Timing’s Everything

Remember the previous post about steamed rice with cured duck and pork belly and Chinese sausage?

So, last night, we stopped in at one of our go-to cheap eat places for $4.99 BiBimBap (Chodang Restaurant).

The Cat’s Vegetarian BiBimBap

The Mouse’s BiBimBap (with meat)

Normally, I would be happy as a clam with this. But so close to the other night’s cured meat over rice, the dish was kind of meh. “It’s not you, it’s me.”

I’m sure the next time we visit, everything will be back to normal. Oh well, sometimes, timing is everything.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men …

often go astray.

The Cat wanted to try two dishes at Sunflower Cafe, fish air bladder and crab meat soup and la ro fan (cured meat rice). Typically Chinese food at Chinese restaurants is best when more people are involved. It’s sometimes a little difficult with just the two of us.

The plan was to meet up with the cuzzes P & B later this week but the schedule got modified. Sigh!

So, yesterday, after much deliberation, we went ourselves. We could always take home leftovers. The cured meat rice takes about 20 minutes so we called to order before we left home.

Fish Air Bladder and Crabmeat Soup

The Cat priced this soup at a couple of places and this was the most reasonable. Believe me, it taste better than it sounds.

Preserved Meat Rice

Cured duck and pork belly (salted and slightly dried) and Chinese sausage, steamed on top of the rice. The fat and flavor seeping into the rice. Yum! The rice slightly crisped and burnt at the bottom of the pot. More yum!

All Gone!

A picture is worth a thousand words. Actually, we took a little more than one portion home, but The Cat did her best to scrape the crispy bits from the bottom. Almost succeeded. Hee hee.

And of course, we had to have a little vegetable.

Chinese Broccoli

To justify the rice and cured meats.

I added an order of egg tarts at the end to cap a great meal (socks off).

Egg Tarts

Since these were from the morning dim sum batch, they were cool. The Cat seemed to mind more than me.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Cheap Eats

At The Cat’s office today. Always a challenge hunting for food, mall food. Either too pricey for what I get or not appealing (sometimes both).

Ended up at the supermarket in the mall. Cheap eats.

Oyako Don

Rice topped with eggs simmered with onions, Japanese fishcake, red ginger. Think Japanese style savory custard (or quiche filling on rice).

Okara

The solid remains of soybeans after the milk is filtered for tofu (ohh sounds yummy, heh heh). Mixed with soy sauce, sugar, and vegetables. Only side effect is it makes me very very gassy (sorry TMI). The Cat did not appreciate me in the office. Hee hee!

This used to be used for animal feed. I wonder who was the first person to think of making this edible for people. And did that person experience gas too? Hmm.

Andagi

Okinawan fried donuts. So bad for me but taste so good (not to worry, I shared).

Both the okara and andagi were on the clearance table for almost half-price. Pake Mouse rules.

Chocolate Covered Mochi Crunch Crakers

From Chocolates on a Mission (the non-profit that trains people in transition). Chocolate dipped Japanese savory crackers. Is it me or do these candies look a little phallic? Excuse me while I go wash my mind out with soap.

Everthing for less than seven dollars. There’s hope in mall food after all.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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April 15

Deadline for filing taxes. Ugh.

Hopefully the last day that The Cat has to eat lunch at her desk. So for a while, the last home lunch for The Cat (made by The Mouse).

The Cat’s Lunch Bowl

Rice, rehydrated mushrooms, turnip greens, and shrimp.

Top View

Used up the rest of the shrimp for my lunch.

Cold Shrimp

With shiso leaves. Dressed with a sesame oil, ShaoXing wine, salt and shichimi togarashi to taste. I cut the shrimp into bite sized pieces and wrapped them in  the shiso leaves. Yum!

Our thoughts to the families and victims of the bombings in Boston.

The Mouse and The Cat

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Pumpkin Rice

Another visit to the Korean supermarket. This time “pumpkin” rice (that’s what the vendor called it).

Pumpkin Rice

Side View

Kabocha squash, multi-grains, beans, seeds, dates, and walnuts (no seasoning). Vendor said there was no added sugar or salt, just natural sweetness from the ingredients. Another healthy meal.

I had to cheat a bit and add a little salt. Socks off time. I definitely would buy again.

Maybe next time I’ll pair it with some braised or roasted pork belly. Yum!

I should have thought of this place sooner. Could’ve avoided some of that recent mall food (facepalm).

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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