Editor’s Note: Bringing a bit more West Coast flavor to the blog, please welcome L.A.-based food fanatic Katt Kasper to the ES family.
Alright. It’s finally Friday and all you want to do is make it to the end of this brutal workweek without going postal on one of your coworkers, or (dare you live the dream?), your boss. So there you are, trying to forget the week, eating that ‘special’ meal in your favorite restaurant and you think to yourself, “How did they make this sauce sooooo velvety and smooth? And what’s that back taste? White pepper and thyme in heavy cream and butter, or it that a traditional roux?” I mean, how do you solve this puzzle without enrolling at the Cordon Bleu or bribing the chef? I’ve got the secret. There’s this thing called (are you ready?), the INTERNET. And it’s all there, baby. Shopping lists, cooking techniques, recipe breakdowns, how-to cooking videos…it’s endless! And I’m not talking about easy things like tomato based spaghetti sauces, or a thousand different ways to cook the perfect hamburger. What I’m talking about is a dish that you know nothing about but has rocked your world and somebody already knows how to make it! So let’s try it.
I started writing this piece while I was out of town on business in Oakland, California and I was taken into the town of Alameda to eat at a Burmese restaurant called Burma Superstar. Now I like my food spicy and hot and I wasn’t disappointed when I ordered their “Fiery Chicken with Tofu” which was a wok tossed chicken breast cooked with tofu, string beans, red bell peppers, and basil in a five spice hot and sweet sauce. When I ordered it I said “Heavy on the fire!” and I received mixed looks of horror and concern from the wait staff. When my plate arrived it looked awesome, and the pungent chili vapors made my vision blurry and nose run even before I took my first bite. Man, was it good! Spicy, savory and (as I unfortunately found out the next morning), hotter going out than coming in. THIS was a dish that I needed to learn to make!
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