It’s so versatile, good as an appetizer, for breakfast when you have a lot of people or a perfect tapas or brunch dish. 

Wok Frittata

Rainbow Lettuce Wrap is always a BIG HIT and will WOW your guests.  As the name says, it’s a “rainbow” of colors and beautiful presentation with flavors and textures that explode in every bite. 

Rainbow Lettuce Wrap Appetizer
Rainbow Lettuce
Wrap

Next course, and going the Wok Star Way, an Asian 5 Spice Roast Pork joint so there’s enough for several meals. It’s so simple, helps save time and most important, it’s delicious! 

5 Spice Pork

OR, you could go with Grilled Korean Style Kalbi Short Ribs, who doesn’t love beef ribs? 

Kalbi, curry quinoa and stir fried baby bok choy
Grilled Kalbi

OR CHEAT and purchase a whole Roast Duck from Whole Foods, then reheat and crisp up! 

Roast Duck

OR CHEAT again and purchase ready cooked Maple Leaf Farm duck, grilling it and stir fry some Brussels Sprouts.  This combination immediately conjurs up a Festive Dinner. 

Grilled Duck
Leg

Sides are EASY, there’s so much to choose from…

This Stuffed Squash a la Wok Star Style is festive, colorful and tasty. Use whatever colorful veggies you have, add quinoa, or rice and voila! 

Stuffed
Squash

My Honey Ginger Wok Brussel Sprouts were inspired by Sakaya Kitchen’s dish.  They cause such a stir when you mention them, you either hate or love them. 

Ginger Honey
Brussels Sprouts

These vegetables were all holiday colors with crispy textures to complement any bird or surf and turf, a lovely Festive Side. 

Festive
Vegetables

For the following day, if you have any leftover duck, throw some into a noodle soup.  It is so quick and easy to put together.  If you don’t have any Asian green vegetables, throw some romaine lettuce leaves in the soup last minute. A great Duck Noodle Soup using leftovers.

Nearly homemade duck noodle soup
Duck Noodle
Soup

Now, for an Asian dessert that will round out your festive feast…my mom’s Malaysian Banana Fritters with ice cream of your choice but I think vanilla complements instead of overpowers the fritters.

Malaysian Banana
Fritters

My Roundup of Festive Dishes has something for everyone! With the Wok Star Way, you’ll be introducing your family and friends to new flavors and spark some interesting conversations around the dining table.


Filed Under: blog, Festive Dishes, Roundup, Wok Star Way Tagged With: "brussels sprouts", "grilled duck", "rainbow lettuce wrap, "Wok Star Way", duck noodle soup, festive dishes, festive foods, grilled kalbi, Malaysian banana fritters, Party dishes, roundup of festive dishes, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

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