tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178653162012-01-27T12:08:24.565-08:00A food blog dedicated to "<a href="http://passionateeater.blogspot.com">passionate eaters</a>" everywhere!Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.comBlogger3291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-43359243032940465262011-12-04T12:14:00.000-08:002011-12-04T16:08:01.327-08:00

One of my favorite pre-baby trips last year, was my "couples only" trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. My husband and I loved Canada. We loved the crisp Canadian air, which was punctuated with the perfumed fragrance of tulips and hyacinth. We loved the sweeping and majestic views of the ocean from the Stanley Park. We loved learning about the history and the art (including the intricate and

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-90938473563335198862011-12-02T20:28:00.001-08:002011-12-04T16:10:12.016-08:00

I first discovered Fage Greek yogurt when introducing my then six-month-old baby boy to solid foods. My refrigerator has been stocked with at least one container of Fage yogurt ever since. Therefore, when I heard about the Foodbuzz contest sponsored by Fage, I leapt at the opportunity to openly praise a product that I already love. My typical use for Fage yogurt is swirling a heaping and

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-53351102215409262012011-10-30T23:55:00.000-07:002011-11-03T21:23:30.283-07:00

My husband, mother-in-law, and I threw our firstborn a traditional Chinese red egg and ginger birthday party when he turned one this past week. I am sure you are wondering, "What is a red egg and ginger party?" Red egg and ginger parties are typically celebrated at the one month mark of a young child's life. During the ancient times, when infant mortality rates were high, if a child survived

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com20San Francisco, CA, USA37.7749295 -122.4194155000000137.7206295 -122.50881550000001 37.8292295 -122.33001550000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-24916815466911572352011-09-16T00:31:00.000-07:002011-09-21T02:06:32.174-07:00

As a featured publisher of Foodbuzz, Foodbuzz often sends me emails about their "Tastemaker Program," where they send free food samples to bloggers in exchange for honest feedback (and a blog post or two). Since I was trying to get back on the blog wagon and increase the frequency of my posts, I excitedly signed up for products from three companies: (1) Ghiradelli, (2) Kikkoman, and (3)

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-1644415058763406002011-08-30T18:19:00.000-07:002011-08-31T16:11:58.958-07:00

Some of us associate the oddest, most humorous memories with certain foods. Pizza is one of those foods for me. Example: May 28, 2004. AMC Theatres on Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California. I remember it clearly. It was opening night of the blockbluster disaster flick, Day After Tomorrow. That evening, the silver screen audience was principally populated with residents from the nearby

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7San Francisco, CA, USA37.7749295 -122.4194155000000137.7206295 -122.50881550000001 37.8292295 -122.33001550000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-23033915102832997322011-08-21T19:35:00.000-07:002011-08-21T23:47:15.076-07:00

As a new Mother, I am always on the prowl for kid-friendly toys and foods. How about combining the two? I found these toy sets on my last trip to IKEA a few months ago, and I fell in love at first sight. The IKEA Duktig soft toy breakfast play set: The IKEA Duktig soft toy fruit play set: The IKEA Duktig soft toy vegetable play set: The IKEA Duktig soft toy dessert play set: These

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com9San Francisco, CA, USA37.7749295 -122.4194155000000137.7206295 -122.50881550000001 37.8292295 -122.33001550000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-29230899343825317842011-08-13T01:21:00.000-07:002011-08-13T01:21:41.372-07:00

What do you call someone who waits in line for more than two hours for lunch-time sushi? Dumb as a rock? Pretty close. The answer is "me." I am the punchline. If you don't get the joke, after reading this post, you will. At the beginning of this year, my husband and I noticed an explosion of Facebook activity about this new lunch place in the Financial District dubbed "Sushiritto." We had

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3San Francisco, CA, USA37.7749295 -122.4194155000000137.7206295 -122.50881550000001 37.8292295 -122.33001550000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-85170827093103403002011-07-30T12:38:00.000-07:002011-07-31T12:24:22.325-07:00

There are several things I love about San Diego. First, is Kirk from Mmm-Yoso!! He is classy, friendly, very sweet, and the best "O.G." food blogger of the blogosphere. And a very distant second San Diego love for me, are the fish tacos. I believe that San Diego is the type of city that you could go anywhere and get an awesome fish taco. A fancy restaurant? Guaranteed. A food truck?

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com5San Diego, CA, USA32.7153292 -117.1572550999999932.4256327 -117.35807359999998 33.0050257 -116.95643659999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-16976654388690019732011-07-07T11:39:00.000-07:002011-07-07T13:11:03.837-07:00

Yes. that is not a typo. This is a post regarding events from 2009, not 2011! But better late than never, right? Err... Okay, maybe not.I never intended to take such an extended hiatus from blogging. Unfortunately, the "hiatus" happened "organically," after I started a new job, purchased a new house, and had beautiful baby boy. (Life comes at us quickly, I must admit!) Before I knew it, a

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-91126803013724383052010-10-19T02:44:00.000-07:002010-10-19T20:46:06.467-07:00

My husband measures the quality of a restaurant by the line of people waiting to get in. His belief is that if people are willing to wait in line for food (on top of waiting for the food to be ordered, prepared, and served), then it has to be really, really, really good. When we waiting for the early morning British Columbia Ferry from Victoria to Vancouver, we made a pit-stop for gas in Sidney

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-45910372655016814702010-10-18T23:55:00.000-07:002010-10-19T11:39:17.371-07:00

My friend recently got married, and as one of her bridesmaids, I had the pleasure of helping to organize her bridal shower. The maid of honor, the other bridesmaids, and I primarily derived inspiration for the bridal shower from a blog post on an Alice In Wonderland themed shower (by a food blogger who went to school with my husband) and the Queen of Tea Parties, Wandering Chopsticks.During our

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-49082055070374862692010-10-09T23:33:00.000-07:002010-10-11T14:20:50.488-07:00

Ever since I married a DC-native, he and his family have attempted to convince me to move to the East Coast and also, convert me to love all things East Coast. Sometimes, I can see his point, but sometimes, we simply have to agree to disagree.For instance, he vehemently lauds the merits of burgers from the up and coming chain, Five Guys. He believes they serve the juiciest, meatiest, and the

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-77094897112945785012010-07-25T17:32:00.000-07:002011-11-03T21:23:18.744-07:00

When I lived in New Orleans, I was enthralled by that wonderful city. One of my favorite things to do every weekend, was to visit the famed Café Du Monde in the French Quarter for golden-brown beignets dusted with powdered sugar and a café au lait with milk and chicory. I also greatly enjoyed riding the streetcar into the Uptown area for a satisfying seafood brunch. Whatever breakfast I

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-3678463104182272922010-06-13T14:16:00.001-07:002010-06-13T14:44:18.323-07:00

When I lived in New Orleans, I ate seafood at least every other day. The oysters from the Gulf Coast were the best I had ever had in my life. The shrimp was succulent to every bite. Today, I just read an article about how Drago's has stopped selling its chargrilled oysters and seafood restaurateurs are now being forced to completely overhaul their menus because of the now toxic, oil-polluted,

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-60453068797219693372009-06-13T16:04:00.000-07:002009-06-14T12:13:56.519-07:00

Readers, I know you're thinking, "Where in Satan's name have you been? I hate you, you lousy food blogger!"And I'm not going to lie. I totally deserve to hear that. Go ahead, lay it on me.Yes, I have been out of commission lately. And yes, I didn't give you any advance notice. But I have two valid and justifiable explanations! (And I definitely owe you at least one big explanation.) I started a

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-1306140900193760192009-05-17T19:14:00.000-07:002009-06-13T21:32:19.703-07:00

I can say without hesitation, that during my honeymoon, I ate my favorite Swiss meal in Lucerne, Switzerland. (I know what you're thinking... Although most of my honeymoon pictures were deleted, I still have a few up my sleeve! Sorry for the old content, but remember, NBA playoffs aren't over yet!)Allow me to give some background. My husband and I had worked up ravenous appetites after vigorously

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-26186868709896654192009-05-09T13:17:00.000-07:002009-05-09T14:37:45.231-07:00

Whew, I'm still completely occupied by the NBA playoffs. But the good news is that I'm back for a quick post! But first, I need to get something critical off my chest...Although I'll always be a "LakerGal4Life" (that's my screen name when Phoenix or New Orleans aren't playing), I have to say that the Houston Rockets were robbed last night by miserable officiating. Those NBA refs are about as

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-3550820396911707752009-04-28T20:35:00.000-07:002009-04-29T01:38:10.803-07:00

If you are a long-time reader of this blog, you'll be aware of one thing about me. I love the NBA playoffs.But it gets worse. Even if you knew that, you probably don't know that:- I love the NBA playoffs so much, that I literally take off work (by calling in "sick") to watch the highlights that are played in the afternoon. Yes, I know that the highlights will run again in the evening, but I

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-84160541063447049482009-04-20T23:56:00.000-07:002009-04-20T23:58:58.737-07:00

Before I visited to Chicago, I heard that the three best deep dish pizzerias in all of Chicago were (1) Gino's East, (2) Giordano's, and (3) Lou Malnati's. Knowing me, you can rest assured that I set out to test those assertions, and try the places out myself.First, I stopped by Gino's East for a solo lunch, and eagerly ordered a small personal pan pizza. After a lengthy wait, my fresh pizza

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-78823942748248065542009-04-15T18:31:00.000-07:002009-04-16T01:16:23.166-07:00

Chicago is known for its three signature food items: (1) stomach-expanding deep dish pizza; (2) savory Italian beef sandwiches piled high with beef galore and soaked in au jus; and (3) Chicago-style 'dogs, loaded with special toppings and condiments. On my recent visit to Chicago, my quest was to try the "best" of all of these types of food, and weigh in with my own opinion. After some guidance

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-71945518673217394142009-04-13T14:17:00.001-07:002009-04-13T19:41:52.608-07:00

As a food blogger, sometimes, you go through "moments."One of those "moments," is realizing that the food pictures that you took are hideously unappetizing. After this past Easter week/weekend and all of the activities with the church, friends, and family, I finally sat down at my computer, ready to begin posting again. As I uploaded the pictures from my camera to my computer, I realized to my

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-51324462502962911932009-04-07T10:28:00.000-07:002009-04-07T10:33:29.935-07:00

One of the magazines that I subscribe to has a regular feature on "three ingredient recipes." I love the simplicity of those recipes and the ease of making food with only a few ingredients. Therefore, I have recently been trying my hand at learning and making more of these recipes, which call for just a few ingredients. This is my favorite three ingredient recipe (from my beau). Well, I guess

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-25752442319425795562009-04-01T15:30:00.000-07:002009-04-06T02:43:40.286-07:00

Yeah right.Is there even a competition here? I think we all assume that Peter Luger Steak House (the century-old, highly revered, and much heralded dry-aged steak restaurant) would blow any chain restaurant competition out of the water. Plus, Bon Appetit magazine lovingly appointed Peter Luger as "the best" steak in the U.S.But you'll be surprised at my findings at which restaurant really takes

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-77329979414400703482009-03-30T19:30:00.000-07:002009-03-30T21:13:47.664-07:00

This post is dedicated to finding food around the glorious Chinese supermarket, known to the public as "99 Ranch Market," but affectionately called "Ranch 99," by those who truly appreciate it. If you are from Southern California, then Ranch 99 runs through your veins, for you know that Ranch 99 sustains life on the earth. It sells a huge variety of seafood, Asian spices, frozen goods,

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-85008908796739727422009-03-27T10:44:00.000-07:002009-03-27T13:47:56.468-07:00

Forgive me blog readers, for I have sinned.I have sinned by making and eating this demon-infested sandwich, which is (1) slathered with a tremendous dollop of mayonnaise, (2) stacked with pieces of divine (yet artery-hardening) steak, and (3) overwhelmingly loaded with huge 1/4 inch slices of real cheddar cheese. Basically, the "demons" are full-fat mayonnaise, oily cheddar cheese, and red meat.

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-39733059336198850552009-03-25T14:34:00.000-07:002009-03-27T10:55:51.803-07:00

When the beau and I went honeymooning in Europe, we took pains to eat what the locals ate. Thus, we refused to eat at eateries that served American, Mexican, or Asian food in Europe. First, such food was virtually guaranteed not to be good. Second, we could spend our money and fill the limited space in our stomachs with something much better, authentic European food. However, we did make a

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-18477420325085512882009-03-23T10:58:00.000-07:002009-03-23T16:48:29.146-07:00

You are probably thinking, "What's up with the fugly food pictures in this post?"Yes, they are less than attractive and yes, they are old (from September 2008). For a while, I was debating whether to delete them forever, but a recent sequence of events involving two trips to Southern California in the last week, encouraged me to post them.These pictures are from a wedding I attended in Los

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-59286464374314351992009-03-17T02:31:00.000-07:002009-03-17T16:22:42.907-07:00

If any one meal is synonymous with the bourgeoisie, it is "brunch," but not a brown bag lunch and certainly not Sunday supper. Although we are mired in an ugly recession now, I think that now more than ever, we should make a concerted effort to relish finer things in our lives every now and then, even those luxuries typically associated with wealth and excess. Therefore, we should enjoy those

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-59185602705735871032009-03-13T00:52:00.000-07:002009-03-13T03:07:17.523-07:00

Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking, "Where the fuzz have you been?"I've been a little busy, but happy to be back blogging! I have many old posts in the pipeline (such as two posts on steak dinners in NYC and SF, the rest of my pictures from my European honeymoon in November 2008, and etc. and etc.), but I actually have even older business to take care of! The other day, when cleaning out

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-86870155208218939512009-03-10T00:29:00.000-07:002009-03-11T17:19:50.842-07:00

Here are good deals that I found for this week, feel free to check them out:Free Small Fries and a Small Fountain Drink from Jack-in-the-Box - "Click here" for the printable couponFree Bag of RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps - "Click here" for the printable couponBuy-One-Get-One-Free Medium or Large Mocha or Latte from Seattle's Best Coffee - "Click here" for the printable couponAuntie Anne's

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-55239834731426176832009-03-06T11:26:00.000-08:002009-03-06T12:17:09.123-08:00

After being inspired by Single Guy Chef and the Foodhoe and their visit to Mission Street Food, I decided to test out the San Francisco hype and pay a visit to Mission Street Food for myself. And I just happened to visit on the same night as the San Francisco Chronicle, so if you want a legitimate piece of journalistic writing, hop to their site. But if you are willing to put up with my regular

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-23372307429123839102009-03-04T14:42:00.000-08:002009-03-06T02:16:35.240-08:00

This is my special "ka-pow salad."When I say, "ka-pow," I am referring to the tremendous, unstoppable force that knocks an evildoer or villain to the floor, while simultaneously causing the sudden appearance of a spiky yellow cartoon bubble with large block Lichtenstein font that reads, "KA-POW!" Yeah, this salad is pretty special in my mind.I previously posted about how I "need" my salad to be

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-18239407028593020422009-03-03T23:01:00.000-08:002009-03-10T00:29:02.441-07:00

After getting a little rest after that last monster post, I just wanted to share this week's good internet food deals:Free Sample of Quaker Mini Delights Rice Cakes - Quaker Oats is mailing free packages of their low calorie "Mini Delights" and rice cakes. "Click here" to fill out the online registration form.Free Sample of Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis - "Click here" to fill out the online

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-354215336601577852009-03-01T21:30:00.000-08:002011-11-03T21:22:51.651-07:00

I have been noticeably absent from the food blogging world for a few days, but I can explain! I have been feverishly preparing for my entry to Foodbuzz's 24, 24, 24 contest regarding my Mardi Gras celebration!New Orleans is one of the most diverse "melting pot" regions of America, with heavy Native American, African, and French influences in its cuisine. As seen by novel New Orleans foods such

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-28100258545786340832009-03-01T21:05:00.001-08:002011-11-03T21:22:12.281-07:00

Here is another recipe as a part of my "Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Celebrating Mardi Gras, with Vietnamese Flair" post!Hearty Gumbo with Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, and Okra1 1/2 lbs of medium shrimp, peeled1 container of cooked and shelled crawfish meat, or cooked and shelled crab meat (8 oz)2 quarts of shrimp stock, at room temperature1 small bottle of clam juice (8 fl oz)1/2 cup of vegetable oil1/2

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-25958721773062832262009-03-01T21:04:00.001-08:002011-11-03T21:20:57.674-07:00

Here is another recipe as a part of my "Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Celebrating Mardi Gras, with Vietnamese Flair" post!Savory Vietnamese Turmeric Crepes (Banh Xeo) with Creole Shrimp1 1/2 cups of long-grain rice flour (not glutinous rice flour and can use 1 to 1 1/4 cups only, for a lighter, less dense, and more translucent and glassy crepe)1 can of unsweetened coconut milk (13.5 fl oz)1/2 tsp of

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-2289125548499101272009-03-01T21:03:00.000-08:002011-11-03T21:20:24.242-07:00

Here is another recipe as a part of my "Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Celebrating Mardi Gras, with Vietnamese Flair" post!Vietnamese Tamarind Soup with Catfish, Pineapple, and Okra (Canh Chua Cá)3 quarts of fish or shrimp stock1 yellow onion, sliced3-inch piece of ginger, bruised and scored2 stalks of lemongrass, cut into 2 inch segments5 cloves of garlic, smashed1 lb boneless and skinless catfish filets,

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-55357860609502078432009-03-01T21:02:00.000-08:002011-11-03T21:19:52.731-07:00

Here is another recipe as a part of my "Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Celebrating Mardi Gras, with Vietnamese Flair" post!Summer Rolls (Goi Cuon)1 pkg of 15 to 20 rice paper wrappers1 head of tender lettuce, such as red leaf lettuce1 lb of mung bean sprouts1 lb of cooked Creole shrimp (or 20 shrimp)1 bundle of Chinese flat-leaf chives (these are not the traditional chives you see in the regular markets)1

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-86208196909575707692009-03-01T21:01:00.000-08:002011-11-03T21:19:27.626-07:00

Here is another recipe as a part of my "Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Celebrating Mardi Gras, with Vietnamese flair" post! Mini, Individual-Sized King Cakes 1 can of refrigerated cinnamon roll dough, with glaze unflavored green sugar crystals (not lime-flavored) unflavored purple sugar crystals (not grape-flavored) unflavored sugar crystals (not lemon-flavored) Pop open the canister containing the

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-64789159213745305312009-02-25T00:41:00.000-08:002009-03-03T01:09:52.787-08:00

San Francisco is filled with Asian dessert shops, many of which are open late into the evening. A few Mondays ago, before the beau and I were ready to call it a night, the beau impetuously whisked me off to Creations Dessert House, one of the more popular Asian dessert shops in the City.The beau and I love black sesame desserts--the nutty and husky sesame flavor is powerful and lingers on one's

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-72894789675162784352009-02-24T11:35:00.001-08:002009-03-10T00:21:34.841-07:00

Happy Mardi Gras everyone! If you haven't heard, Zatarains is sponsoring (and helping to get the word out about) a petition to make Mardi Gras into a national holiday. Mardi Gras (or Carnival) is huge in Central and South American and European countries as well as in the South and in New Orleans. It is a rich and colorful holiday full of music, dancing, eating, drinking, and celebration. Just

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-73108946683215075352009-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:002009-03-05T23:30:27.644-08:00

A few weeks ago, I met with a friend of mine for a leisurely lunch. We deliberately left our schedule open, for we planned on doing nothing except enjoying each other's company. We wanted to spend our day aimlessly browsing the designer shops, contentedly window shopping, and delightfully gazing at the idyllic scenery in hazy San Francisco.My friend and I met at one of my favorite San Francisco

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-32168648901725221892009-02-20T16:47:00.000-08:002009-02-20T18:12:26.969-08:00

Have you ever heard of annatto seeds from the achiote plant? If not, I would love to make an introduction. These seeds are one of nature's most vivid forms of food coloring and are commonly used to color cheddar cheeses, butters, and margarines. Therefore, if you have ever eaten cheese, butter, or margarine, you should not be afraid of cooking with these seeds. I know you are thinking, "What in

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-33821684536390765132009-02-18T17:01:00.000-08:002009-02-20T18:13:07.059-08:00

I love hearty salads. Taco salad, salade niçoise, Caesar salad, chef's salad, Greek salad, the list goes on and on. A good salad could literally bring me to my weakened knees.However, I'm pretty diva-licious about my salads. I have to have at least two things on my salad: (1) a honkin' portion of protein, in any form, and (2) salad dressing galore. However, my two salad prerequisites often mean

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-71608028625402638852009-02-17T14:20:00.000-08:002009-03-10T00:29:11.433-07:00

I am just updating yesterday's "Internet Food Deals of the Week," but I found three more food coupons/deals that might strike your fancy! Immediately below, are the new deals. (I've erased the ones that have expired.)Get $10 off a $20 purchase at Buca di Beppo restaurants by "clicking here" and printing out this coupon."Click here" to get a free sample of Total Cranberry Crunch in the mail from

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-91804177217606777392009-02-16T19:03:00.000-08:002009-02-18T17:17:03.876-08:00

Do you remember the Ronco infomercials for the Showtime Rotisserie Machine, where Ron Popeil casually indicated you simply needed to, "Set it, and forget it?"I am not lauding the merits of any Ronco product in this post, but rather, explaining that you can actually "set, and forget" an excellent couscous. For a mouthwatering side dish worthy enough for an elegant, yet simple evening meal, try

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-29385162305976809812009-02-14T05:00:00.001-08:002009-02-25T02:13:46.420-08:00

Don't let the frightening name intimidate you from sampling longans, an exotic and succulent fruit, which translates as "dragon eyes" in Chinese and other various Asian languages. These juicy orbs are widely available in Asian markets during the harvest season, and almost always available canned (similar to peaches, pineapple, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges), but be forewarned, these "

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-75047367322697330952009-02-13T16:09:00.000-08:002009-02-25T02:18:15.175-08:00

After reading Pioneer Woman's three-part series on sushi, my husband and I were inspired to make some homemade rolls ourselves. That, and we also had a huge produce bag of avocados leftover from the Super Bowl, which were perfect for some California roll lovin'.I freely admit that I don't know jack-diddly or bo-diddly about how to roll sushi well or even elegantly, for that matter. Furthermore

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-75926734864887645042009-02-09T18:05:00.000-08:002009-02-09T23:19:23.769-08:00

One of the most eye-catching product in all of the Swiss bakeries are the belegte brötli and lachsbrötli, or aspic-coated, open-faced sandwiches. (And in response to my last post, the brötli sandwiches were my favorite purchase from Zurich's farmers market.)After scouring the web, I discovered that "brotli" translates into "an open-faced sandwich," and therefore, is much like a French tartine.

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-33908367569229053742009-02-08T15:55:00.000-08:002009-02-09T18:19:20.896-08:00

As you may remember, I previously posted on Zurich's Farmers Market, in the Hauptbahnhof (the central train station). Despite the relatively "empty" content of my post, I actually did not leave the farmers market empty-handed. I would love to share with you a memorable purchase from the market, the Swiss pretzel.In America, we eat pretzels alone, unadorned, and unadulterated. Therefore, in

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-91514678853169326672009-02-08T03:00:00.000-08:002009-03-30T15:38:28.634-07:00

It is 3:00 a.m. in the morning, but something truly awesome has just occurred. If I wait until later today to blog about it, my head would explode into a million pieces of melancholy.Truly. Awesome. Occurrence. Just. Now.The beau just bought and set up http://www.passionateeater.com and http://passionateeater.com! Instead of tediously typing in http://passionateeater.blogspot.com, forget

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-42062055938754990282009-02-06T16:03:00.001-08:002009-02-09T12:53:37.541-08:00

Every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Zurich's Central Train Station, the Hauptbahnhof, transforms into a vibrant circus, not of exotic animals, but rather, a circus-like farmers market of seasonal fruits, colorful vegetables, freshly baked goods, brined olives, and egg pastas and cured meats imported from Italy.Take a peek at Zurich's impressive green vegetable selection of potatoes,

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-15596956763875821942009-02-04T00:11:00.000-08:002009-02-06T00:00:37.403-08:00

A must-visit place in Zurich, Switzerland for a foodie, is H. Schwarzenbach Kolonialwaren & Kaffeerösterei, a family-owned historic colonial era trading outpost, dating back over a generation.The beautiful store facade and stunning window displays of specialty food items immediately illustrates why H. Schwarzenbach is a Zurich icon. H. Scharzenbach offers an abundance of exotic goods, including

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-7290781189195340422009-02-03T00:15:00.000-08:002011-09-13T11:32:38.815-07:00

Just to continue my previous post, my hispanophile friend told me that the Spanish dinner that I whipped up indeed tasted authentic! Therefore, without further adieu, allow me to post the main recipe of that evening, which is again based on my Spanish cookbook--a recipe for paella. Just a quick note though, paella is typically made with mussels and not just clams. However, the seafood section

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-14063780499223529072009-02-02T15:55:00.000-08:002009-02-03T13:34:50.082-08:00

In continuation of my "Recreating Europe" series, I decided to make a non-elaborate Spanish-themed meal. Therefore, I invited an old college roommate of mine (who studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain) over for dinner two days ago. Not only did I want to see her, but I also wanted her honest critique of my attempt at making Spanish cuisine, including classic Spanish paella and palate gratifying

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-63055849011000133322009-02-01T23:30:00.000-08:002009-02-02T05:27:55.182-08:00

I think it is clear by this blog, that I love my husband. You know why? Because I watch football. For him. That's love.Usually, during the Super Bowl, I keep myself busy in the kitchen while my husband makes grunting noises and pumps (or shakes) his fists in the air (while simultaneously wielding a large chicken drumstick) at the Super Bowl broadcast on television. This time however, our

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-44147046589960334442009-01-30T12:10:00.000-08:002009-03-30T15:43:08.199-07:00

Although I am part Vietnamese, there are many Vietnamese foods that I grew up eating only in restaurants. Such dishes were simply were too much trouble to make at home because they required out-of-the ordinary or expensive ingredients (not readily available to my family in rural Arizona) or required many difficult cooking steps. To our family, pho bo, or Vietnamese beef noodle soup was one of

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-43541278596038494302009-01-29T23:55:00.000-08:002009-01-30T15:42:07.764-08:00

One of my favorite rice porridge (congee or jook) toppings, is roe-tsong, or literally translated, "loose meat." It is also known as "pork floss" in some circles. I am sure you are asking about now, "What is 'loose meat?' Sounds naughty!"See the mottled fibers in the lower right-hand corner of the image? Loose meat is essentially seasoned and dried pulled pork, and it is packed with barbecued

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-30324741406912227672009-01-28T22:29:00.000-08:002009-01-30T03:02:53.396-08:00

In addition to Rivella, another popular drink in Switzerland is the "Ovomaltine," a chocolate malt drink that you can find in the refrigerated aisle as the "Ovo Drink." This chocolately beverage has an ephemeral malt aftertaste and light milky fragrance, and is one of Switzerland's top selling refreshments. Therefore, during my Swiss honeymoon, I made sure to load my travel pack with a few

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-76634079023131568012009-01-22T13:40:00.000-08:002009-01-22T15:44:29.408-08:00

A sandwich can make an easy, quick, and immensely satisfying meal. Therefore, even for a busy working person, a great meal is just a few bread slices away. But you don't have to settle for a boring, uninspired sandwich made from plain white Wonder bread and cold cuts. Here is my favorite vegetarian sandwich recipe, for fabulous mozzarella and eggplant panini sandwiches.Mozzarella and Eggplant

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-53582765833174775132009-01-16T14:56:00.000-08:002009-01-16T18:38:54.400-08:00

Today, I am going to revive a long ignored series, my old "working eater series" (which features recipes for quick dinners geared towards working people).I absolutely adore enchiladas, and would love to share with you a bastardized version that I often make at home. These enchiladas make a very easy and relatively quick dinner, perfect for a working person. You can make them as late as 8

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-77874894865362508022009-01-15T00:28:00.000-08:002009-01-17T01:03:46.417-08:00

In the last post, I told you about the beau's brother ("BB," for short). In this post, I am going to tell you about the BB's wife ("BBW"), a New York Native, who introduced to an eatery I will never forget, the legendary Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th. But I should preface my post with a warning: there will always be a line of eager patrons excitedly entwined around the street vendor, but the

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-30861551832751127492009-01-14T13:34:00.000-08:002009-01-17T01:25:35.652-08:00

Southern California has In-N-Out, but the D.C. Area has Five Guys.Northern California has Wichcraft, but the D.C. Area has Potbelly Sandwich Works.California has Passionate Eater, but the D.C. Area has. . . Well. . . You get my drift. I was trying to analogize, but my brain is farting right now, so I have nothing for you.When I visited the beau's family in D.C., the beau's brother ("BB" to

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-40266748669944712922009-01-13T23:23:00.000-08:002009-01-15T13:50:39.424-08:00

If you are a reader of my blog, you may remember that I vowed to the world that I would try to recreate some of my memorable meals from Europe. My beau adored the pizza in Italy, so for the first entry in my "Recreating Europe" series, I wanted to try my hand at making Italian-style pizza.Although I have regularly made homemade pizza, my pizza has never, ever come out tasting like Italian pizza.

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-66564157602303107652009-01-07T00:41:00.000-08:002009-01-07T01:30:39.410-08:00

While I lived in New Orleans, one of my favorite go-to restaurants was Jacques-Imo's Cafe, a restaurant heavily frequented by Tulane students and alumni, among other eager New Orleans residents. If you want to dine at Jacques-Imo's, you have to arrive early and free your schedule of all evening plans, as you are guaranteed to wait in line to be seated at this popular eatery, even with

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-84587421611936475052009-01-06T11:57:00.000-08:002009-02-04T12:27:16.220-08:00

Since most of us are trying to follow through with the common New Year’s resolution of losing weight, I might as well post about a gorgeous fruit that I had an opportunity to sample in Switzerland—the red currant.Though quite similar in taste and texture to a lightly sour raspberry, the glistening, shining surface of the tart orb is more comparable to the skin of a tender blueberry. Red currants

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-83284311992341149802009-01-05T22:10:00.000-08:002009-01-06T13:41:10.019-08:00

I just returned from a relaxing holiday vacation to the East Coast, cannot wait to get back to blogging about my travels and meals! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and rang in the New Year the right way!Originally, the beau and I were planning to spend the holidays exclusively in the Washington D.C. area, but at the last minute, we decided to take an inpromptu day trip to New

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-32240994696849622432008-12-23T15:31:00.000-08:002009-01-06T12:15:32.749-08:00

Growing up in an Asian family, I was taught from an early age the importance of eating plenty of fruit, not just from a "health" vantage point, but from a "spiritual" one. During the Lunar New Year and birthday celebrations, fruit took on a deeper meaning, as certain types of fruits (such as peaches and oranges) signified prosperity and good fortune for our family. Because my father grew up in

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-83883868709010388392008-12-22T12:55:00.000-08:002008-12-22T15:04:24.222-08:00

Although the beau and I visited Switzerland from late October to early November, we noticed that many Swiss stores had already begun decorating for Christmas. For instance, luxury clothing boutiques had sparkling strings of Christmas lights dangling from the storefronts and chocolate shops had cottony bundles of artificial snow nestling in the corners of their windows. Best of all, the Swiss

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-51955726278441474202008-12-21T13:06:00.000-08:002008-12-22T15:22:46.225-08:00

I loved window shopping in Zurich, and I hope from this picture, you can see why. I would spend hours walking up and down Bahnhofstrasse and the nearby neighborhoods, simply peeking through storefront glass and deciding what I should purchase for a mid-afternoon snack. See the candied citrus segments coated in chocolate on the lower left hand corner? For a chocolate-lover like me, Switzerland

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-75683412978887924412008-12-16T01:46:00.000-08:002008-12-16T02:04:26.010-08:00

The one store that defined my trip to Zurich, Switzerland, was without a doubt, Confiserie Sprüngli, a delicious store which is a combination bakery (with a dizzying selection of toothachingly sweet Swiss pastries) and confectioner/chocolatier’s shop. (Thank you for the tip, Just Hungry!)The moment you enter, you will see a throng of eager patrons standing in line to order Confiserie Sprüngli’s

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-54503993837147122202008-12-12T13:10:00.000-08:002009-03-05T23:31:04.003-08:00

I adore Ina Garten. I worship her recipes, show, taste, and wit. Did I mention that I am enamored with her recipes? They are precise, easy-to-follow, and yield immensely satisfying results. Her vanilla ice cream? Do die for. Her roasted chicken? Hells yea, it's good.My favorite Ina Garten recipe is her take on tabbouleh, a fresh, cleansing, and uplifting parsley salad from Middle-Eastern

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-698364264660489792008-12-11T12:03:00.000-08:002008-12-22T17:28:34.979-08:00

Sigh, I have been feeling down and out recently. The economy. The job market. And it's only been getting worse. The latest bad news to befall my ears was the recent trade by the Suns of Raja Bell and Boris Diaw for Kevin Richardson. Well, yes, granted, it is a good trade, but it breaks my heart to know that the dynamic, explosive, and adrenaline-filled Suns team of just a few years ago is

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-24369234626430226692008-12-10T01:30:00.000-08:002008-12-10T01:47:34.929-08:00

I don't want to keep on harping on the dismal state of the U.S. economy, but I know we've all been feeling the impact of the recession in our lives. However, just because we are feeling the pinch in our pocketbooks, doesn't mean that we have to feel the pinch in our waistlines! I want to share some brief instructions on how to make an amazingly simple and cost-effective meal with very

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-58343575282964206892008-12-09T22:53:00.000-08:002008-12-11T20:20:26.196-08:00

One holiday recipe my family always makes during the Christmas season, is warm, steaming, and soothing wonton soup. My parents taught me two methods to fold wontons: first, into a beggar's pouch and second, into the shape of a gold ingot, the ancient form of Chinese currency. According to Chinese tradition, such gold ingot shaped wontons are said to bring one's family fortune and prosperity.

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-53553488952455354862008-12-08T15:56:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:29:12.971-08:00

As child, I loved sweet, ripe, and juicy strawberries. Strawberries were my favorite fruit in the whole entire universe. I would eat so many green plastic containers of the berries that sticky red juice would stain my lips and clothes and the delicate poppy-like seeds would get stuck in my teeth. I was a "strawberry girl" all the way--I demanded that my mother buy me strawberry flavored lip

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-85740632501687541842008-12-07T23:33:00.000-08:002008-12-08T00:07:53.725-08:00

This has been an unprecedented year in American politics, and most importantly, American history. First, the nation resoundingly elected its first ever non-white president, a brilliant and charismatic gentleman named Barack Obama. This past week, after the votes were tallied from the December 5, 2008 election, America discovered that Louisiana had elected the first ever Vietnamese-American

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-75271816134614504062008-12-02T10:56:00.000-08:002008-12-02T18:36:41.264-08:00

I just got back from my one month long honeymoon from Europe! During my time there, I attempted to taste all of Europe so that I could report back to my amazing-incredible (not just amazing, and not just incredible, but "amazing-incredible"--with the hyphen) readers with all of my findings. Well, I also ate like a beast for myself too. But mostly for you. Really!But I have some really

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-70837887325369364092008-11-15T04:36:00.000-08:002008-11-17T14:58:43.181-08:00

Even though I am on my honeymoon, there hasn't been one day that I haven't thought about food blogging.Allow me to explain! I am sampling many new types of food products and many different cuisines, and I can't wait to share my experiences with you!One of my most exciting discoveries in Switzerland (the land of milk, cheese, fondue, and chocolate) is Rivella, a popular carbonated Swiss beverage

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-58072176488194270412008-10-30T09:38:00.000-07:002008-10-30T09:54:16.552-07:00

I just wanted to send everyone a quick update about my whereabouts. The beau and I have been having a wonderful time in Switzerland, eating what the Swiss eat. (Check out this McDonald's advertisement from the streets of Zurich for an idea of a classic difference between American and Swiss food--the cheese!) In Switzerland, for a typical breakfast, we will have a buttery croissant with butter

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-26837104253243974762008-10-21T19:41:00.000-07:002008-10-30T05:29:32.919-07:00

Several big things will be happening here on Passionate Eater.First, both my blog and I will be making the transition from New Orleans back to San Francisco. I am sure you are disappointed (as I was and am), but now that I am married, things are inevitably changing. I tried to convince the beau to move to New Orleans, but he has a stable job and other regional commitments, so I will be moving

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-69412149382536100262008-10-20T00:47:00.000-07:002008-10-20T17:36:26.679-07:00

In the early 90s, I remember watching Paul Prudhomme on his cooking show and an unknown Emeril Lagasse on Great Chefs. Both shows aired on my local P.B.S. station. It was through those shows that I first learned of Commander's Palace in New Orleans, Louisiana--the very restaurant that launched the careers of Prudhomme and Lagasse, putting them on the national culinary map. I would never have

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-46270275387723411082008-10-15T20:06:00.000-07:002008-12-10T01:08:54.194-08:00

Now that times are tough, I want to share with you an amazingly cost-effective (and therefore, therapeutic to your wallet) recipe: chicken and mushrooms.  And by "cost-effective," I mean "dirt cheap." Yes, that's pretty much all that there is, chicken, and mushrooms.  No frills, no nothing else.  But it tastes pretty good.All you need to purchase is supermarket containers of regular white button

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-73034313724677592512008-10-14T18:15:00.000-07:002008-10-14T22:32:32.146-07:00

I am going to proclaim it from the mountaintops and vigorously pump my fists in satisfaction. I need to share the news, "I love homemade waffles!"Don't be intimidated by waffle-making, there really isn't much complexity involved. See how ugly my waffles are? And yet they tasted delicious and exuded an air of magnificence. Best of all, anyone can make amazing waffles with a waffle iron, pancake

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-13901421104081252052008-10-10T17:27:00.000-07:002008-10-11T03:05:05.255-07:00

Hi readers, all one of you (Mom, I am referring to you), I have a question to ask you. I have changed the format of my blog to feature larger images and have now placed a watermark on the images to protect against bad folks from reposting my images without linking to my site. However, I have noticed that the images sometimes take a while to load. Do you prefer large or small images? What do

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-8497582432273922962008-10-09T00:10:00.000-07:002009-02-02T18:51:52.276-08:00

I am so grateful that the universe always manages to correct itself. If you are a reader from back in the day (and I mean, way back in the day), you will remember that I previously failed at making roasted lemon chicken. Pretty miserably.Thankfully, Meathenge, a meat blogging genius, just happened to chance upon my "failure post" and left a comment, giving me some helpful advice on how to

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-17757886544176482512008-10-08T09:50:00.000-07:002008-10-10T17:44:21.644-07:00

When I was growing up, my dad often made me sauerkraut and sausage for lunch. I remember that I would wait until my bread got soggy with all of the juices from the sauerkraut, and I would use my fork to cut my sausage (or hot dogs) into small pieces, so that I could enjoy a bite of sausage with every mouthful of sauerkraut. I knew, even as a little girl, that there was something special about

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-34541135791509555302008-10-07T21:21:00.000-07:002008-10-08T18:50:05.167-07:00

When I moved to the City of New Orleans, I had my my first upscale dining experience at Emeril's Nola Restaurant. I remember that day quite vividly. After securing a last minute reservation online, the beau frantically rummaged through his luggage to find clothes appropriate for an elegant dining establishment. He wanted to treat me out to a memorable meal the day before he was going to return

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-60471524833917833782008-10-06T20:08:00.000-07:002008-10-07T03:10:44.573-07:00

I am sure that the dire financial situation faced by the nation and felt by all of us is on everyone's minds right now. Just remember, even when you are "scraping rock bottom," there is always something to look forward to--such as an amazing dessert. Many great desserts are made with vanilla flavoring. Here are some instructions on how to remove the seeds from the vanilla pod, to capture the

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-27331254738873911912008-09-30T23:15:00.000-07:002008-10-01T02:06:39.861-07:00

There are several unspoken, fundamental, and "sacred" rules in our home.First, you must take off your shoes before entering the house.Second, if you use up the last of the toilet paper, then you must replace the roll and make sure that the toilet paper dispenses from the top (frontwards), and not the bottom (backwards).Third, during football season, the salsa bowl in the fridge must never be less

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-48433748156385787042008-09-29T19:45:00.000-07:002008-09-29T20:34:18.036-07:00

Now that football season has started, you are going to be seeing a lot more football-centric food items here on the blog.One of my favorite dishes to make during the football season is barbecued chicken. You will be amazed at how easy it is to make fantastic tasting chicken with minimal effort. No specialized dry or wet rubs are needed! I simply use a bottle of store-bought barbecue sauce and

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-87331615078061698172008-09-26T02:24:00.000-07:002008-09-30T03:28:57.509-07:00

These pictures should speak for themselves. No words are necessary.But if you need words, check out how Taste Memory has aptly summarized why In-N-Out burgers epitomize summer in Southern California. Otherwise, just imagine the juicy all-meat patty, perfectly grilled and placed upon a toasted white bun, with accompanying leaves of crisp lettuce and slices of ruby red tomato. Oh, and also, the

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-88832136525708522102008-09-25T19:28:00.000-07:002008-10-01T04:34:12.459-07:00

It's not, "I love you."Nor is it, "I adore you."It isn't even, "You da' man."Rather, it is "Monterey Park Food," which can be found at a three-word restaurant, "Mandarin Noodle House."For those of you unfamiliar with Monterey Park, it is home to one of the largest ethnic Taiwanese enclaves in the United States. My beau (a Taiwanese man) calls Monterey Park the "promised land" because of its

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-82084161915871059182008-09-19T15:57:00.000-07:002008-09-19T16:16:42.995-07:00

The day after my wedding in San Francisco (this past July), I wanted to end my wedding diet the right way. So my first stop for breakfast (before the flight back to New Orleans) was Tartine Bakery, where I have had many a delicious eclair and buttery pain au chocolat in the past. However, I wasn't in an eclair or croissant-y mood at that moment. When I entered Tartine Bakery, it was clear that

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-41933803544012412122008-09-16T18:17:00.000-07:002008-09-16T18:41:08.711-07:00

My favorite po' boys in the City may be found at Domilise's.Although Domilise's po' boys are delicious enough alone to attract the masses, you will find that the most potent reason to go to Domilise's is for Dot Domilise, the beloved proprietor of Domilise's. If you greet her with a genuine smile and pleasant conversation, she may invite you into her nearby home to meet her family dog, and share

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-24804381876624208512008-09-12T20:03:00.001-07:002008-09-16T18:31:25.941-07:00

Recently, my friend brought me out to Drago's Seafood Restaurant in the Riverwalk Marketplace to relax, converse, and enjoy a leisurely evening of Drago's often-imitated, but never duplicated chargrilled oysters at their oyster bar. Unfortunately, our evening was interrupted by the looming fact that we had to return back to work that evening, to finish up various projects before their rapidly

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-91489654475170742322008-09-11T12:01:00.000-07:002008-09-16T18:31:40.052-07:00

I may be the only one to ever order takeout from Herbsaint.Ever.A few days ago, I was presented with a problem. I was very busy at work, I was hungry for lunch, and I was in the mood for an upscale lunch--at my desk. So I called the celebrated New Orleans restaurant, Herbsaint, and our conversation went as follows:"Hi, you don't serve takeout do you? Well, I am in the mood for your grilled

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-90879118679316612052008-09-10T15:59:00.000-07:002008-09-16T18:34:14.743-07:00

Now that Hurricane Gustav has blown through Louisiana, and Hurricane Ike is rearing its ugly head towards the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, I want to take this quick opportunity to continue my impromptu takeout series, and emphasize that even in the face of a hurricane, New Orleans' natives still know how to eat well and celebrate life.You've heard me "love on" Louisiana crawfish, time and time

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-4304026811832915662008-09-03T22:14:00.000-07:002008-09-16T18:34:23.317-07:00

Thanks everyone for checking up on me. I am safe, folks are headed back to their homes, and electricity is slowly being restored to the New Orleans area. All this is cause for celebration, and therefore, let the blog posting resume!First, I just wanted to give you all a quick glimpse of some of the delicious Zatarain's offerings that were sent off to the lucky readers who timely responded to

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17865316.post-24711030245068997042008-08-31T06:52:00.001-07:002008-09-02T19:41:08.673-07:00

I am sure that now, you are hearing on the news what we in New Orleans have been bracing for all week--the arrival of Hurricane Gustav. Right now, the primary sentiment of Gulf Coast residents is one of extraordinary trepidation. None of us want to relive the horrors of Hurricane Katrina, and based on the forecast of Hurricane Gustav and Mayor Nagin's proclamation that Hurricane Gustav is the "

Passionate Eaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492203392706191554noreply@blogger.com9