tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57033832919531445382026-10-14T04:01:09.055-04:00To win the love of the Girl, one fork full at a time. This is the culinary journal of my attempts (and failures) to bring the Girl of my dreams and the food of my dreams togetherfoodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-13330209973481071532020-04-29T18:49:00.001-04:002020-04-29T18:49:38.182-04:00

You might not be familiar with Hokkaido Milk Bread, but I promise you, make it once, and it will instantly become a favorite. Sweet, airy, fluffy, and springy, this bread is highly versatile and can easily be adapted for a variety of uses. This recipe is for a pull apart dinner roll, but you can easily make a stuffed bun or full loaf. It is a very simple recipe with one little secret that makes

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-3076895465450071272019-12-31T19:10:00.003-05:002020-01-05T18:48:18.103-05:00

2019 was a busy year for us. Through the course of the year we hit 8 countries, Maui, and the New England coast. Over the next few weeks I'm going to highlight some of the best individual dishes from the many places we traveled in 2019. First up: the island city state of Singapore. Pancake. Bacon. Flight. Magic. Bearded Bella (8 Craig Rd, Singapore 089668) First, I must admit

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0Singapore1.352083 103.819836000000010.8441055 103.174389 1.8600605 104.46528300000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-39842600163908148672019-08-16T09:00:00.000-04:002019-08-16T12:05:38.925-04:00

So in my quest to get the most out of my Instant Pot, I picked up the Ekovana Stackable Steamer inner pans. Naturally my first thought was to make a rice dish. I wanted to try a dish that would give amazing flavor while highlighting the rice on its own. So, in comes this quick and easy take on a Korean classic. A minimum of prep, maybe 5 minutes of total work, and 14 minutes total in the

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-38792840748767733192019-04-09T14:42:00.000-04:002019-04-09T14:42:51.531-04:00

Fiji. Four simple letters that combine to immediately transport your mind to Paradise. Clear waters, warm beaches, epic sunsets.....Fiji. So you book your flight, enjoy your 11 hour nap, and arrive at Nadi International Airport. At this point, unless you stayed where we did (post to come) you will likely end up at Denarau Island. Either you will stay on Denarau Island for one of its eight

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-84748831197354677452019-04-04T06:00:00.000-04:002019-04-04T13:41:10.881-04:00

So in my last recipe, I gave you the keys to cooking a traditional style risotto with a far more forgiving base than the traditional Arborio rice. That recipe still took all the time and effort of a risotto, but it reduced the likelihood of dinner being ruined through inattention. But what if you still want that umptious traditional rice risotto without all that endless stirring and ladling in

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-26435836866399691772019-03-20T12:15:00.000-04:002019-03-20T12:15:31.546-04:00

My mother was from Scotland, born and raised. This gave me an insider's knowledge of the two main culinary achievements from the land of William Wallace and the Loch Ness Monster: batter and fry it or shove it in a sheep gut and boil it. The former being such delicacies as deep fried Mars bars, deep fried pizza, and deep fried kababs (all real things). The later is, of course, the dreaded haggis

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0George Square, Glasgow, UK55.860768099999987 -4.250308899999936355.858540099999985 -4.2553513999999364 55.862996099999989 -4.2452663999999363tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-33778428345145352832019-03-10T21:50:00.002-04:002019-03-10T21:50:14.172-04:00

Some days you just want a decadent, luscious risotto. You can either put on pants and head to that fancy Italian restaurant and spend $30 on a plate, or you could make it yourself and wonder why the rice is still more crunchy than al dente. But wait. What if there was one simple (and incredibly cheap) substitution you could make to ensure you can have a luxurious risotto without the

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-5587892164455655752018-12-06T14:33:00.000-05:002018-12-06T14:33:39.442-05:00

Today I want to launch a new feature, one that I have been contemplating since moving to our current home in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle. South Seattle Spotlight will feature the dishes from the restaurants on the south side of the city that really speak to my heart. So much is written about the restaurants of Ballard, Fremont, Capital Hill, and the Downtown core, but head just a

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-33848081484185829752018-10-04T13:11:00.002-04:002018-10-04T13:11:50.562-04:00

So just before the start of the summer season we took a road trip out toward Long Beach, as one does in Washington. Passing through tiny South Bend we saw a little shack looking out on the Willapa River with the magic word OYSTER. Well, of course we stopped in! Boy was that a good decision. Perfectly located near the Washington summer hotspot (or the Oregon coast if you are planning to

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-19267538985405158862017-12-31T16:04:00.000-05:002017-12-31T16:08:39.895-05:00

As 2017 comes to a close, it is natural to look back at what was great about the year that was. While I haven't kept up with the blog like I once did, (and I promise to fix that in 2018) we did have quite a few adventures this year. Trips to Canada, England, Denmark, Sweden, Boston, and Charleston filled the calendar. Further explorations of our new home state of Washington has us even more in

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-46027301103507237862017-12-18T17:22:00.004-05:002017-12-31T16:07:01.533-05:00

So I finally bowed to the pressure and bought an Instant Pot.  Most of you are already familiar with the pressure cooker slash slow cooker slash yogurt maker slash rice cooker slash lead guitarist on November Rain slash sauté pan so I won't bore you with the background. I will say through, the first few weeks I have been very impressed by the pressure cooker, but

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-74684309579498200872016-05-26T11:44:00.000-04:002016-05-26T13:44:03.405-04:00

Heading into the heart of the tourist season here in Seattle, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you the "Eat Seattle Tours." I had the chance to spend the day with the delightful and engaging Chef Liz McCune as we wandered the Pike's Place Market and all its bounty. Through her connections with the amazing local purveyors we were able to taste local cheese, bean to bar

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-64438152943530459042016-05-19T14:14:00.000-04:002016-05-19T14:14:27.816-04:00

This is one of the simplest recipes in my arsenal, and yet it is one I am most asked for. Pickled red onions are a beautiful and tangy addition not only to taco night but excellent in sandwiches (particularly Cubans and Grilled Cheese), chopped up into egg salad, or mixed in a bitter green salad. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/3 cup white sugar 1/4 cup plum vinegar 1

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-13393489242678435642016-05-19T12:17:00.000-04:002016-05-19T14:15:11.465-04:00

This is a nearly idiot proof one pot meal for the slow cooker. Hearty restaurant style dinner with minimum effort. Ingredients: 4 Chicken Thighs, Bone in skin-on 8 ounces red potatoes, quartered 8 ounces French green beans, trimmed 2 large carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, minced 4 sprigs fresh Rosemary 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-84554628187299996512016-03-25T13:47:00.002-04:002016-03-25T17:57:28.746-04:00

Lets get this out of the way....Batman v Superman isn't a good movie. It just isn't. Structurally it is a mess. You can almost hear the way they put the writing room together. "Hey guys, we can't screw this up, all hands on deck." The writing is so poor that it is hard to understand how Batman v Superman made it to screen in its current form. There will be plenty of people who really enjoy this

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-14460365922752233562016-02-04T19:11:00.001-05:002016-02-04T19:11:09.607-05:00

So you want to throw a Super Bowl party. Don't settle on Generic Wing Emporium when you can class up the party with these amazing wings. DAB ON ‘EM WINGSIngredients: .3 cup Crown Royal Canadian Whisky® .3 cup Honey .25 cup Soy sauce 2 Tablespoons Thai chili sauce 1 packet (0.75-ounce) stir-fry seasoning 2 teaspoons crushed garlic 4 pounds chicken wing drumettes 3

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-78081613631122152302015-12-30T01:36:00.002-05:002015-12-30T01:36:49.990-05:00

Over the Thanksgiving weekend The Girl and I decided to head to Bavaria for a traditional Christkindlmarkt. Luckily we now live in Seattle, so its a short 30 mile drive. "But wait a minute...." you say "when did you move to Seattle?" Hey, it happened and this isn't the time or place to discuss that Im trying to tell a story. "Sorry." Its ok, did you have any on topic questions? "Actually, yes,

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-35592500723698974722014-12-07T21:44:00.000-05:002014-12-07T21:45:23.363-05:00

I don't bake much. That's The Girl's territory normally. I do have my moments of glory though. Take this wonderful winter dessert that I debuted at Thanksgiving dinner.  A rich, decedent bread pudding that is perfect for your holiday party.  Ingredients: For the Bread Pudding: 1/2 loaf Challah bread (I prefer the sweetness of challah but a good brioche will work.) 4 eggs 2

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-5115542654839770182014-10-15T14:55:00.001-04:002014-10-15T14:57:55.101-04:00

Everyone has a go-to Mac n Cheese recipe. Mine is a surf and turf using the sweetness of lump crab and the saltiness of pancetta. The recipe below is optimized for a party, serving 10 people as a side and 6 as a main course. Ingredients: 16oz Jumbo lump crab meat 12 oz pancetta, thin deli sliced, cut into strips 5oz unsalted butter 1 tablespoon all purpose flour 1 1/4 cups heavy cream 1 1/

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-12211699906655540482014-09-12T13:17:00.000-04:002014-09-12T13:17:43.966-04:00

Look at that picture. It's a bonsai tree. With eggs. You eat the eggs. Coming from the bonsai tree. Nothing I can say will explain to you what is going on here. Sure I can tell you about the taste and texture (pretty delicious) and try somehow to explore with you the intricacies of technique and origin of product for each course, but frankly that would be pointless. That is the greatest

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-36250009887857287732014-08-14T19:17:00.002-04:002014-08-14T23:08:31.330-04:00

Product reviews aren't really something I specialize in. Unless it is a magic bottle of booze showing up in my mail box, I'll usually pass. Well the fine folks at Genius Gin, a small batch distillery out of Austin Texas determined to cure you of hating gin, set me a bottle of both their Traditional and their Navy Strength gins to try. First, lets ignore what you know of that bottle of

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-22929500408682879682014-06-15T22:35:00.001-04:002014-06-15T22:52:33.783-04:00

I'll admit that when The Girl and I were first contemplating a move to Pittsburgh, the culinary scene scared me. Internet searches showed little in the way of excitement about the food. Blog posts were formulaic and seemed to show a cuisine that is either trying too hard to be somewhere else or so rooted in local niche cuisine that one would wonder if anyone knew the outside world existed. It is

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-50032362601304401202014-05-14T11:23:00.003-04:002014-05-14T14:54:06.833-04:00

After reading Zagats list of the 11 Hottest Restaurants in Charleston, I thought I'd post my own HOT 11. Mostly, because I had some BIG issues with their list. (Tourist Porch? Really?) Take a look, take a bite, and let me know what you think: 11. Home Team BBQ 10. Dave's Carry-out 9. Co 8. The Lot  7. Brasserie Gigi 6. Xiao Bao Biscuit 5. Lee Lee's Hot Kitchen  4. The

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-46757095090494043272014-01-19T11:36:00.000-05:002014-01-19T11:36:13.960-05:00

If a picture is worth a thousand words... ...then Occidental Grill & Seafood in Washington DC may be worth more than a thousand dictionaries. Located in the Willard Hotel, the walls of this venerable restaurant are lined floor to ceiling with autographed photos of the thousands of entertainers, politicians, and sports starts to enter the dining room since the doors first opened in

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703383291953144538.post-69245628930631679332014-01-05T15:40:00.003-05:002014-01-05T15:40:42.148-05:00

With Steven Page formerly of the Bare Naked Ladies, now with The Illegal Eater 2013 was yet another banner year for Charleston. You name a list, we were atop it. Best place in America, Best Place in the world, Best place to be on a list.....The top ten list of lists we topped is one heck of a read (You can always head over to Holy City Sinner to see the list of lists). Guess it is about time

foodmancinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626255337134447624noreply@blogger.com0