Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean inspired Oxtail Stew

I have been unfortunately been eating a lot of sandwiches lately and a lot of American food, which to my palate seems quite bland to the taste. So I went grocery shopping yesterday at H-Mart (a fobby foodie Asian's dream grocery) with the hopes is alleviating my addiction to all things related to Asian cuisine and picked up several uniquely Asian ingredients, condiments, foods, etc... . Perhaps at the top of my list is the wonderful, ever so salty, spicy and delicious banchan known as kimchi with oysters!

So on to my cooking adventures:



Pictured here are some of the most important culinary staples of the FIlipino diet: bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), canin (rice), and bawang (garlic). I prepared this as a base for Oxtail stew which took several hours to make.

The stew was inspired by cooking styles that are local to Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and the American South. My stew composed of 2lbs of oxtail, patis (Filipino Fish sauce), bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), Thai Peppers, Basil/Oregano, Kimchi, Brussel Sprouts, Onions, chives, garlic, sriracha and Gochujang (fermented bean paste). It took several hours to cook, actually overnight. I'll spare you the details and just show you the picture. Let me know if you want the recipe.

For the Filipinos, this isn't your Lola's nilaga baka.

Enjoy it on top of rice or as a base for your flour noodles.

Random thoughts

Tonight, I am enjoying a pleasant table wine, Redwood Creek Pinot Noir 2008. It is not remarkable but it is quite easy drink and easy on the wallet. Who really believes they have to pay a fortune for a good bottle of wine?

Here is the description from "The Barrel Room Website"

This French Pinot marks a departure from Redwood Creek’s typical California line-up. Using grapes from the famed Languedoc-Roussillon region, winemakers created a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with aromas of cherries and strawberries.

Rain followed by warm days in the south of France brought fresh fruit aromas and full flavors into the wine. A cherry palate with a velvety smooth finish. We like it with a zesty red pasta or grilled chicken.

In my own words, I would describe it as fruit forward and very easy to drink; there is in fact a subtle taste and smell of strawberries.

The price was under 10 dollars for this bottle; I will have to pick up several more of these to drink with friends and for many a night that I am w/out my wonderful fiance, Chay (don't ever say I never made a shout out to you on my blog).

Lent

My 40 Day Lenten Promise:

Prohibited items

1. Anything that rhymes with corn

2. Beer, liquor, sake, and soju

3. Going out to eat during the work week

4. Buying food from the work cafeteria

5. Cursing

6. Gluttony

Good Items

1. Study daily

2. Observe the gout diet

3. Run several times a week

4. Get back to a size 32 waist

5. Be respectful of others (most especially elders)

6. Fish Fridays will be observed

My first blog_TEST!

It's 657 AM and I'm blogging from the toilet. I'm in Chesapeake, working remotely from the office. Mom and Victor are still asleep and Dad is on the way to work. Chay is browsing the internet in my Lola's room.

We don't have much of an agenda for today, but I'm hoping that at some point this week Victor, Chay and I get to watch Avatar. Anyway, this is just my test blog, so tune in for more.

Props to Patricio Tanyag and Leah Enriquez for getting me started...