Jessica's Dinner Party

by jessica yoon

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Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia

 

I know this movie has been talked to death about here, here, and here, but maybe one more person will convince you to go see it if you haven’t done so already.  I just watched it this evening and am still in that movie coma faze where half your thoughts are focused on what you’re doing and the other half is still immersed in the scenes of the movie.  It was really inspiring on so many levels for me, for this blog, and for life in general.  I read the book several years ago but was not as impressed as I am with the movie. I think it was because the movie featured Julia Child as a major character while the book was solely about Julie Powell.  Both people are great protagonists, but I must say Julia Child’s attitude and lyrical voice are so memorable and such a delight to imitate.  I think the best thing that I got out from the film was that it’s important to find something that you love and are passionate about.  Once you find that, life won’t necessarily be easier but it will definitely be a lot more happier.

It is a delicious movie and you must go watch it!  Now I am off to Amazon to get myself a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Zucchini Pancakes

Zucchini Pancakes | Jessica's Dinner Party

Everyday around 4 pm my stomach starts to grumble a little bit.  No matter how filling and satisfying lunch was, at 4 pm food begins to enter my thoughts.  It’s been engrained into my body to want an afternoon snack ever since I was a little.  When I got home from school my mom always had a little something prepared for me to eat.  I remember mango slices, dumplings, mini hamburgers, and strawberry yogurt.  My favorite, however, were Korean zucchini pancakes.  They are slightly doughy with a soft crunch.  The subtle sweetness of the zucchini paired with the salty tang of soy sauce and vinegar is perfection.

Zucchini Pancakes | Jessica's Dinner Party  Zucchini Pancakes | Jessica's Dinner Party

On Sunday, as I was slowly coming out of my food coma from brunch, I started to think of these savory pancakes.  I had a couple of zucchini in my fridge, flour, eggs, milk, and sugar, the ingredients typically included in a pancake batter.  All I needed now was the exact recipe.  I called the ultimate source, my mom, and was surprised to hear that you only need two main ingredients, zucchini and flour.  How simple!  The recipe is so easy and fast that you’ll be amazed at how delicious they are.

Zucchini Pancakes | Jessica's Dinner Party

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 

I grew up mostly in Seoul, Korea.  I attended an international school where I was taught entirely in English.  The world I lived was very normal to me, but when I really think about it, it was a little bit strange, unique, and pretty interesting.  I lived in an Asian country, in the land of my ethnic origin, but was primarily immersed in a Western based society that followed American pop culture.  My background is a fusion of both American and Korean cultures. I watched Full House, had a crush on Zach Morris, and learned about terminal sicknesses and everlasting love through Korean melodramas.  I ate tons of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Korean takeout Chinese noodles, and these chewy treats.  I usually had two Thanksgiving breaks, first in early-mid fall and later in November.  I was fortunate to experience parts of both cultures and am really glad I grew up the way I did.

 

 

While I was in Korea, I think the most exotic and foreign part of America was its food and food products.  It was easy to find out about American music and movies but a box of Sun-Maid Raisins and Betty Crocker Cake Mix, not so much.  One of the products I found so fun was Quaker Oats.  I know!  It’s a sort of mundane, everyday brand here, but back then, that cylinder cardboard container was special.  I probably bought them for well over their normal price at the black market where they sell American food items.  I’m not sure why they call it the black market in Korea because those place are not illegal.  Maybe it’s because everything is ridiculously expensive but people still find the need to buy them.

 

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Browned Tofu In Spicy Soy Sauce

In general, I don’t cook Korean very often.  I have a tendency to be drawn towards rustic Italian dishes or interesting ingredients like quinoa and wheat berry.  These foods feel more exotic to me so many times I skip the Korean and cook up something I’ve never eaten before.  I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but I do think it’s a bit sad that I barely know how to cook what I call my comfort food.


To redeem myself a little bit, there is one Korean dish I know well and have almost mastered.  It is a browned tofu in a spicy soy sauce.  In Korean it’s called tubu chorim, 두부조림, which roughly translates to tofu boiled in sauce.  It’s very easy and fast.  It does require a couple of Asian condiments like soy sauce and sesame oil, but if you don’t have those in your pantry I highly encourage you to get them.  Soy sauce is well known, but sesame oil may not be.  It is a vegetable oil made from sesame seeds that is intensely fragrant and used in many Asian dishes.

 

 

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Jax Fish House- Is It Top Chef Material?

A couple of weeks ago I went to Boulder, Colorado to visit my good friend Becky who lives there.  I had never been to Boulder before and virtually knew nothing about the city except that hiking and rock climbing were popular activities.  As we, actually mostly she was planning where to go, what to do, and most importantly where to eat, I started to faintly recall that Hosea Rosenberg had a restaurant there, Jax Fish House.  For those of you who don’t watch Top Chef, (gasp!), Hosea was the winner of season five.  I personally was rooting for finalist Stefan Richter, but I guess the cards or shall I say knives weren’t chopping in his favor (haha).

We arrived there five minutes before happy hour ended, which barely left us enough time to order drinks.  We both opted for the strawberry lemonade made of strawberry infused vodka with lemonade.  We were both exhausted from a physically and mentally challenging rock climbing session and so the sweet, cool, princess pink drink was the perfect way to refresh ourselves. There were so many attractive dishes on the happy hour menu like $1 oysters, pork belly sliders, and baby beets with goat cheese and balsamic.  If we had only gotten their 15 minutes earlier…

 

  

 

We waited about 45 minutes for a table in the crowded and cramped bar/front.  The atmosphere was casual and fun, a mix between a fisherman’s wharf and fine dining. Adorning the exposed brick wall are framed photographs of fishermen both young and old, wearing Jax apparel and holding their catch of the day.

By the time we sat down, we were ready to order.  We decided to share a bowl of the chicken and crawfish gumbo with andouille and rice as our appetizer.  I went with the Mississippi skillet catfish with butterbean puree, fresh garbanzos, andouille, and pepper jelly, while Becky ordered one of the specials, hemi fish with cooked bokchoy, peas, and a sweet corn puree and relish (if I remember correctly).

 

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