Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

Be a Wok Star!

Gastropod

March Events (Updated)

By 4 Comments

Wok Star interview on ChatChow.tv

Jumping for joy, my interview on Chat Chow TV is UP! Chat Chow TV already garnered 5 awards since they launched April 2011. So excited because I absolutely adore what they are doing. As they say, “a mouth-watering video podcast where we go behind the scenes with the chefs, owners and mixologists of the celebrated food industry.
Wait, PLUS you get a chance to win two (2) FREE tickets valued at $130 to this coming Tuesday, March 20 Wok Star cooking class! This class is already SOLD OUT.
Visit their site, watch my interview and say “Why YOU want to master the wok!” We pick the winner tomorrow, Sunday evening, so don’t delay.

Common Threads and Legal Art Fundraiser
Thursday, March 29
Hot off the presses – Common Threads and LegalArt are teaming up for a first of its kind pairing event on Thursday, March 29. There will be delicious food, amazing art, great cocktails, and lots of music. Is there anything else one could ask for? Didn’t think so. (right out of the mouth of Olee Fowler, a Common Threads board member).
I love this organization and what they do, find out more details here and to get your advanced tix $25, at door $40.
Visit Common Threads if you’re interested to get involved, to donate or to buy your ticket.
Or visit Legal Art to find out what they’re about!
I was very honored to be invited to teach a class at a participating Common Threads school, so enjoyed it and think the kids did too!
Some chefs and I also gave cooking demos at a Kids Eat Miami fundraiser on Jungle Island.

The Grind, Miami Burger Battle
Saturday, March 31
$10 discount with code, check out Digest Miami site. Digest Miami will also be filming this battle.
A 30 burger showdown from 954 and 305 restaurants will battle for the coveted Golden Grinder award and title!
With live music, artists painting live, and YOU and judges get to vote for the best burger. All washed down with free drinks from sponsors.
Also, 2 ‘Best Backyard Burger” winners from an online home grillers competition will battle LIVE that evening.
Local celebrity judges include of course, Burger Beast, the king of all burgers, Ch.7 news anchor, Belkys Nerey and Chef Norman Van Aiken of Tuyo located at Miami Culinary Institute.
Here’s a great video which tells you EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW! See you there.

Chow Down Surfside closing and pop up restaurant by Gastropod, Chef Jeremiah opening!
Read all about it here. I do think turning Chow Down Grill into Josh’s Deli is a perfect fit for Surfside. I know the demographic and I think it will be a HUGE success. It’s funny how we take things for granted. When we know we can’t have something, we want it and want it NOW! I always say, when one door closes, another opens.

I look forward to Chef Jeremiah of Gastropod doing a pop restaurant for a couple of weeks before they turn into a Deli. I first met him at a Cobaya (an underground supper club).
From the mouth of Chef Jason, residing chef at Chow Down Grill Surfside, the last day will be March 28, so run and get your last fix of some of my many favs there: housemade creamy tofu, smoked duck, chopped salad, chicken dumplings, Coca Cola Pork Ribs, oh, Angus Beef. Any bread pudding is yummy. I think I’ve tried everything on their menu from the look of this!
Just remember, you can still get same menu at their South Beach location.

Asian Festival

March 3 & 4, 2012 from 10am to 6pm
Location: Fruit & Spice Park
Admission: $10
For more details, visit WAT or Asian Culture Festival
Extract from their site.
Celebrating its 22nd exotic year, South Florida’s Annual Asian Culture Festival will feature a tantalizing selection of foods from many Asian countries including Thailand, China, Japan, the Philippines, Laos, Bangladesh, Korea, Iran and Vietnam. A variety of handicrafts, exotic plants and Asian produce will also be offered to the public, as well as educational displays featuring the countries, people and cultures of Asia.
At 12:00 pm each day, a reenactment of a Traditional Thai Wedding will take place – with a colorful wedding parade, dowry counting ceremony, engagement ceremony, paying respect ceremony and water pouring ceremony.
On the performing stage, a variety of ethnic Asian shows will be featured, from dances to the exciting Taiko drums, and martial arts…..

Bayfront Popup Park

Feb. 28 – March 4
10am-6:30pm
FREE
Schedule here
Across from Bayfront Park in downtown Miami
Parking lot between Flagler and NE 1st street converted to grass covered park with moveable seating, music, art, comedy & activities.
Food trucks throughout entire event

Taste of Pinecrest

Sat. March 3 – 10-5pm
FREE admission
Pinecrest Gardens
11000 SW 57th Ave
Details here
Featuring food from local restaurants, entertainment, kids activities, healthy cooking demonstrations, juried art show, free bicycle parking.

Farmer’s Markets all over!

Visit my Resource page for list of Farmer’s Markets, tips.
There’s nothing more exciting than seeing, smelling fresh produce!
Don’t forget to check in at Freakin’ Flamingo for Renee’s homecrafted jams in South Miami Market! I love them.

Here are some yummy produce TeenasPrideCSA gave me when I was giving a cooking presentation at the Coconut Grove Art Festival recently. I made some delicious dishes which I’ll post up soon, so check back. You can go on a farm tour, I’ve yet to do it.

March Events (Updated)

By 4 Comments

Wok Star interview on ChatChow.tv

Jumping for joy, my interview on Chat Chow TV is UP! Chat Chow TV already garnered 5 awards since they launched April 2011. So excited because I absolutely adore what they are doing. As they say, “a mouth-watering video podcast where we go behind the scenes with the chefs, owners and mixologists of the celebrated food industry.
Wait, PLUS you get a chance to win two (2) FREE tickets valued at $130 to this coming Tuesday, March 20 Wok Star cooking class! This class is already SOLD OUT.
Visit their site, watch my interview and say “Why YOU want to master the wok!” We pick the winner tomorrow, Sunday evening, so don’t delay.

Common Threads and Legal Art Fundraiser
Thursday, March 29
Hot off the presses – Common Threads and LegalArt are teaming up for a first of its kind pairing event on Thursday, March 29. There will be delicious food, amazing art, great cocktails, and lots of music. Is there anything else one could ask for? Didn’t think so. (right out of the mouth of Olee Fowler, a Common Threads board member).
I love this organization and what they do, find out more details here and to get your advanced tix $25, at door $40.
Visit Common Threads if you’re interested to get involved, to donate or to buy your ticket.
Or visit Legal Art to find out what they’re about!
I was very honored to be invited to teach a class at a participating Common Threads school, so enjoyed it and think the kids did too!
Some chefs and I also gave cooking demos at a Kids Eat Miami fundraiser on Jungle Island.

The Grind, Miami Burger Battle
Saturday, March 31
$10 discount with code, check out Digest Miami site. Digest Miami will also be filming this battle.
A 30 burger showdown from 954 and 305 restaurants will battle for the coveted Golden Grinder award and title!
With live music, artists painting live, and YOU and judges get to vote for the best burger. All washed down with free drinks from sponsors.
Also, 2 ‘Best Backyard Burger” winners from an online home grillers competition will battle LIVE that evening.
Local celebrity judges include of course, Burger Beast, the king of all burgers, Ch.7 news anchor, Belkys Nerey and Chef Norman Van Aiken of Tuyo located at Miami Culinary Institute.
Here’s a great video which tells you EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW! See you there.

Chow Down Surfside closing and pop up restaurant by Gastropod, Chef Jeremiah opening!
Read all about it here. I do think turning Chow Down Grill into Josh’s Deli is a perfect fit for Surfside. I know the demographic and I think it will be a HUGE success. It’s funny how we take things for granted. When we know we can’t have something, we want it and want it NOW! I always say, when one door closes, another opens.

I look forward to Chef Jeremiah of Gastropod doing a pop restaurant for a couple of weeks before they turn into a Deli. I first met him at a Cobaya (an underground supper club).
From the mouth of Chef Jason, residing chef at Chow Down Grill Surfside, the last day will be March 28, so run and get your last fix of some of my many favs there: housemade creamy tofu, smoked duck, chopped salad, chicken dumplings, Coca Cola Pork Ribs, oh, Angus Beef. Any bread pudding is yummy. I think I’ve tried everything on their menu from the look of this!
Just remember, you can still get same menu at their South Beach location.

Asian Festival

March 3 & 4, 2012 from 10am to 6pm
Location: Fruit & Spice Park
Admission: $10
For more details, visit WAT or Asian Culture Festival
Extract from their site.
Celebrating its 22nd exotic year, South Florida’s Annual Asian Culture Festival will feature a tantalizing selection of foods from many Asian countries including Thailand, China, Japan, the Philippines, Laos, Bangladesh, Korea, Iran and Vietnam. A variety of handicrafts, exotic plants and Asian produce will also be offered to the public, as well as educational displays featuring the countries, people and cultures of Asia.
At 12:00 pm each day, a reenactment of a Traditional Thai Wedding will take place – with a colorful wedding parade, dowry counting ceremony, engagement ceremony, paying respect ceremony and water pouring ceremony.
On the performing stage, a variety of ethnic Asian shows will be featured, from dances to the exciting Taiko drums, and martial arts…..

Bayfront Popup Park

Feb. 28 – March 4
10am-6:30pm
FREE
Schedule here
Across from Bayfront Park in downtown Miami
Parking lot between Flagler and NE 1st street converted to grass covered park with moveable seating, music, art, comedy & activities.
Food trucks throughout entire event

Taste of Pinecrest

Sat. March 3 – 10-5pm
FREE admission
Pinecrest Gardens
11000 SW 57th Ave
Details here
Featuring food from local restaurants, entertainment, kids activities, healthy cooking demonstrations, juried art show, free bicycle parking.

Farmer’s Markets all over!

Visit my Resource page for list of Farmer’s Markets, tips.
There’s nothing more exciting than seeing, smelling fresh produce!
Don’t forget to check in at Freakin’ Flamingo for Renee’s homecrafted jams in South Miami Market! I love them.

Here are some yummy produce TeenasPrideCSA gave me when I was giving a cooking presentation at the Coconut Grove Art Festival recently. I made some delicious dishes which I’ll post up soon, so check back. You can go on a farm tour, I’ve yet to do it.

Cobaya Guinea Pigs Miami (Updated)

By 4 Comments

Chef Jeremiah’s shiny Gastropod roams Miami.
It took a year to build out. Often you’ll see him
at Wynwood’s Art Walk, 2nd Saturdays of the month.
Wonderful to pick up a yummy snack after trekking
into all the art galleries.
I’m certainly no gourmand or foodie but enjoyed seeing how this Cobaya was produced and meeting other foodies. I’m just the opposite spectrum of gourmet cooking, I focus on teaching easy, one-dish dinners using a cast iron wok. Food for Thought organizes these Cobaya Gourmet Guinea Pig dinners and did a great job! He named this one, Podzilla, mix of Gastropod and Chadzilla, and it’s upscale ‘streetfood’. Cobaya is an underground supper club in a secret location that’s only revealed after you pay. You don’t know what you’re getting fed till you get there, hence “guinea pig”. Subscribing is the only way to get into these Cobaya events!

Here’s a bit about my own pursuit of good, reasonably priced Asian eats and cultural events in South Florida, I came up with Hoh Wok Club. I held a few gatherings but then good Asian restaurants dried up so I took a hiatus. I’m excited to work on a series of events with a few modern Asian eateries that have sprung up, so if you’re interested, subscribe to my blog or visit my site for latest updates.

Chef Jeremiah Bullfrog explains Podzilla! It was fun to hop
from one station to another to pick up your next dish.
Chefs: Mike, Kurtis Jantz and Chad Galiano
(Chefs at Neomi, Trump International Beach
Resort, Sunny Isles, Florida.) Trio worked
under dim lights, sweltering heat and did a
great job! It’s terrific they get a chance to
showcase their ‘offbeat’ side at this Podzilla
and we are eager Guinea Pigs!

Chowfather help set up!

DJ Kiko kept the energy UP! Enjoyed his music.
Lovely under the tent. It was quite humid. I slathered on Revlon’s Skin So Soft to put off mosquitoes and humans (oops.) I sat with this wonderful enthusiastic foodie couple (in photo above.) Wow, they really get into it. Nice seeing blogger Paula of mangoandlime, I always enjoy reading her blog, she’s written about other Cobaya dinners. Met another food blogger, tinkeringwithdinner. Take a look for his point of view!

I also sat next to a Korean/American attorney I met years ago at an APABA event. The real buzz is she’s going to help prep for the next Top Chef. Can’t reveal location. There was also a plastic surgeon, so you see, you just never know who you’ll meet!

The problem I have with western style rectangular tables is that you only ‘meet’ and have conversations with your immediate neighbors. In Asia, you mostly see square tables or big rounds so you have eye contact with everyone at your table and the conversation and food can also be shared easily, all about ‘community’.

It was really a lovely setting with the water and boats back
of the American Legions Park at 64th/Biscayne where
Harvey took over running the bar and restaurant. Thanks
to Harvey for hosting us. Never knew they had a view in the back.

Octo Salpicon was very tender and tasty, served with
Summer Spritzer of salted watermelon, tomato, tequilla.

Brine Fried Chicken, Big Mike’s potato salad,
buttermilk-chicharrone biscuits.
French Quarter Chicken Livers with hot pepper fluid gel,
evoo-sea salt crackers.
“Baha” Fish Taco Salad: Swordfish, cabbage, chipotle,
tortillas, pico de gallo.

Bahn Mi Tacos: pulled pork in trotter jus, nuoc cham,
pickled radishes & cilantro salad
Mississippi Delta Tamales:
cornmeal tamale, tomatillo, tomato ketchup
Eddie Bragin did some incredibly intricate designs on these
stainless steel bottles used to dispense cream/foam?
Do visit Eddie’s website to see his beautiful art and design.

Chefs assembling tamales.

Nice arrangement with floating candles and flower.

Steve, Blind Tastes chatting to Carla (Jeremiah’s wife)
and baby Sydney. It was nice getting to know J & his
family and hear about their Pod trips.
If you live in Asheville, Weaverville, the
GastroPod is visiting July 3 & 4. Check his site
for latest schedule and his creative events.

I missed out on the Crispy White Corn Cake
(everyone raved about this dish and kept
rubbing it in just cause I missed it.) and Double
Decker Slider Burgers because everyone was
eating way too fast! Well, I couldn’t fit in the
burger, I was stuffed. It got too dark to shoot
the two desserts: Root Beer & Bourbon Floats

and White Chocolate Cupcakes.

I would love to hear your personal take on an “undergro
und” dinner in your town but keep it light.

Here are 2 reviews of ‘underground’ dinners. One from a reporter:
Steve Dolinsky, Adventures in Urban Eating. 12-time national James Beard Award-winner, occasional judge on Iron Chef America, currently Food/Lifestyle reporter for ABC7

And one from a food blogger and empty-nester:
She’s Cookin

Here’s a great listing of ‘underground supper clubs” in other cities. Cobaya is listed.
https://www.saltshaker.net/underground-dining-scene