Taco Night: Korean Fried Chicken Tacos

I've been studying at my mom's for the last couple of days because of the unlimited coffee, flowers and snack plates (thanks mom!). Last night, I was planning on heading back to LA when my mom offered to make me dinner, which turned into me making her dinner... and then cleaning the kitchen. Yeah, I don't know how that happened - she's good at what she does.

My mom had purchased gojujang (Korean chile paste) at the Korean store and I had been meaning to use it for something. When I realized we also had soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil (loving this well-stocked pantry), I got to work. 

The recipe turned out amazingly - if not a bit hot. I cut down on the honey and added another tbsp of the chile paste. The recipe here is for the more faint-hearted, don't worry.

Now back to my lavender coffee and my lecture (and watching the world cup game).

xx

Korean Fried Chicken Tacos:

Make the SLAW:

Two cups julienned green cabbage with two or three grated carrots and 1/2 a red onion, sliced.

Juice of two limes

1/2 inch grated ginger (for digestion people)

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

The CHICKEN:

Cut up trimmed chicken breasts into bite sized pieces.

Mix 1 cup flour with 1 tbsp cornstarch and enough water to make a pancake-like batter.

Coat the chicken.

Heat up pot with a few inches of oil.

Once it's hot (i.e. chicken sizzles when placed in), throw in some pieces

Fry for a few minutes (4-5)

Let drain while you fry your subsequent batches.

THEN FRY AGAIN (4-5 minutes)

It should become a more golden brown

Once chicken cools off so it doesn't blister your finger,

Throw the chicken bits in the SAUCE:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
2 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp gojunjang
2 tsbp rice vinegar
1/2 tsbp sesame oil (my mom is not a huge fan, I would add 1 tsbp if it was just me)
1 tbsp honey

THEN throw the SLAW and CHICKEN in a charred corn tortillas. Sprinkle with some CILANTRO and serve with LIME.

Yum.

Leuven

Almaz and I took a day trip yesterday to Leuven, a small town founded in the 9th century. A short 25 minute train ride from Brussels and so quiet and picturesque... And full of nunneries. It is also home to the oldest Catholic University in the world that is still in existence, which was founded in 1425. We strolled through/past the beautiful gothic city hall, the botanical gardens and the Beguinage as well the Old Market.

It was a relaxing day with Mussels (finally!), chocolate, lattes and beer (the Kaiser blonde and la chouffe) - a lovely day.

Fascinating sculptures were frequent

The gothic City Hall

Botanical gardens

Beautiful hydrangeas

La Chouffe

Huge North Sea Mussels

Fries!

Mussel fork

This last photo is from my dining room view in Brussels - home sweet home

Party Weekend

Post-Tuesday, I decided to relax (aka go to sleep at an appropriate hour, drink more water than other beverages, and eat spinach.) But by Friday, that was a bit old. Cue Matheus, the most amazing social calendar/planner ever.

Friday: We headed over to our friend Pelayo's with Pablo and Almaz and a ton of other people for wine and crisps before heading to this, uh, interesting dance spot. We ended up doing karaoke to the wee hours and I got home approximately 4am. 

Saturday: I slept in and watched documentaries until Matheus, Almaz and Pablo came home and we did sushi delivery (they need to bring this to LA) and watched Horrible Bosses. Matheus and I also had a spirited discussion about gender relations but I won't go into it :)

Sunday: We woke up at then normal 1pm and then headed to the Parvis for a Moroccan/Italian brunch with Pablo. We then headed over to Matheus' great-aunt's house, who I utterly adore and discussed mythology, Italian and American politics and the joys of cognac. Pablo, Matheus and I met up with Almaz back in the parvis for a drink before heading to Pelayo's for a lovely fish dinner (3 courses!) prepared by Chef Andrea with help from everyone. We had fried something or other with homemade mayonnaise, octopus salad, and then some delicious, huge white fish in the courtyard with veg, melon and bread. It was so lovely and relaxing and sweet. I am so grateful to have met everyone. They are so warm and funny and interesting. I feel as though I've been in Brussels for longer than three weeks because I feel as if I've known everyone for ages.

This week, however, I am off to The Hague and Amsterdam. The blog will be a bit quiet but have a lovely week!

xx

Road Trip with Mushck

For honeybun's birthday, I decided to take her for a lil roadtrip (which required quite a bit of driving). It was amazing to spend the time with my mom without any external pressures of school/kitchen remodeling. This was the first time we had taken a trip together and I hope it will be the first of many. My mom was an easy travel partner. As long as she had coffee and sunglasses and the promise of a cold lager and tasty food at the end of the day, she was golden.

On the itinerary:

Day 1: San Simeon, Cambria
The Morgan Hotel: We had ocean views and could hear the waves at night. Super clean, comfy, and accommodating. Would def go back.

Indigo Moon: We ordered the fig-olive tapenade brie crostini, pepper-seared ahi, blue crab cake, goat cheese and leek tart, and green salad. It was easily the best meal of the trip. Delicious, fresh, complex flavors and amazing cheese. I loved the brie (duh) and my mom was over the moon about the lightness of the tart.

Harmony Zin: tart and refreshing.

Day 2:
Moonstone Beach: pretty and foggy for our coffee run.

Linns: We got the benedict (standard.) But the raspberry lemon meringue pie was phenomenalllllll. I generally loathe meringue - they tend to be chewy. This was light and toasty and wonderful. And the raspberry was an amazing complement.

Grow: This is my heaven. A gorgeous well curated nursery with rare succulents. My mom and I collected 8 new types to add to her already impressive collection. Also the owner was a lovely man and so funny and great.

Firestone Brewery: We had a tasting of the 805 (my mom's fave, light), Pale 31, the DBA and UDBA. The UDBA was one of my fave beers ever. It's unfiltered and only served at the brewery. I couldn't get enough of it.

Figueroa Mountain Brewery: My mom got the pilsner and I got my Hoppy Poppy. We ate pretzels and mustard in the lovely beer garden and they played Ingrid Michaelson while we watched people play horseshoes. So lovely.

Hotel Capri: Tots wants to be Ace Hotel. Clean but a bit too modern for honeybun and I. Great location and views though.

Some Italian Restaurant: with amazing mushrooms and live music (Carole King anyone?)

Day 3: Ojai
Knead Baking Company: We got the breakfast cake with raspberry and candied orange. Fucking amazing. My mom loved the cheddar dill scone and we got the honey chocolate nut bars for Jas. A lil pricey but wonderfully flavorful and perfectly executed.

Ojai Roasting Company: I had the latte. The espresso was too light for me, but mellow. Mom's drip was great, although a lil burnt.

  

Heaven in My Backyard

Can't speak. Too early. My brother bought me delish coffee. Irritated Scott Walker wasn't recalled. Excited for work. Woke up to fun texts and emails from amigos across the world. Happy. Pics from the garden this weekend.

xoxo