Korean Roasted Barley Tea and Buddha Board
I love drinking tea, especially during the long winter months. There’s something comforting about sipping hot tea on a cold day–it has a calming effect that forces me to slow down and appreciate life. I usually drink black tea in the morning to energize me for the day ahead, but when I have a bit more time, I like to sit down with my Buddha Board–a painting surface upon which you can paint temporarily with water–and a cup of roasted barley tea.
Banana Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins
I always like to start the weekend off with a nice breakfast. There’s something quite satisfying about having a leisurely breakfast, in which you can really appreciate the food. This weekend I made banana mocha chocolate chip muffins, and they were wonderful.
I got the recipe from The Cheese Board: Collective Works, which is an amazing cookbook featuring recipes from The Cheese Board–a much-loved pizzeria, bakery, and cheese shop in Berkeley, California. While I haven’t visited the physical store, I have recreated many of their famous baked goods at home with the help of this cookbook. I highly recommend it for those who like to bake and love the smell of fresh bread!
Wazazu Restaurant – Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas attracts top culinary talent from around the world and hosts show-stopping restaurants with sinfully delicious food, global flavors, and creative flair. Dining out in Vegas can be a surreal experience. From elaborate décor to unforgettable dishes, the city has a no-holds-barred policy when it comes to entertainment and food. There’s really no place quite like it!
A 27-Foot Crystal Dragon inside Wazazu Restaurant
Wazazu restaurant is located at Encore on the Vegas Strip. The décor is bold and impressive. Gold and red dominate the entrance, which is accented with dark wood, large golden pears, and red lanterns. The open interior features white tufted furniture and a 27-foot-long crystal dragon that curves along the back wall. The shimmering dragon is comprised of over 90,000 Swarovski crystals and is a true treasure to behold! When it comes to glitz and glamour, Wazazu doesn’t disappoint.
Japanese Sweet-Simmered Vegetables with Steamed Rice
I’ve been cooking a lot of Japanese food lately, inspired by our recent trip to Mitsuwa marketplace. I love shopping there because I always discover something new and it allows me to expand my culinary repertoire. Plus, it’s home to one of the tastiest ramen bars in Chicago.
Groceries from Our Recent Trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace
Last week, I created this refreshing sashimi salad featuring fresh ingredients from the sea. This week, I focused on a very different style of Japanese cooking, what I consider Japanese comfort food. Japanese sweet-simmered vegetables is a hearty, filling dish and the delicious sweet-and-salty broth is perfect during the cold winter months. When paired with steamed rice, you have a perfectly satisfying meal.
Tuna and Salmon Sashimi, Seaweed, and Cucumber Salad with Ponzu Sauce
It’s a new year and for a lot of people that means a clean, healthy beginning, because of this I wanted to feature a dish that is simple, fresh, healthy, and most importantly, delicious. This sashimi, seaweed, and cucumber salad is all of these things and appetizing to boot.
My mind always drifts to Japanese cuisine when I think of using fresh ingredients in a pure and simple way. Jiro Ono, renowned sushi chef and owner of the three-star Michelin restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, says in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, “Ultimate simplicity equals purity,” and I believe this can be seen throughout Japanese cuisine.
