31 days of creativity with food
Taste Bites Likes the gorgeous food creations of China-based Malaysian artist Hong Yi, (aka Red). Every day in March 2013, this architect-by-day/artist-by-night challenged herself to use only food to make a work of art on the blank canvas of a white plate. My ‘creativity with food’ series has helped me push the limits of my...
An Apple A Day
Shrivelled skin fruits overstaying their welcome in the fruit bowl tend to be particularly uninspiring. The temptation to toss them into the compost is difficult to avoid. But such fruit can be redeemed! A couple of yellow floury uninspiring apples can easily be put to good use for a juicy and fresh breakfast or snack....
Train Picnic
We were in a rush. We were hungry. We feared the Beijing traffic’s notorious ability to hinder one from arriving at the station in time for a train. After a late night dancing, a disappointing brunch at The Rug & Bagel Cafe (the first time in a dozen visits that I’ve had reason for dissatisfaction)...
The Apple Tree Farm
On my last visit to France I was lucky enough to steal the pleasure of a couple of hours of Farmer Kevin Charnay’s time. Kevin is an old friend of my roommate Eric and he’s the passionate, hard-working, food activist owner of La Ferme du Pommier (The Apple Tree Farm). Located in the North of...
Chickpea Salad
Inspired by a beautiful recipe book gifted to me by my food loving and long time but distant Tokyo-living food partner-in-crime, Nat, comes this versatile and always appreciated recipe for Chickpea Salad. My copy of ‘Moro, The Cookbook‘ by Sam and Sam Clark is a gorgeous hardcover tome with artful photography printed on thick matte...
![[Shanghai] Unico at 3 on the Bund](http://www.tastebites.net/wp-content/uploads/unico-20120514_0006-290x290.jpg "[Shanghai] Unico at 3 on the Bund")
[Shanghai] Unico at 3 on the Bund
For the pre-opening of Unico, I went for a tasting in the yet as unfinished location at Three on the Bund. It was a surprising and pleasant afternoon. In the raw cement shell of the ex-Space By Three, a basic prep kitchen was set up along with a table for about twelve. Marcelo Joulia and...
![[Shanghai] Fresh Oysters at La Creperie](http://www.tastebites.net/wp-content/uploads/la-creperie-el6b-290x290.jpg "[Shanghai] Fresh Oysters at La Creperie")
[Shanghai] Fresh Oysters at La Creperie
A short and sweet message to say that the oysters at La Creperie on Taojiang Lu are fit for a visit. Large, succulent and tasting of the ocean, they’re worth all of their 30rmb. Sourced from Pont-Aven in Brittany (Bretagne), France, they were flown into Shanghai the day before. Consumed with cold sparkling cider as...
Nar’s Thai Spiked Pumpkin Soup
Years ago when living in Sydney I was lucky enough to have joined a bunch of foodie friends for an organised day of feasting. About 15 of us gathered on a sunny Sunday mid-morning at a terrace house in the inner west. All of us brought one course to share amongst us all. We hit...
Hummus
I went on a hummus making spree last December over the festive season. It’s not part of the traditional fare that my family eat year in year out (roast stuffed turkey, glazed hams, smoked trout, roast vegetables, plum pudding, cassata) but ‘off-Christmas’ events provide me the occasion to capitalise on the well stocked pantry and...
Greenovate’s Three Meals That Matter
Shanghai’s Greenovate, together with the Wellness Works have collaborated to produce this video highlighting the effects of industrial food production on the planet. The average person who is lucky enough to have three meals per day, consumes 100,000 meals in one lifetime. Given the growth of our population over the last century, the choices we...
Raw and rich – veg with anchovy dressing
This post first appeared here on Herb and Lace on 9 March 2012. I’ve enjoyed eating out a few too many times these past weeks, so last Saturday lunch became a great chance to put fresh vegetables at the forefront of my meal. I visited the Veggie Lady on Urumqi Lu near Anfu Lu to...
Herb & Lace
Whilst trying to get this food blog of my own off the ground, I’ve also been writing weekly over the last month for a thoughtful new lifestyle site Herb and Lace. We are a group of women from all over the globe sharing insights and stories from the cities we live in. From Barcelona to...
Cooking with Noriko at Shanghai showroom
Noriko and I cooked together last weekend in her little showroom. The kitchen faces south, so the winter sun shone all the way inside to keep us warm and brightly lit. Her kerosene heater did the rest of the heating work in the main area of Shanghai Showroom, the creative project she spearheads along with...
Baked eggs
Baked eggs have been on my mind since my Come Over to Play brunch. With a cold grey drizzly Shanghai Sunday afternoon on my hands I decided to whip up a couple to keep me company. I had a bag full of baby tomatoes almost ready to topple out of the fridge, so I thought...
Talking food with Kimberly Ashton
Kimberly has been inspiring me for the past couple of years with her motivation, energy and career change to boot. Formerly an events manager, she is a now a holistic health coach, nutrition consultant and co-founder of The Wellness Works in Shanghai. She is passionate about healthy food and lifestyles. She organises lots of healthy...
![[Shanghai] Qimin Organic Hotpot](http://www.tastebites.net/wp-content/uploads/R0014497-150x150.jpg "[Shanghai] Qimin Organic Hotpot")
[Shanghai] Qimin Organic Hotpot
Qimin Organic Hotpot feels like a wonderfully healthy option amidst the angst of gutter oil, tainted milk and the whole gamut of food safety concerns. The menu asserts that all meats contain no ‘pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics or artificial additives’ and that all vegetables are organic and come mostly from their own farm in Kunshan....
![[France, north] Cancale](http://www.tastebites.net/wp-content/uploads/R0013209-290x290.jpg "[France, north] Cancale")
[France, north] Cancale
I’m mostly posting a Tasting at.. Cancale because the oyster photo I took is too good not to share, and just looking at it brings back great memories of a trip I took across the northern coast of France last summer. From Calais to Brest and back we travelled in a little red Twingo for...
Tomato tarte tatin
The legend behind this clever little recipe begins with a kitchen disaster turned, literally, on its head. Two sisters, Stephanie and Caroline Tatin together owned and operated Hotel Tatin in Lamotte-Beuvron in the Loire Vallery in France. Stephanie is said to have operated the kitchen. One day, busy and fatigued, preparing an apple pie dessert,...
lau_ren_g
lau_ren_g