String Bean Tempura and Global Supper Club: Japan Edition

I grew up eating string bean tempura. For as long as I can remember, my whole family would meet for dinner at a hibachi restaurant, where the meal has remained consistent for, quite literally, my lifetime. First comes hot hand towels, followed in succession by soup, salad, shrimp and string bean tempura, the hibachi meal, and then the best vanilla bean ice cream, which my uncle would routinely melt into ice cream soup on the still-hot cooktop. For all of … Continue reading

Flourless Hazelnut and Chocolate Layer Cake

I was tasked with bringing dessert to this year’s Passover seder, and I racked my brain about what to make. Fruit and ice cream– too boring. A fruit crumble– nice, but fine for any time of year. Macarons– delicious, but more of a snack. Then I started thinking about macaron cakes and saw a fancy pistachio and strawberry recipe from Ladurée- too time consuming. Then, I found this winner from Smitten Kitchen. Large macarons made from hazelnuts instead of almonds … Continue reading

Pho and Phriends

I love pho, especially when I get to share it with friends. I think I first enjoyed this flavorful Vietnamese soup when I was living in Paris, and the many places that serve it in DC continue to keep me satisfied. My favorite pho truck even stops by my office every week, so I can slurp up rice noodles and bean sprouts on the regular. I usually opt for beef pho, but when my friends and I saw a recipe … Continue reading