1, Tom Yum
The Tour - Thailand
Extreme Thai Street Food - CRAZY TOM YUM Late-Night Food Tour in Bangkok, Thailand!
What is Tom Yum?
Tom yum is a popular Thai hot and sour soup that is made with shrimp, lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, chili peppers, fish sauce, and lime juice. It is a delicious and refreshing soup that is perfect for a hot day. Tom yum is also a very versatile soup, and there are many different variations of it, including tom yum goong (shrimp), tom yum gai (chicken), and tom yum talay (seafood).
Why do I love this?
Tom Yum is definitely one of my obsessions. This is a dish that I needed to learn to love. I remember I just couldn't understand the flavor when I was really young, like 7-8 years old. It's complex and sour; it just wasn't a dish that I knew how to appreciate. But the older I get, especially after coming to America, the more I appreciate this complex yet distinct dish. The recipe video is actually directly from Mark Wien himself, whichmakes it even better. The following are some direct links from Amazon to help you gather some essential ingredients. For the fresh herbs, if you can get them from your local market, please do so. But if you can't, order them online!
Ingredients to hunt down:
The recipe
Authentic Tom Yum Soup Recipe | Thai Recipes by Mark Wiens (มาร์ค วีนส์)
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2, Carbonara
The Tour - Italy
Italian Food - AMAZING ROMAN FOOD and Attractions in Rome, Italy!
What is Carbonara?
Carbonara is a classic Italian pasta dish made with spaghetti, eggs, cheese, and cured pork. It is a simple yet flavorful and satisfying dish that is often served as a main course or light meal. The main ingredients are spaghetti, eggs, cheese, and cured pork, which is typically guanciale, but pancetta or bacon can also be used. The eggs are beaten together with some grated cheese before being added to the pasta, and the pork is cooked until crispy. Carbonara is a versatile dish that can be customized to taste, and it is enjoyed all over the world.
Why do I love this?
Carbonara is one of the most authentic Italian pasta dishes I've ever tried making. I love raw and semi-raw egg yolks, so much so that I would break up with my boyfriend if he messed up my runny yolk egg, just saying! So it's no surprise that I love this rustic Italian dish. It's a simple yet flavorful delight that is perfect for any occasion. And, because it's so easy to make, you can easily become a master chef with this recipe!
The Recipe
How to Make SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
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3, Tapas
The Tour - Spain
Spanish Catalan Food, AMAZING Tapas, and Antoni Gaudí Attractions in Barcelona, Spain!
What is Tapas?
Tapas are small, savory dishes that are typically served in Spain as appetizers or snacks. They can be made with a variety of ingredients, including meat, fish, vegetables, and cheese. Tapas are often served with a glass of wine or beer, and they are a popular way to socialize with friends and family.
Why do I love this?
Tapas reminds me of dim sum, a cuisine from my hometown of Hong Kong. These two dining cultures each have their unique approach to dining, where one may be enjoying a warm cup of tea and the other a glass of wine, yet they both provide a relaxed atmosphere for socializing with friends and family. I always look forward to indulging in a plethora of small dishes, packed with a myriad of flavours, making for a satisfying and delicious meal. What stands out most about these two cultures is the ingredients' quality and the flavorful combinations that come together in every bite. This enables me to savour each meal while connecting and conversing with those around me.
The recipe
4 CLASSIC SPANISH TAPAS | EASY SPANISH TAPAS IDEAS | Chef James
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4, Greek chicken souvlaki
The Tour - Greece
What is Souvlaki?
Souvlaki is a popular Greek dish consisting of small pieces of meat or vegetables grilled on a skewer. It is typically made with pork, chicken, or lamb, but other meats, such as beef or fish, can also be used. Souvlaki is often served with pita bread, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki. It can also be served as a main course or as an appetizer.
Why do I love this?
The use of yogurt is what got me curious and in love with Greek cuisine. Yogurt provides a light yet complex element to a dish that's refreshing. Personally, I also enjoy adding mint to my yogurt sauce, especially when using fatty beef or lamb.
The Recipe
Italian Food - AMAZING ROMAN FOOD and Attractions in Rome, Italy!
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5, Oden
The Tour - Japan
Japanese Street Food - ORIGINAL FRIED RAMEN + 5 Must Eat Foods in Fukuoka, Japan!!
What is Oden?
Oden is a Japanese one-pot dish (nabemono) made by simmering a variety of ingredients in a light dashi broth. It is a popular wintertime dish in Japan, and it is often served at festivals and street stalls.
The ingredients in oden can vary depending on the region, but some common ingredients include boiled eggs, daikon radish, konjac, and processed fishcakes. Other ingredients that may be included in oden include tofu, kamaboko (fishcakes), chikuwa (fish sausages), and shiitake mushrooms.
Oden is typically served in a donabe (clay pot), and it is eaten with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, and dashi. It is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a cold winter day.
Why do I love this?
Oden is a very cozy and homely dish. Growing up in Hong Kong, which is geographically very close to Japan, I was highly influenced by Japanese culture. Especially growing up with a rich manga culture, oden is a dish that speaks comfort food to me. It's light yet flavorful, a dish I can eat all year long.
How to make ODEN 🍢 (Japanese stew) 〜おでん〜 | easy Japanese home cooking recipe
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I always encourage my friends to cook at home. It's nice to know where your food comes from, what goes intoit, and how it's made. I believe cooking is a humbling process. Every effort we put in is not just about how we will like our food, but also about how the people we are serving will like the food. Thisinvolves a level of empathy and understanding. No one is born a good cook. Everyone has to start somewhere, so why not start now?
