Sichuan Spicy Beef Tendons (涼拌牛筋)

by Mike Hsu // 09/20/2015 // 2 Comments

Thanks to El Niño, we are experiencing continuous hot and humid weather in Southern California but not much rain yet. As the summer heat wears on, here is another refreshing cold appetizer that has a spicy kick. The best thing... Continue reading →

Pork Belly with Garlic Sauce (蒜泥白肉)

by Jeff Kang // 09/11/2015 // 1 Comment

I want to start my introduction to this dish by making some confession: I love bacon, religiously. Many times when all hope was lost, or when I was in the lowest valley in my life, I fry one bacon, I... Continue reading →

Walnut shrimp 核桃蝦

by Jeff Kang // 09/03/2015 // 2 Comments

There are several way to make walnut shrimp. In Chinese it translated as “Walnut Shrimp Ball”. It is because the shrimps will curl up to be in beautiful ball shape when you fry it. Walnut shrimp is more popular here... Continue reading →

How to Velvet Chicken

by Mike Hsu // 08/30/2015 // 1 Comment

Ever wonder why your stir fry chicken breast is always dry and hard, unlike the Chinese restaurant’s silky smooth and tender chicken? Even if we first marinate our chicken in a cornstarch slurry, it often clumps up in the stir... Continue reading →

Baked egg with Prawns (蝦仁烘蛋)

by Jeff Kang // 08/26/2015 // No Comments

Baked egg with prawns is one of my favorite dishes. Although it got the name baked, it’s actually deep fried, the reason why it’s called baked egg is that it buffs up when it’s fried, like a baked bread. Like... Continue reading →

Sichuan Celery Salad (涼拌芹菜)

by Mike Hsu // 08/23/2015 // No Comments

Even though a lot of Sichuan food is numbingly spicy, there are a handful of dishes that helps combat the spiciness. Introducing the Sichuan Celery Salad. The salad is not referring to a garden salad or a caesar salad but... Continue reading →

Mu Shu Pork (木須肉)

by Jeff Kang // 08/12/2015 // No Comments

Although you might already know that Chinese food is not just orange chicken and sweet sour pork, you probably are not familiar with the difference between Northern Chinese cuisine and Southern Chinese cuisine. Northern China is colder which is better... Continue reading →

Baked Fish Dynamite

by Mike Hsu // 08/09/2015 // 6 Comments

Salmon is the most consumed fish in America but how come you never find it in a Chinese restaurant? Because in Chinese cooking, a white fish is preferred for its milder flavor and flakier texture. Traditionally, this white fish is... Continue reading →

Shredded Pork with Sweet-Bean Sauce 京醬肉絲

by Jeff Kang // 08/06/2015 // 2 Comments

When I was living in Taiwan, Shredded Pork with Sweet-Bean Sauce is my favorite dish. Its Chinese name means “Shredded Pork with BeiJing sauce”. This dish is invented by a poor grandpa. His grandson craved to eat Peking Duck, but... Continue reading →

Braised Pork Leg (紅燒元蹄)

by Mike Hsu // 08/02/2015 // 9 Comments

Here in America, when we think of pork leg, we think of the holiday ham. Similar in Taiwan, the leg of pork is served on special occasions like lunar new year. I think the main reason is that it’s an... Continue reading →

Sichuan chicken salad with spicy sesame dressing (棒棒雞)

by Mike Hsu // 07/26/2015 // 1 Comment

After my family has been eating my simple chicken salad from Costco rotisserie chicken for many months, I needed to come up with a new and fresh way of using the leftover chicken breasts. There is a famous dish from the... Continue reading →

Chinese Cold Noodles 中華涼麵

by Jeff Kang // 07/16/2015 // No Comments

While I was living in Taiwan, cold noodle was one of my favorite lunch options during summer. It’s simple, it tastes good, and it is served cold. It is so popular in Taiwan that you can buy cold noodle from... Continue reading →

Turnip cake (蘿蔔糕)

by Jeff Kang // 06/18/2015 // No Comments

Turnip cake is one of my favorite dim sum dish. Even though it might seem a little challenging, if you follow my step, I promise it won’t be any harder than making fried rice! I highly recommend you to buy... Continue reading →

shrimp lettuce wraps (生菜蝦鬆)

by Jeff Kang // 06/11/2015 // No Comments

Still remember when I ate shrimp lettuce wraps for the first time and I totally loved it! The crispy crushed fried bread sticks mixed with crunchy water chestnut and savory shrimps, all wrapped with fresh crisp lettuce. That is one... Continue reading →

Egg Roll (春捲)

by Jeff Kang // 06/02/2015 // 1 Comment

If you have ever gone to a Chinese restaurant or Chinese market or even Costco, you must have seen this very well known appetizer – egg rolls! Why should we spend extra money on those pre-made egg rolls that comes... Continue reading →