Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

Be a Wok Star!

Thanksgiving

NOVEMBER EVENTS (Updated)

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 Just UPDATED with Hurricane Sandy Relief Dinner & Auction, November 18, see below! Keep checking back for Updates 

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BURGER LISCIOUS!

Thursday, November 8

Think this poster speaks for itself!  Have some for me.

 

RAMBLE, A GARDEN FESTIVAL

Friday, Nov.9-11
Tropical Fairchild Garden
The Ramble is a blend of old and new with art, antiques, rare books, a farmers market, the largest plant sale! I’ve been and it’s a lot of fun to roam around and pop in and out into all the activities.
Details here.
 
 
 

DESIGN FAIRCHILD

Friday, November 9
A design and furniture show celebrating eco-innovation only on Friday, details here.
Rocky Lyons, a hair stylist by day and furniture designer in his other life will be showing his work.  He makes the most wonderful contemporary furniture from reclaimed local hardwoods.  I’ve actually given wok cooking classes on a few of those beautiful hardwood tables!  Plus he hosted my classes at his zen like spa so I’m all about giving Rocky a plug!
 

MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL

November 11 – 18
Downtown Miami

Can you believe the Miami Book Fair International is here again?  Celebrating its 29th year and it’s wonderful how it improves every year, details here.  The website is easier to navigate and they’ve added a new component like an art exhibit housed at the Freedom Tower!  I’m thrilled about this because all the years living in Miami Beach, I’ve still never been, so this is a great chance to visit, details here.
Of course, my personal interest is cooking, so…
Cooking demos will now be at the Miami Culinary Institute’s wine gallery to showcase its state of the art facility.
I’m surprised there’s such a small list of cookbook author appearances.  Looking forward to attend the panel talk on Sunday, Nov.18, 2pm. See you there!
 
 
 
 
 
 

NORMAN VAN AKEN COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

I’m so excited and honored to be asked to do another cookbook Giveaway sponsored by Miami Book Fair International !  I’ve chosen Norman Van Aken’s new cookbook: My Key West Kitchen!  I’m working on the blog post, so do check back for a chance to win this fascinating tales from his days there!  I believe you can preorder his book here.
Just off the press: Dinner prepared by restauranteur, chef, and author Seamus Mullen,  Hero Food: How Cooking with Delicious Things Can Make Us Feel Better and Norman Van Aken.
Sat., Nov. 17 at Tuyo. Cost: $130 pp.
About Seamus Mullen:  a NYC chef known for modern Spanish cuisine. His restaurant, Terulia, received a 2 star review from the NY Times. He is also a featured judge on the Food Network series, “Chopped”.
 
 
 
 

WOMEN’S SUCCESS SUMMIT VI

Work & Play Every Day!
November 13 & 14
Briza on the Bay,
1717 North Bayshore Drive,
Miami, FL 33132
 

O.K. your last chance for a 20% discount using my code: WokStar, here’s the link! Only VIP & VIP Plus left, General Admission is closed.
The largest business conference for entrepreneurial women. Walk away with the strategies, tools and relationships to build the lifestyle you want, while doing work you love and earning what you’re worth.
I LOVE THAT!  More details here.
 

Pop Up Cooking Classes

Four Seasons Hotel Miami debuts a series of interactive cooking classes at different popup locations throughout the hotel, from November 2012 through May 2013. Classes are themed and utilize current flavors of the season.  An intimate hands-on class with Chef Aaron Brooks and his team.
$135 pp, reservations are required and can be made by calling (305) 381 3190.
Example of 2 upcoming classes:
Miami-Style Thanksgiving
Saturday November 17, 2012. 2 – 4p.m.
Miami residents enjoy grilling weather year-round, which can be especially great for Thanksgiving. Master the art of barbecue and grilling a turkey with Chef Brooks and Sous Chef Jose Gamez.
Dips & Tricks: Entertain Like a Pro
Saturday December 15, 2012. 2 – 4p.m.
Learn how to make a party-perfect cocktail from Edge mixologist Jack Araque, followed by Chef Aaron Brooks to reveal his secrets for creating easy yet crowd-pleasing snacks and dips.
 

THE DUTCH AT W SOUTH BEACH HOST HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF DINNER
Dinner & Silent Auction 

November 18, 2012
In an effort to provide relief for the victims of ‘Sandy’, chef Andrew Carmellini and his team at The Dutch at W South Beach Hotel & Residences have teamed up with Cobaya – Gourmet Guinea Pigs, the organizers of Miami’s premier underground dining events, to gather renowned Miami chefs and businesses to join them in a five-course dinner and silent auction.
All Proceeds from the dinner and silent auction will go directly to NYC Food Flood, started in concert by Carmellini and fellow New York chefs, Marco Canora, Seamus Mullen and George Mendes, joining efforts to generate funds directed to relief efforts in their own backyard.
Reservations are limited for the Hurricane Relief Dinner.
Complete details here or call (305) 938-3111.
For more information, follow along at @nycfoodflood on Twitter.
(I took this photo when I dropped by the W, how lucky is that?)
 
 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thursday, November 22
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!   I was surprised this year it’s a week early.  Yay, we’ve been invited to spend at a friend’s so we get to enjoy turkey, hope I get a drumstick!
One year, I served Crispy Roast Duck and wok fried veggies, was so good!  Here’s how I did it.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Loy Krathong and Thai Food Festival at the WAT Buddhist Temple

Thursday, Nov.22 
10-4pm 
Thanksgiving Day
Wat Buddharangsi of Miami
15200 SW 240th St, Miami, FL 33032

 Loy Krathong Ceremony, live Thai & western music, Thai Classical and Folk Dance, Delicious Thai Food and Dessert, and much more. It usually falls on full moon.  Loy means ‘to float’ and Krathong is the lotus shaped floater made of banana leaves.
 
I’ve been to many festivals at WAT and always enjoy meeting new and old friends.  There’s always wonderful Thai food to sample.  After a Thanksgiving lunch, it might be nice to wander down and participate.  Details here.
 
 

LUCKY RICE FESTIVAL

Friday, November 30
SoHo Beach House
4385 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach
I’m behind any event highlighting or promoting Asian cuisine in an upscale venue so I was excited Miami was considered a key market for this festival.  Just bought myself a treat and going (tickets are not cheap),  hope to post some inside scoop live from event!  Leave a comment below if you’re going.
Taken from their site:
With a spotlight on Asian-inspired tastings and cocktails from celebrated chefs and buzz-worthy bartenders, the LUCKYRICE Festival is making its Miami debut at the Soho Beach House.
Giant paellas, woks of rice, and a beachfront ceviche crudo bar with music by Chinese jazz vocalist Le Zhang followed by tunes by DJ Mike Deuce.
Hosted by Susur Lee (Top Chef Masters) with Douglas Rodriguez (father of Nuevo Latino cuisine),   a “Chino Latino” collaboration that celebrates Miami’s international fusion style.
Celebrity chefs include Todd English and Norman Van Aken, confirmed participants include swanky Asian hot spots such as Makoto, Hakkasan, Khong River House, Katsuya and Sushi Samba.
Details here and tell them Wok Star sent you!
 

WEEKLY GARDEN TOUR & TASTING 

Essensia’s Organic Chef’s Garden
The Palms Hotel & Spa 
Every Wednesday at 5pm (launched November 7)

Join Chef Julie Frans for a private tour and tasting of Essensia’s Organic Chef’s Garden.  Chef Julie hopes to connect with guests in an effort to enhance their overall experience with food and life. You might even pick up a few tips and techniques on cooking, growing, gardening, and whole living.  Details here and tell them Wok Star sent you!
 
 
 
 

Wok Star's Thanksgiving Duck

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Breaking Thanksgiving tradition with Crispy Roast Duck…
Baby bok choy, sugar snap peas, red bell pepper, scallions.
I cheated and microwaved sweet potato.

 

Just leave all your veggies on a large chopping board,
saves washing up dishes.Go straight from board to wok.

 

I love my cast iron wok and portable butane gas stove setup.

I leave these out permanently so it’s EASY
to use my wok for cooking EVERYTHING.

Start off with oil, garlic and ginger.
Use oil that tolerates high heat like canola or
a new oil I’m trying: Tea Seed Oil

Tip: Don’t overfill your wok, it lowers the temperature &
makes your veggies ‘soupy’! I started
with just frying baby bok choy.
Next, I fried sugar snaps and red bell pepper.
Combined veggies and topped with scallions.
Add dash of tamari, sherry, squirt lime…DONE!
Bought Roast duck , stuffing and gravy which are
time consuming to make.

 

Plated sugar snap & red bell.
Dessert and dinner plates ready.Here’s a ‘before’ shot of ready cooked roast duck.
Warmed in oven 325, then under broiler to crisp skin.
So pleased with result, see nice crispy golden skin!
Notice I put duck on a rack so it wouldn’t be swimming in fat.
This is the leanest duck I’ve ever had, hardly any fat.
Another reason to buy store bought, no smoke or fat drips.

 

This is my husband’s plate. I actually took OFF
my sweet potato, too much carbs!
No-sugar chocolate cheese cake (bought)
with fresh blueberries and strawberries.
Nice to have a 2 hour break before dessert!

This Thanksgiving Dinner goes with my whole philosophy of being a Wok Star! Cook stuff that’s EASY and FUN, leave the time consuming stuff to others!
Wow, glad Thanksgiving is over, my body craved something light and soupy.

How did you use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey or whatever?
What was your first meal after all the leftovers were used?

Pre-Thanksgiving Twist

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I’m not sure why I bought turkey just before Thanksgiving, I think in my head I had set my heart on Roast Duck but got turkey for some Pre-Thanksgiving with a Twist: Asian flavors on the turkey and a stir fry veggie side.

I never buy a whole turkey, it’s too overwhelming to deal with and you’re stuck with all the white meat. So, I bought turkey thighs and drumsticks because we like dark meat. In my fridge was ready cooked penne with some leftover red bell peppers. So, that was the basis of our dinner.

When I go food shopping, I don’t like having any preconceived ideas until I see what’s available. So often, you set your heart on something and it’s not in season or they don’t have it and is very disappointing.

I love to experiment using different spices and seasonings on grilled meats. Instead of having just one flavor, why not have more! The turkey thigh was HUGE, we shared one. It’s a really economical meat to use.

I used ‘broad bean chili paste’ on some thighs and drumsticks and My Spice Sage curry powder on others.

I saw some very fresh rappini (similar to Chinese broccoli) and I had some wonderful dried porcini mushrooms from Earthy Delights. They are a great stir fry combination.

I also like using Earthy Delights’ Tea Seed Oil which doesn’t smoke on high heat, perfect for stir frys.

Subscribers to my free newsletter get a special code when you order from them (you can subscribe from my website.) I love their cute packaging with beautiful drawings of their gourmet mushrooms and chilies. On the back there’s a little history of where they come from with handy instructions on how to best use them. I’m just sorry I didn’t get this out earlier so you can get them for Thanksgiving but there’s still time for Christmas, yay!

Lately, I’ve been supplementing with a bit of toufu to cut down on eating so much meat. I had enough to make my husband’s lunchbox.

I can’t believe a whole year has passed, here’s our Thanksgiving Dinner from last year!

I’ll share what we had for the actual Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. Apart from roast duck, I got ready made gravy and sage, chestnut stuffing, no sugar chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Making fresh veggies, got some snap peas, already had red bell, baby bok choy, spaghetti squash and a cutie pumpkin.

Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thankful my sister is in Hong Kong to spend time with my 87 year old mom, they’re probably having Peking Duck, my fav. Take a look at my post on Hong Kong Market, full of fresh Asian goodies!

Oh, I’m also THRILLED to finally launch my Facebook Fan page so folks who’ve been to my class and especially Wok Stars who have my Kit can share their unique creations, tips, photos. Click badge in sidebar to visit me, help spread the word, see you there…

Do share any unusual dishes you’re having for Thanksgiving?