La Otra Dimension CocinaLa Otra Dimension CocinaShe rants, She cooks! One frustrated foodie's adventures and musings on her new life in Buenos Aires. Articles
An Antipodean Interpretation
2006-12-03 04:11:09 While browsing through the fantastic Argentine food blog, El Cuerpo de Cristo (Body of Christ), I found Martin's post on Tomate del Arbol (tree tomato). These egg-shaped exotic beauties can now be found in Abasto where there is a Peruvian community.Tree Tomato is native to Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia. In Argentina where it is cultivated, the fruit is largely seen as an ethnic ingredient. It has yet to gain the mainstream popularity it deserves.This same fruit which the antipodeans called Tamarillo is grown as a commercial crop for international export in New Zealand and to a lesser extent in Australia.The raw tamarillo has a pleasingly sweet exotic scent but is bitter and sour to taste. Like quince (membrillo), sugar and heat would magically release its inner beauty.Poached tamarillo is an ideal companion to a quivering panna cotta or an indulgent bowl of vanilla ice cream. It provides a modern twist to a French clafoutis or an English crumble. Should you prefer something savo... More About: Pod , Ipod , Inter , Interpretation , Anti
Road to Regression?
2006-12-03 04:11:09 Education is on the agenda of politicians all over the world because it is an emotive issue. It is certainly one of John Howard's favourite topics. We are easy targets to be stirred because all of us have our own view on whether education should be free and accessible; should it be compulsory up to a certain age; and is the standard of education slipping. And all these questions are just the tip of an iceberg.In recent years, many governments deplore the current state of education and some have become concerned how their country's education stack up against others in international assessments. It seems the question on many politicians' lips, across nations, is that why are we churning out more university graduates than ever but people in general, seem to be less and less "educated"?I am in no position to even attempt this question. However, I have received a photo taken at a recent exhibition in Hong Kong. It is a photo of an exhibit ? an exam paper of the compulsory primary scho... More About: Sion , Road , Regression
Different Strokes
2006-12-02 16:10:14 It doesn't matter what time of the day and where in this city, you would spot kids; many of them would be drinking a pint of coca-cola or munching a triple-deck alfajor (sweet cornflour biscuits with dulce de leche sandwiched between). The parents are indulgent and the kids are happy so what is odd?As you get older, you may realise there are more ways than one to do things; then sometimes there may not. Well, I mean there may be a few equally logical, scientifically proven views on the same issue, and then there are views and ways that you simply say "no way!" While the debate goes on between the puritans and the laid back whether expecting mothers could have a few drops of alcohol or caffeine once every full moon, an upscale pre-natal centre in this city advises their attendees that they could substitute coffee with diet coke! That explains why I see so many women with their bumps virtuously downing litres of that brown stuff, unaware they have now added more than just liver damag... More About: Rent , Stroke , Diff
Travel to Learn
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Friends who have been living in Buenos Aires for over 2 years recently returned from a long road trip to Chile via the southern provinces of Argentina. As we had predicted, they found the country outside Capital Federal breathtakingly beautiful.On their southbound journey, not only did they admire stunning landscapes and nature, they stayed at grandiose estancias (ranches) which are private properties of landowners who hold, literally, significant parts of this country. Without going into the bloody and brutal history of native Argentines and land-grabbing European settlers, we moved swiftly onto their journey over the border to Chile where they found the Singapore of Latin America.As tourists hankering for a "Latin Experience", they found Chile a little too squeaky clean and modern to their tastes but they did remark the neighbouring capital city is noticeably cleaner and much more orderly than Buenos Aires.The comparison of Chile to the garden city of Singapore doesn't end at cle... More About: Travel , Rave , Earn , Learn , North Las Vegas
Plan B
2006-12-02 16:10:14 After my proposal of Panna Cotta di Mate Cocido yesterday, I had every intention in making the pudding later the same day.This is what tends to happen to me...I go into the kitchen with one plan and then somehow start working on another because something else has caught my fancy.I thought about introducing another dimension to round out the tannin in Mate thus making it an "easier-sell" to the uninitiated. What could be sweet and smooth in addition to the milk and cream already on the ingredients list? Umm, I spotted bars of white chocolate...Since I am to try out a new taste, I thought I'd at least use part of an existing recipe as a guide so I have based my Panna Cotta di Mate Cocido on Jamie Oliver's Green Tea Panna Cotta recipe. In his recipe, Oliver uses tea bags of "green tea" in the pudding and pairs the tea panna cotta with a dark chocolate sauce.I was not entirely convinced that tea bags would yield a taste that can stand up to the dominant nature of dark chocolate so I s... More About: Plan B , Plan
Baking Blues
2006-12-02 16:10:14 An Oxford graduate, the multi-talented Nigella Lawson once said "baking demands mathematical respect".When I was much younger, I used to diligently follow recipes to a T; on the other hand, recipes back then weren't so liberal with the quantity of sugar, butter or cream. Maybe it's part of aging or just too much healthy living but these days, I dislike the heavy feeling butter leaves on my palate. Further, fats such as butter, cream and cocoa butter trigger a mild skin irritation in Guillermo.With reading and practise, I have gone beyond following sets of mathematical formulae in baking to actually understanding the function of each component and therefore, able to swap them around to address our dietary sensitivities.Guillermo and I both prefer my yoghurt cake for it is light and moist in texture and not too sweet in taste. Firstly, the cake has much less fats than a butter-based one. Secondly, I have replaced whatever amount of butter still needed with sunflower oil and reduced ... More About: Baking , Blues , Blue , King
Between Fear and Despair lies Action
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Over our short break, Guillermo and I went to see a film which everyone should see. In fact, it is crucial that everyone sees it and considers its content; and I do seriously mean everyone.The film in question wasn't made to "entertain" but that was never its intention; it was made because a message of utmost importance that is affecting all of us and our future generations has too often been deliberately swept under the carpet by interest groups which do not necessarily have our best interests at heart ? politicians and the corporations which back them.I am talking about Al Gore's documentary on climate changes - An Inconvenient Truth (La Verdad Incómoda). Confronted by hard scientific facts and empirical data, and most worryingly how such facts and data have been manipulated to confuse us and thereby diluting the issue's importance, the duration of this film was an illuminating, intellectually exhilarating yet distressing 100 minutes.I am not American and I do not feel adequate... More About: Action , Espa , Between , Fear , Pair
Autumnal Passion in Buenos Aires
2006-12-02 16:10:14 I am passionate about chestnuts. My excuse is that I was born in the northern autumn, during their blink-and-you-have-missed-it season. When I was young, every autumn, I saw hawkers on the streets of Hong Kong frying chestnuts in massive woks (see picture) set atop gas stoves on wheels. The chestnuts were stir fried, with a shuffle, in grit and sugar. The idea is similar to roasting except the cooked nuts stayed moist as the grit helped to trap moisture and the sugar interacted with the shells resulting in a burnt toffee aroma.Mont Blanc, needless to say, was a favourite too (a mound of chestnut puree, served with cream). When I discovered that the Japanese share my passion, I inhaled bags of Japanese style candied chestnuts on my north bound excursions. Later, I found the Italians are also fond of this treat; I looked no further for the perfect accompaniment to my dark drop of cafe ristretto. Of course, one cannot forget the French, after all candied chestnuts' other name is marro... More About: Passion , Buenos Aires , Pass , Sion , Autumn
Cha Cha Cha
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Tea (? or Cha) is an important part of some Asian cultures. To drink a cup of tea is not just to quench one's thirst but it could be a gesture of respect, gratitude or dare I say, love from one person to another. In these cultures, to know how to drink tea is considered a sign of good breeding and education.The leaves used to make tea are therefore of utmost importance; a significant body of knowledge on the subject exists beyond our generic té comun or green tea.My parents' everyday drink is a white tea made with Shou Mei (??) leaves while my grandmother prefers the perfumy daffodil (??) which also means "Water Fairy". My favourite is rose (yes, dried rose buds) or a lychee tea and my cousins love a pot chrysanthemum infusion any day.The Japanese Matcha (??) is now commonly used in cooking and baking beyond Japan while the use of Chinese teas in cooking, as demonstrated most elegantly by J at Kuidaore here, is still very much a hidden secret among the connoisseurs of Chinese cuis... More About: Cha Cha , Cha Cha Cha
What is in a Cup of Tea?
2006-12-02 16:10:14 The other weekend, I had an interesting conversation with my father-in-law about teas while I was greedily tucking into a second helping of my mother-in-law's super succulent pork loin (carré de cerdo).He told me they were initially surprised on their first visit to Mexico, not so long ago, that when they asked for tea, a té verde (green tea) was served whereas the té comun (common/regular tea) in this country would be a té negro(black tea). Then he went on to ask me about the subtly scented tea I served them when they came over to ours.The name of the leaves I use is Dragonball Jasmine, obviously just a translation. Jasmine leaves make a green tea. The commonly encountered jasmine tea, in a teabag or loose in a tin, are broken and brittle; some even look like greyish sawdust. Whole jasmine leaves are green and thin, about 2 cm in length; the Dragonball part of the name comes from the shape and size of each rolled-up leave.When each ball comes into contact with hot water, it opens ... More About: What , Hat
You Are Out! Auf Wiedersehen
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Sometimes, I amaze myself by the amount of useless information I hold in my memory. A few years ago, Joanne Lumley (English actress of Ab Fab fame) went on some breakfast programme in the U.K.; she talked about how she lived in a haunted house in lovely Cotswold for some years.The "House" and she didn't get on; it smelt foul because of lingering pipe problems, she was sick often, bizarre accidents happened to her and her family, etc. She fought on and wanted to prove to "House" that she was the owner. So she spent a few miserable years living in this lovely cottage in the picturesque land of Cider with Rosie.Finally she came to her senses and decided to move. Before she stepped out of the cottage for the last time, she went down to the basement and said out loud to her surrounding "I'm leaving now, I hope you are happy". Doors banged a few times by themselves, as if in acknowledgement; Ms Lumley recalled how she felt as if the "House" had released a deep sigh of relief and suddenl...
Melting Moments
2006-12-02 16:10:14 I walked pass a leafy stretch of Belgrano yesterday just to realise all the shops and cafes on that particular block were having a black-out. Nobody is suggesting that we are having an energy crisis but two shops had their own generators cranking noisily; one of them was a Munchi's ice cream parlour. Judging from the darkness in spite of their equipment, I think they just had enough to keep the ice creams from going off.Since I was recovering from a blitz spell of food poisoning from my merluza (hake/??) at lunch earlier, I defensively thought about not having any more ice cream between now and December when Guillermo and I can once again indulge in concoctions as close to gelati as one could get outside of il Bel Paese. Second thought, I think I am going to ease off fish until then as well.However, since yesterday my twisted mind has not been able to stop churning over all ice cream related matters. I recently read about Saltshaker's sampling of some disappointing coconut ice cre... More About: Men , Moment , Moments
Hello Sunshine!
2006-12-02 16:10:14 The sun is out, the city is much greener and the jacarandas are in full bloom...Buenos Aires is at its most beautiful right now. I am a lot busier with work which takes me out and about discovering an increasing variety of produce on offer. Each time I discover something which couldn't be found this time last year, the same thoughts spring to mind ? the economy must be benefiting some sectors here, what is driving it? Would this new flush of wealth take roots? Are we in for a better long haul this time?Wealth, more precisely perceived relative wealth, can trigger different reactions in different people. A lot of times such reaction says more about the person reacting than the innocent one triggering it...If I have to rank them, the most valuable advice my learned husband has given me since starting this blog would be that I should believe in myself, my integrity and not sweat the rest. He has always said that it is evitable that someone would disagree with me, even aggressively or ... More About: Sunshine , Shine , Hell , Hello , Shin
Spice Up Your Life
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Yesterday, while I was grinding up a stash of Chai spice for some chocolate fondant cakes, the thought of Chai Tea came to mind. The drink originated in the Indian sub-continent. There is no fixed recipe for the spice mix or the way such tea is made. It is like an Italian torta della nonna (grandmother's pie); it could be anything depending entirely on grandma.The traditional Chai tea is a lot more tea-like than the Chai Latte one can get in fashionable coffee stores these days. It is based on brewed black tea such as Darjeeling or Assam. Some prefer to give it a modern twist by using Earl Grey for the fragrance of bergamot goes in perfect harmony with cardamom which is an essential component in the Chai spice mix.Making your own Chai tea is incredibly simple. Boil a cup of milk with a mixture of cardamom seeds, cloves, cinnamon quill, ginger and fennel seeds. Some add peppercorns and star anise; it is up to individual's taste. Let the boiled milk sit for about 10-15min to allow i... More About: Life , Your , Spic , Spice , Spice Up Your Life
No Milk?
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Guillermo and I have just heard that our adorable 2-yr old niece is suspected to have milk allergy, not to be confused with lactose intolerance. The former is a reaction by the body's immune system while lactose intolerance is caused by inadequate amount of lactase enzyme to break down lactose. Allergy to milk is often difficult to detect and many doctors and health specialists recommend going dairy free as an initial test when a food allergy is suspected. Her parents are understandably distressed because she loves her milk and unsurprisingly obtained most of her required nourishments from it.We were surprised by the prognosis because she is a healthy and active child. While cow's milk does contain over 25 different molecules which have the potential to elicit an allergic reaction, I have urged the parents to seek a second opinion just in case they had run into one of those misguided doctors who among other things, also believe in feeding a spoonful of sugar a day to babies six-mo... More About: Milk
Five Goats Drink Tea
2006-12-02 16:10:14 Guillermo and I went to our first Yum Cha (??, literally "drink tea" but actually a Chinese tapas meal) lunch in Buenos Aires with our friends Zoe and Mr.T on Sunday. The restaurant was one of only a couple, in this capital city, which had a Dim Sum menu at all. We were warned by Zoe ahead of time not to have much expectation, and certainly not to compare the dim sum (tapas) at Cinco Corderos* (Five Goa ts) to those served in London, Sydney or Hong Kong.This restaurant on Las Heras, in Barrio Norte, doesn't take reservations on Sundays so we thought we would go a little early to get a table ? now that turned out to be just too many previous Yum Cha experiences, in other countries, messing up our heads.Yum Cha lunch, on weekends, is a ritual to many people in many countries. In Sydney, Chinese families and Anglo Saxons' alike crowd those spacious 1,000-2,000 seat restaurants from as early as late morning, often on a Sunday. By midday, the popular restaurants would have a queue and d... More About: Drink , Goats , Oats
Love Misinterpreted?
More articles from this author:2006-08-07 23:17:00 I have yet to figure out the uniqueness of Argentines' love for children. They undoubtedly adore them; they have even devoted the second Sunday of August as Children's Day when the kids are indulged even more than usual by their parents and relatives. Yet, their manifestation of love still puzzles me at times.Whenever we see our nieces and nephews, no matter whether it is at someone's home or at a restaurant, they are always running wild. The parents have either got used to it or they simply are unconcerned about such behaviour because they seem completely oblivious.Especially in a restaurant situation, my suburban impulses usually surface after an hour. In the beginning, I asked my husband why the kids were not told to sit at the table or why they were not encouraged to eat but were completely let loose, terrorising other customers who were just trying to enjoy their meal. A year on, I don't ask anymore, I simply pretend not to see.Our immediate family of sixteen went to a parr... More About: Love , Interpret 1, 2, 3 |
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