Lunar New Year Lunch

Posted on February 5, 2019 by vanbraman

Today I had planned to have a Korean New Year Lunch.

Business Hours, Korean RestaurantHowever, when I arrived at the restaurant it was closed. I looked at the Business Hours and found out that it is closed on Tuesdays.

Thai Basil Express, Thai Restaurant, Asian Food, Lunar New YearWell all was not lost in having a Lunar New Year lunch. Most of the Chinese restaurants were packed, so I decided to have my lunch at Thai Basil Express. Especially after I looked at the menu and found one of my favorite dishes.

Tea and Soup, Green Tea, Asian starterMy meal started with a bowl of soup and a nice cup of hot tea. The soup was really nice with some vegetables and tofu in a nice broth.

Massaman Beef Curry, Thai Food, Thai CuisineHere is the dish that I ordered. You can see the nice rich curry in this dish. This is Massaman Beef Curry.

Massaman curry is made from a very complex paste of spices that usually includes cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, lemongrass, galangal, shrimp paste and garlic.  Of course other spices are also added. There are different variants of the spice paste as many cooks will have their own secret blends.

Massaman Beef Curry, Thai Food, Curry and RiceHere you can see some of the beef on top of a plate of rice. The beef was nice and tender and had a wonderful taste from the curry.

Massaman Beef Curry with rice, Thai Food, Lunar New YearAfter eating the beef, vegetables and peanuts I dumped the rest of the rice into the bowl with the curry sauce that was left. The curry and rice together was wonderful.

I enjoyed my lunch while reading a book about the discovery of the structure of DNA.

For all my readers who observe the Lunar New Year I wish you a wonderful year.

Steven

 

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Lunar New Year

Posted on February 4, 2019 by vanbraman

Tuesday is the Lunar New Year and I have been thinking of some of my friends and colleagues around the world who are celebrating this week.

Chinese New Year, Panda Express, Drink CupMost of the Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year. Here in the US we often call this the Chinese New Year, but it is also the New Year in other countries as well.

Of course, Chinese restaurants like Panda Express are going to call it the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year Lanterns, Red Lanterns, Nanjing Road, HolidaysIn China you see many decorations leading up to the New Year. This was from a couple years ago when I was in Shanghai. See: Chinese New Year Decorations

You see a lot of red lanterns for New Year decorations.

Steamed Bread, Steamed Buns, Chinese Nickname, Food, Chinese FoodTonight on the way home from work I stopped at an Asian grocery store and picked up some 饅頭 (Mántou) which is the Chinese name for a type of steamed bread.

This is a special treat for me as my Chinese nickname is Mántou.

steamed bread, chinese bread, mantou, steamed bunsAfter using a steamer to warm up the bread I then like to pull the steamed bread apart in layers and eat it in small pieces.

Monday Tea, High Mountain Tea, Taiwan Tea, Yu Shan Tea, Jade MountainI also made a nice cup of oolong tea to have with my bread.

Tomorrow I plan on going to a Korean restaurant for a Lunar New Year Lunch. Last year I tried to go to one of my favorite Chinese restaurants, but it was packed. I must also remember to go to lunch early before the parking lot fills up at the shopping center full of Asian restaurants.

Happy Lunar New Year.

Steven

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