Breakfasts at my "resort" (rustic is being generous, but there was a pool) were a tropical fruit buffet—pineapple, watermelon, papaya, maybe cantaloupe. I skipped the bread, pastries, fried potatoes, breakfast meats that probably aren't all meat, and soy-soaked noodle stir-fries … [Read more...] about Food in Ton Sai: Young Thai Coconuts, Soothing Rice Soup, Yellow Curry, and Sprite.
And We Called Him Lumphini…
My boyfriend and I named the gecko: Lumphini—Lump for short. I don’t actually have a boyfriend, but to cancel my friend’s room reservation and share my room (cheaper), that's what he told the front desk staff at Dream Valley Resort in Ton Sai. He figured they’d be more … [Read more...] about And We Called Him Lumphini…
Deep Water Soloing: Rockclimbing above the Ocean
I’d heard there was a place in the world where you climb up giant overhanging walls with rocket-sized stalactites, and when you get to the top (or when you fall) there’s nothing but crystal-blue, warm water below. That's Deep Water Soloing, and it's a big reason I came here. … [Read more...] about Deep Water Soloing: Rockclimbing above the Ocean
Geckos, Monkeys, and Smiling Faces
It’s been a long time since my computer scanned for a wifi network and found nothing—either locked or unlocked. My pastel green curtains are suspended from a lopsided metal bar. The paint is chipping off the white plaster wall. I have a pet gecko, not by choice. Mosquitos own … [Read more...] about Geckos, Monkeys, and Smiling Faces
Sushi Classes in Montreal, and Flying Through Tokyo
What better time to write about my last sushi class than when stopping over in Tokyo on my way west? I've never been to Japan before, and I'm barely dipping my toes in the water (the airport hardly counts), but I'm more than happy to talk for 3 hours about how to carefully swirl … [Read more...] about Sushi Classes in Montreal, and Flying Through Tokyo
“Out of the Freezer and into the Fire”: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam
Yes, I intentionally mis-quoted the saying. Whereas one usually leaves the frying pan and enters the fire (from a bad situation to a worse one), when one has as poor circulation as I do, the fire is an awfully attractive idea. Kind of like "The Cremation of Sam McGee": "Since I … [Read more...] about “Out of the Freezer and into the Fire”: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam
Roasted Sustainable Arctic Char with Simple Risotto-Style Rice
If you have one large, beautiful fillet of fish you just have to roast it—skin-side up, of course, so the fat bastes the flesh as it cooks. Coat it in crushed almonds, salt, pepper, ground fennel, and seal the moisture in (and make the coating stick) with a thin layer of Dijon, … [Read more...] about Roasted Sustainable Arctic Char with Simple Risotto-Style Rice
British Marmalade Throwdown: Good Food Channel vs. The Guardian (Homemade Orange Marmalade and Caramelized Orange Syrup)
If you want to make syrup or a very sugary, caramelized jelly, make this recipe from Good Food Channel. If you want a really great, bright, citrus-y marmalade, use this recipe. After extensive marmalade research and the realization that I didn't have a cheesecloth or muslin bag … [Read more...] about British Marmalade Throwdown: Good Food Channel vs. The Guardian (Homemade Orange Marmalade and Caramelized Orange Syrup)
Roasted Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds, Cranberries, and Balsamic
What do you do with leftovers? You make a heck of a salad, that's what. With the chicken from the chicken Dijon (or any other of a million baked chicken recipes...), this is a quick meal. Skip the nut coating and cooking and just toss it with the greens and things. Or you can … [Read more...] about Roasted Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds, Cranberries, and Balsamic
Politically Incorrect Moros y Cristianos: Cuban Rice and Beans
The hilarious thing about culinary traditions is that they can come from a time when people thought a little differently. Whether that means lard was akin to gold or the more sugar used in jam, the better (because it yields more jam, and you're going to need as much food as … [Read more...] about Politically Incorrect Moros y Cristianos: Cuban Rice and Beans