Vietnamese Eggrolls (Chả Giò)

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to food. As a kid, I was surrounded by Vietnamese food all the time, unfortunately, much to my disdain. “This doesn’t look like mac n’ cheese!” “Why can’t we just order pizza like everyone else?” I took every … Continue Reading

Mapo Tofu Cheese Fries Tofu / Ground Pork / Cayenne Peppers / Black Beans / White Cheddar

Sometimes you just have to dine with a native to try something new, even if it’s from a cuisine as saturated into American culture as Chinese food. For me, such was the case with Mapo Tofu, which is actually a very popular Chinese dish but is often overshadowed by more common take out fare such … Continue Reading

Banh Mi Tacos

After picking up pâté from the grocery store with every intention to make traditional banh mi for dinner, I realized that with Cince de Mayo just around the corner, tacos sounded like a much better idea. Luckily, Vietnamese and Mexican food share many of the same fresh ingredients, such as lime, jalapenos, and cilantro, so … Continue Reading

Samosa Hashbrowns

As you all know by now, Asian fusion is kind of my jam. Readers are always asking me, “How do you come up with your recipes? I never would have thought to mix x and y to make z!” I think the secret to being innovative comes with appreciating and understanding the process rather than … Continue Reading