Travel. Eat. Cook.
Shanghai was the first Chinese city I traveled to and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Ten years ago, even though the city wowed me with its architecture, food, and art scene, navigating the city was a bit of a challenge. In recent years, …
When I visited China, I got to enjoy a multitude of regional cuisines and the one that stood out was Sichuan food. One particular dish at a Sichuan restaurant blew my mind – liang mian, cold noodles. The piles of noodles and shredded chicken sat …
Food is king in Osaka and there is no place better than Namba to surrender your stomach to the gastronomic kingdom. There’s even an expression used to describe Osaka’s obsession with food — “kuidaore,” to eat oneself into financial ruin. Here are some of the …
A bustling and vibrant metropolis, Osaka is the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region and Japan’s second largest metropolitan city after Tokyo. There are two major city centers in Osaka: Kita (North) and Minami (South). Both are served by a large network of train companies …
Known for its distinct zesty flavor, coriander, also known as cilantro, is an herb that people either love or hate. When I was a kid, I used to pick out all the coriander leaves on my plate, but my taste buds have thankfully evolved. This …
Oh deer, is city life stressing you out? If you’re visiting Osaka, do plan a half-day trip to the spiritual city of Nara where there are wild deer, gorgeous temples and shrines, and a shop selling the most delicious mochi you will ever eat! From …
It was months away from Thanksgiving when my friend Kristin, her husband Russ, and I binged watched “Friends” one lazy September weekend. A Thanksgiving episode compelled us to have the brilliant idea of roasting our very first turkey (sans real adults like our parents) the …
This burger blends of all the deliciously zesty flavors from Southeast Asian cuisine – lemongrass, garlic, cilantro, fish sauce, and rice vinegar. If you like your patties spicy, you may even throw in a couple of minced Thai bird’s eye chilies to give it a …
For a truly magical escape from the crowded and stressful city life, head to the enchanting mountain village of Shirakawa-go located in north-western Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Its main attraction and village center, Ogimachi (荻町) features several dozen traditional gassho-zukari thatched-roof farmhouses set amongst babbling …
My favorite Thai restaurant of all time, Pookie’s Thai Westlake, is located in a suburb of California called Westlake Village. Helmed by a vivacious Thai lady named Pookie, the restaurant has been attracting scores of loyal diners for almost 20 years. Some would even travel …