Fight 4 Taste!

An unexpected culinary journey It was an unexpected and unpredictable journey. For a guy who could cook less than a dozen things for the first half of my adult life, I discovered a wonderful gift. My cooking heroes have changed over the years. It makes sense. My launching point was the training wheels-like safety of the 20 years ago Food Network. Chefs like Rachael Ray, George Stella, Guy Fieri, and Tyler Florence? As I look back on this I cannot help but feel a wave of embarrassment. But this was the road that got me to where I am today, even though I’m not exactly quite sure where that is, although it is becoming obvious. I can tell you that my cooking heroes have certainly changed. At the top of my list, are June Xie, Stephanie Cmar, Adrienne Cheatham, and Anthony Bourdain just to start with. These are not cookie-cutter chefs, and perhaps in some definitions, not chefs at all. (Had to add this as June does not like being called a chef). 15 years ago there was definitely some excitem...

To  those who follow my Instagram and Facebook pages, the   fact that I have once again made dumplings, fried rice, lomein, or LA galbi might seem a little overplayed. So like the Steve Miller Band is YET AGAIN singing, the Joker on your local radio station. But before you think I might be playing it safe, although sometimes I am, please know that I am turning dials, taking notes, and learning from my mistakes and shortcomings.   Today, I need to marinate flanken-cut beef ribs for LA galbi. Fortunately, I have made this a few times. Sometimes it was so great it was difficult to think that it was me who made it. This usually was what I did, combined with cooking over a wood fire. I took notes too. So, today before I begin the long road of prepping I am looking back on these notes. I recall that Liz from Subversive Table said, “I added a can of Coca-Cola for good measure,    advice of a Korean American friend who swore by this sweet ingredient. The result? Everyon...