Dining Dish: Asian

Showing posts with label Asian. Show all posts

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Ekiben: Don't leave Baltimore before trying their Asian fusion fare

The word “ekiben” loosely translates as a boxed meal sold at railway food stalls in Japan to passengers for their journey. The proprietors of Ekiben on Eastern Avenue are three college buddies who created a steamed bun phenomenon, selling their Asian fusion mashup fare at the local farmers market, and now at their own restaurant.

Read my review at Gayot.com - 10 Hot Spots for Dining in Baltimore

Thursday, March 09, 2017

Asian inspired five course dinner at Sotto Sopra Restaurant: Guest Chef Tayfun Abuska

Baltimore’s award-winning Sotto Sopra Restaurant located in the heart of the Mt. Vernon cultural district has been very active with special events, especially their guest chef series. Mark your calendars for a most engaging five course Asian inspired dinner from Chef Tayfun Abuska on Wednesday, March 22nd with two seatings: 5:30pm to 6:00 pm and 7:30pm to 8pm

Chef Tayfun Abuska, a Turkish native who started working at an early age at the Izmir Palmiye Hotel, transitioned to the 5-Star Ankara Hilton Hotel and continued to work for the Swiss Hotels. His culinary path has taken him through the French Embassy to the United States in 2008, where he worked for the Four Seasons Hotels in Wyoming, California and here in Baltimore. A stint at Michael Mina’s Pabu Japanese Restaurant working with Chef Jonah Kim has inspired his penchant for Asian dishes which is apparent in his Guest Chef Dinner’s menu.

Check out the menu and further details at my Dara Cooks blog on Baltimore Post Examiner

Monday, June 06, 2016

6 course French Asian pop up dinner by Chef Cyrus Keefer

Baltimore’s highly acclaimed Chef Cyrus Keefer is back, cooking up his unique French Asian fusion cuisine under the name of Défie Moi, his former late night dining hot spot in 13.5% Wine Bar & Food basement. Chef Keefer’s first pop up dinner on Wednesday June 15th will be six courses and adult libations in the Private Kitchen at the Food Market. Keefer has cooked three times at the James Beard House in New York and recognized for his culinary creativity at www.StarChefs.com

There are only 12 seats and at last conversation 8 tickets were already sold, so you are still in play to grab these limited seat tickets to what will be a fun, tantalizing, tasty evening of communal dining and lively conversation.

Keefer will be doing other pop-ups in the near future but they will be ala carte dishes-first come first served - July 1^st at Union Craft Brewing Co and July 17^th at Ekiben.

The Menu for June 15^th seated multi course dinner:

Burrata Croustade -sunflower shoots, Iberico ham and red miso

Escargot Gyoza-gruyere, baby leek, black garlic, nori & pistou

Duck Dog-merquez chili, lentil, marmalade, and black truffle butter

Stir Fried Calamari-broccoli rabe, pine nuts, Calabrian chili, and thai basil

Oil Poached Shrimp-shishito pepper, romesco, nduja and barley congee

French Dip Roll-steak tartare, brioche, horseradish, furikake, and dashi crema

What: Défie Moi Multi Course Dinner by Chef Cyrus Keefer

When: Wednesday, June 15^th – 7 p.m.

Where: The Food Market – Private Kitchen/Basement

1017 W. 36^th Street – Baltimore, MD 21211

Seat Tickets: $100 per guest includes six courses – adult libations

Ticket Sales: 410-908-1978

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DefieMoiBaltimore

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Asian restaurant Red Goji is now open in Baltimore county

The restaurant is named after the bright orange-red berry from a shrub in China that has a sweet tart taste. Not only is the goji berry the namesake of this restaurant you will find the slightly sweet tart berry in one of the house specialties, Red Goji chicken --- stir fried chicken with goji berries, mushrooms and scallions in a sweet oyster sauce. The menu boasts a whole Peking duck, dinner for two with the appropriate scallions, hoisin sauce and pancakes.

If I hadn’t been going to Goldberg’s Bagels in Club Center I wouldn’t have even known there was a new Asian restaurant. The shopping center sits recessed off Reisterstown Road in the heart of Pikesville’s commercial district. A number of you might remember it as Olive & Sesame. Open now for a couple months, Red Goji is Asian – offering a selection of Japanese, Chinese and Thai dishes.

For those who love sushi, nigiri and/or sashimi, Red Goji can accommodate you ala carte or choose the lunch or dinner choices.

Pad Thai, lettuce wraps and Tom Yum soup give a nod to the Thai influences that are served up at Red Goji.

Red Goji Restaurant – Club Center – 1500 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208 443 450-5993 Closed on Mondays. Eat in or carry out. There is no website and no social media. There is plenty of free parking available.

Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Soon to open Ejji Ramen will be more than just ramen

If all goes according to plan, Ejji Ramen should be opening sometime this month in Belvedere Square Market at the Ikan Sushi’s former spot. I sat down with Oscar Lee, co-owner of Chocolatea Café and his uncle, Chef Ten Vong, partners in Ejji Ramen for insight as to what they will be serving when Ejji Ramen opens and their native Malaysian influences.

Yes there will be ramen and assortment of noodle soups: curry laksa (Malaysian spicy noodle soup) and Vietnamese gluten-free pho offering long simmered broths like tonkotsu (pork). Vegetarians have choices with vegetarian miso and vegetable noodles. Patrons can expect the added bonus of Malaysian satays, sambals along with Japanese yakatori.

Malaysia’s populous is a majority of three ethnicities: Chinese, Malays and Indians whose influences can be found in their melting pot cuisine along with Thai, Indonesian and Portuguese. The pronounced flavor profiles in Malaysian food tend to be kaffir lime leaves, belecan -fermented shrimp paste, galangal and coconut.

At Ejji Ramen you can slurp your noodles at their bamboo counter or take your food out into the market to their communal tables. Don’t forget to order a sake or beer to cool off your palate.

Chef Ten Vong, Malaysian by birth, spent a good deal of his early culinary career here in Baltimore at Citronelle, Jennier’s and the Milton Inn and even had his own restaurant called Profusions almost 20 years ago. Over that period of time chef has been in New York City heading up the kitchens at Yumcha, Yourasian, Barmaché, Bread, and Meet.

Not sure about ramen, there are numerous choices, broths, toppings – let me direct you to Serious Eats Guide to Ramen Styles – you will be well informed.

Expect that social media will explode once Ejji Ramen opens so follow them on Twitter @EjjiRamen or on Facebook

Ejji Ramen – Belvedere Square Market – 529 E. Belvedere Avenue – Baltimore, MD 21212

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

I went west, Route 40 West in my quest for Asian food

I spent numerous days putting together and visiting the extensive list of Asian restaurants on the Route 40 corridor from Catonsville to Ellicott City. The story along with the sidebar listing 25 dining establishments in this area can be read at www.bmoremedia.com. So no matter what your Asian yen might be you can find it: Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Thai and Japanese - dumplings to dim sum - it is all in this story.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

New Lotte Asian Grocery and Honey Dumplings grand opening

The goal was to go for dim sum for lunch today but my friend wanted to try Honey Pig Korean BBQ. Since we were headed out to Ellicott City I suggested we check out the new Lotte Asian Grocery that is having its Grand Opening weekend. One reason to stop was Honey Pig was opening a dumpling stand inside Lotte which is located in the old Toys R Us location at Route 40 and Nuwood Drive.

It had the new store feel; fresh, clean and vibrant. I enjoyed taste testing all the foods being sampled and walked away with a fresh seafood noodle soup for the home fridge.

Watch the slideshow, get the video recipe for bibimbap and read the full story HERE

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Saigon Remembered reopens in Timonium

The Saigon Remembered Vietnamese Restaurant that you remember was the one across the street from the Senator Theatre on York Road by Belvedere Square. That location closed in the spring of 2011. Good news for their fans and those of us who love Vietnamese food – they reopened today in Timonium.

Watch the recipe video and read the full story HERE

Monday, April 18, 2011

Ajisen Ramen and Szechuan Gourmet –two new finds

With inexpensive bus fares to New York City I find myself going more and more. March had me in New York City twice, once for the launch of Chef Grant Achatz’s book Life, On the Line and the other for Nathan Myhrvold’s cookbook tome, Modernist Cuisine. Of course for me it is always about food, isn’t that all there is in this world? Well for me it is.

Ajisen Ramen

The little snack I packed for the bus ride just doesn’t cut it. No matter what time of day I arrive I am always hungry. The Mega Bus from Baltimore to New York leaves you off at 7th Avenue and 28th Street. I always walk east on 28th to pick up the N or R subway. West 28th Street is a plethora of wholesale flower shops…not much else-devoid of restaurants BUT low and behold, a ramen noodle place had recently opened. It was pouring rain, a great excuse to pop in and get a bowl of hot ramen soup

Szechuan Gourmet

Dinner was Asian as well, Szechuan Gourmet in mid-town where I met a friend. It was still pouring rain so the restaurant wasn’t crowded as normal – there is usually a wait. My friend was drying out when I arrived and already ordered Spicy Sesame Noodles-they were spicy and they were good. This is not a American influenced Szechuan restaurant, know that with one chili pepper next to a menu item you can expect it to be hot…we didn’t go beyond two chili peppers. How hot is it? Frank Bruni’s review was titled, “Going for the Burn”.

Read the complete reviews: Ajisen Ramen and Szechuan Gourmet –two new finds

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Finding Dim Sum near Baltimore – Red Pearl Chinese Restaurant

I heart Dim Sum. Love the rolling carts of small individual steamer baskets serving a selection of Chinese dishes. Actually the translation of Dim Sum is “to touch your heart” or “little heart.” Dim Sum is traditional served as brunch/lunch food. Neighboring Northern Virginia and Maryland’s Montgomery County have a number of places for Dim Sum; the closest we have to Baltimore is Howard County.

Out to lunch

My food partner in crime, Jeff, was in from Florida and thought it a perfect excuse to go try Red Pearl Chinese Restaurant for Dim Sum. Get the full story and check out the slide show:Finding Dim Sum near Baltimore – Red Pearl Chinese Restaurant