Category Archives: food

Cook Salon at 2012 SFIAAFF

If you’re in San Francisco, be sure to drop by the Cook Salon at the 2012 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

Food is the next rock n’ roll. From celebrity chefs to food trucks, our culinary culture is exploding with innovative new tastes and eating establishments, and many of the must-try offerings in the Bay Area are Asian American restaurants and pop-ups. In this salon, two of the hottest local chefs will discuss their experiences and food while they create a dish live with the audience. Consult your recipe box or app and come to share food ideas!

Featuring:
Preeti Mistry, Chef, Juhu Beach Club, Top Chef Alum
Beverly Kim, Chef De Cuisine, Aria Restaurant Chicago, Top Chef Alum

Cook Salon Spotlight with Preeti Mistry

Mindy Kaling in Healthy Choice commercial

Mindy Kaling in Healthy Choice commercial

Comedian Mindy Kaling
sweetens things up in an unexpected way just like the apples in our meals. One minute the apple can be a healthy snack. The next, it can be the unexpected natural sweetener in our Pumpkin Squash Ravioli. Just like the apple, Mindy Kaling is a woman of many talents. Well known for her supporting role on “The Office,” few realize that she’s also a writer, producer and director on the show. Check out her book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Mindy Kaling in Healthy Choice commercial

Behind the scenes with Mindy Kaling in Healthy Choice commercial. She tells us when she fell in love with Healthy Choice and talks about working on The Office.

How To Eat a Live Octopus

How To Eat a Live Octopus

If you’re an adventurous eater, this one is for you. Have you ever considered eating an octopus? Tentacles and all. It has a big, bulbous head, beady black eyes, and eight squirming tentacles, but some people would also call it dinner. Even while it’s still alive! It’s believed to bring strength and stamina.

Do you have what it takes to eat a live octopus?

How To Eat a Live Octopus

Cherrytree Cola with Far East Movement

Cherrytree Cola with Far East Movement

Far East Movement are pitchmen for the new Cherrytree Cola. In partnership with Fentimans, Cherrytree Records is proud to present their own twist on cherry cola. Mixed with delicious botanical ingredients – including ginger spice and natural cherry flavor – Cherrytree Cola is … Your Pop Alternative. Available now in North America. Drink the music. Look for it at select Bev Mo locations.

In keeping with the food theme, be sure to try some Jello by Far East Movement.

Cherrytree Cola with Far East Movement

Fast Hand Cake Lady

Fast Hand Cake Lady

As we head into the holidays, we share this video of an amazingly fast cake lady. She bags cakes like nobody’s business. Take something as mundane as serving up cakes to customers and see what can happen when a certain level of speed and skill are applied. This time there is no real performance by the person on display, simply someone doing their job at a level of speed and skill that is amazing to behold. Let your skills shine this holiday season.

Fast Hand Cake Lady

Ching-He Huang’s Yangzhou Fried Rice on Rachael Ray

Ching-He Huang's Yangzhou Fried Rice on Rachael Ray

Look like chef Ching-He Huang is trying to break into the US amrket. Not only does she have two show on the Cooking channel (Easy Chinese: San Francisco & Chinese Food Made Easy) , but she’s also making guest appearances on other TV shows. Her most recent program was on the Rachael Ray show, where she showed how easy it was to cook Yangzhou Fried Rice. Watch the video and see the recipe below.

Ching-He Huang’s Yangzhou Fried Rice on Rachael Ray

Ingredients
1 small handful dried shrimp, optional

Spicy Ketchup Sauce, optional:
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce

Fried Rice:
2 tablespoons peanut oil
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon peeled and grated ginger
1 medium carrot, cut in 1/4-inch dice
4 ounces cooked Chinese pork (char siu) or ham, cut in 1/4-inch dice
3 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and diced
1 cup frozen peas
3 cups cooked jasmine rice, a day old
1 to 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 to 2 green onions, sliced on a diagonal, for garnish

Preparation
If desired, in a small bowl, soak the dried shrimp in hot water for 20 minutes, then drain and set aside.

For the spicy ketchup sauce, if using: In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and chili sauce and set aside.

For the fried rice: Heat a wok over high heat and add 1 tablespoon peanut oil. Add the eggs and scramble, then set aside on a plate.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon peanut oil to the wok. Add the ginger and stir-fry for less than 1 minute. Then add the carrots and stir-fry for 1 minute more. Add the pork, the soaked dried shrimp if using, and mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the peas and cooked rice, and toss together. Season the mixture with the light soy sauce, salt and pepper. At the very end, add the sesame oil and spicy ketchup sauce, if using. Check the seasoning and adjust to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with green onions and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy