Jessica's Dinner Party

Homemade Bagels and Lox Cream Cheese

It’s finally the end of the month. When I think back to the beginning of November this day seemed so far away, but somehow four weeks went by in a flash. I’m actually really surprised at how comfortable I became with blogging everyday. Not saying that I didn’t have slumps or one liners, but I sort of enjoyed the panic that comes with meeting a deadline. It kept me motivated and pushed me to try more daring recipes outside of my comfort zone. I want to thank all you readers, whether this is your first time here or your 30th, but knowing that somebody is reading my site is so rewarding and a great encouragement. Thank you!

November 30 2009 | Bread and Recipe and Thoughts | 11 Comments »

No Knead Brioche

I’ve been wanting to make croissants again but haven’t had the time With the rolling, folding, and endless waiting, not to mention the fact that the dough needs to be used between 8 and 18 hours, the timing just hasn’t worked. So, I decided to look for a nice alternative in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. This is the perfect book for those who crave homemade bread but don’t have the time.

I’ve made their rustic, peasant loaves a few times, but have never tried any of their pastry recipes. They didn’t have a one for croissants, but they had one for brioche. It’s not exactly in the same category as puff pastry, however, both have a common interest in butter. Good enough for me.

November 29 2009 | Bread and Recipe and Thoughts | 10 Comments »

Conveyer Belt Sushi

A few years ago, conveyer belt sushi became very popular in Korea. Instead of ordering, small tapas like plates of sushi are placed on a conveyer belt. Each person grabs what they want to eat. At the end of the meal, the plates are tallied and paid for. These restaurants are common in Seoul located everywhere from business districts to trendy shopping districts. My family and I had lunch at the one at Shinsegae Department Store. The sushi isn’t spectacular, but good enough and reasonably priced. We ate our hearts out and until our shirts were snug.

I’ve never been to a conveyer belt sushi restaurant outside of Korea. Does anyone have a favorite place or one they frequent?

November 28 2009 | Bakeries and Restaurants and Thoughts | 3 Comments »

Gam Lo Dang, Buddhist Temple Food

I think we can all agree that the day after Thanksgiving is a day of rest, that is in terms of cooking. So, instead of a recipe I thought I’d post about an interesting restaurant I went to a few days ago. The restaurant, Gam Lo Dang, 감로당, specializes in sachal, 사찰, food, which is Buddhist temple food. Buddhist monks are vegetarians and use all natural and sometimes unusual ingredients. Seasoning is usually done minimally and the flavors are more subtle than strong. I enjoyed trying traditional Korean dishes from a Buddhist monk’s palette. It’s interesting to recognize the heart of a dish but taste it with different flavors.

Rice Porridge and Non-Spicy Kimchi naturally died a lotus pink.