New England

On That Latin Kick

May 13, 2015 // Posted in Entrées, Food I Ate, Food I Made, Gallery, Photo Journal, Recipes, Travel

May 13, 2015 | Posted in [post_category]

TiffanyBee.com | Blackened Cocoa Fish Tacos

Today, I’d like to share with you my delicious new recipe of Blackened Cocoa Fish Tacos, which has a fantastic mix of coffee & cocoa powder. Coffee infused with cocoa is also a great alternative to coffee + cocoa powder. After my nearly month old post on South American inspired recipes, I’ve found myself on a bit of Latin kick. While I haven’t explored much of Boston’s offerings–honestly I’ve been told that there’s not much to explore anyway, I mean we don’t even have Valentina or Tajin, you guys; the struggle is real–I love making my own Latin dishes whether it’s tacos, nachos, enchiladas, or mole. Seeeee, I don’t only eat sushi & various Asian food, gosh.

Lacey, one of my best friends who’s currently studying abroad in Sydney, took note of my absence on TB the other day. She knows I loathe Facebook, so I don’t update it, which means she doesn’t get updated on what I’m doing with my life unless it’s on my Instagram or I text her. Well Lacey & other curious/noisy people, I’m updating, so I hope you can handle it. You ready?? I’m ready.

Last month, my former roommate Gaby visited me in Boston. She had never been before & wanted to eat ALL THE THINGS. Not only did Gaby & I share a bedroom back at our days at UCLA, we also share very similar backgrounds. Both our fathers are physicians, our parents are immigrants, our cultures value family & good food, & obviously, we both grew up in Southern California. Aside from all that, Gaby is a delight to dine & travel around the city with. She’s up for anything & eats it all, raw, cooked, fermented, whatever! She has a much stronger aversion to fennel than I do, which makes pho–a very popular Vietnamese noodle soup–on her list of, “I wish I could like it, but it has fennel [seeds].” So while she was here, we avoided Vietnamese food because no one (besides Vietnam) does Vietnamese food like SoCal anyway & went for New England’s finest: clam chowder, lobster rolls, & oysters. Gaby didn’t get to try my tacos, she did get a bowl of my Bun Rieu, a delicious Vietnamese tomato & crab noodle soup that happens to both be our favorites. It’s my specialty Vietnamese soup & her favorite thing I make. I hear she’s paying me in a surprise package of Valentina & Tajin, so I’m really excited. La vida es mejor picante!! Una vida sin picante es una vida muy triste. Muchas gracias, Gaby. 🙂

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Shrimp Wontons & a Colombian Wedding

April 10, 2015 // Posted in Appetizers, Drinks I Drank, Food I Ate, Food I Made, Gallery, Photo Journal, Recipes, Travel

April 10, 2015 | Posted in [post_category]

Shrimp Wontons with Coconut Tom Yum Sauce

This January, I dedicated a post to a fallen foodie friend in which I mentioned I still dream about her. Last weekend while I sat reclined in my bed against my fluffy pillows, I found satisfaction in knowing I finally finished posting a new recipe for Shrimp Wontons with Coconut Tom Yum Sauce. My former LA roommate, fellow Bruin, & friend Gabriela sat next to me in her pajamas, looking through New York’s live SnapChats. It was Gaby’s first time in Boston & we were planning our next foodie destinations. Without a story to write, I decided to put off writing a blog to accompany the recipe, hit the lights, & went to bed. I dreamt that Gaby & I were riding the MBTA throughout Boston except the T was an outdoors roller coaster. When we got off at our destination, we were greeted by Kim, my friend who passed away more than a year ago. It took me a moment to register that she’s no longer with us, which meant I was dreaming so I quickly hugged her & we were off on some adventures at what seemed like a strange amusement park. I awoke to a foggy recollection of the warmth of her embrace, the smoothness of her skin, & the echo of her laughter in my head.

These shrimp wontons are special because they were inspired by 7 Seas Restaurant, which hosted one of Kim’s memorials. I ate a lot of things that day I can’t remember, but those wontons were unforgettable & it made me wish Kim could still be around to taste it. Josh, Vy, & I inhaled this place of delicious shrimp wontons, but I was determined to remake the recipe. 7 Seas is now closed, but if I can revive one thing about that place, it’s those wontons. This recipe is also dedicated to Annie Kim Pham, who loved her shellfish, wontons, & cheese. It’s funny that even after her passing, we still find ourselves meeting at places with good food. Although she couldn’t be there physically with us, we were there because of her. I wish the circumstances of trying these wontons for the first time were different though.

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Thanks For the Cabin Fever, Neptune

February 16, 2015 // Posted in Food I Made, Photo Journal, Recipes, Soups

February 16, 2015 | Posted in [post_category]

When I packed my bags & left for Boston last September, I reassured my very concerned parents that I would be just fine in a place where you can tell the Earth clearly revolves around the sun (ie there are seasons unlike California’s 2: hot/not hot). I’m not saying I was wrong, I’m just saying record breaking storms (six, you guys, SIX, & more snow in two days) hitting New England is incredibly irritating. As I write this, winter storm Neptune is raging outside with hurricane-like conditions. Sounds way worse than Moaning Myrtle, I tell ya whut. It stopped snowing midday yesterday, but the harsh winds portray the illusion of snow being flung at your face at 30 MPH since it’s picking up snow from the rooftops of houses.

It’s not that I’m ill prepared for the blizzard, I just didn’t think I would ever need to invest in a Ninja mask to deal with windy chills in my face. I also underestimated the amount of snow walls I’d have to climb to get around. The rest of my body is pretty darn warm when I walk to school, but man, my face feels like….well, honestly I can’t tell you what my face feels like because I can’t feel it when it’s below freezing. However, if you’re in the New England area–no, not New York because they’re experiencing diddly squat–a great way to warm up & avoid cabin fever is making a hearty pot of delicious clam chowder. Not Manhattan clam chowder, real New England clam chowder. I’m only hating on NYC because I’m jealous though; let’s call a spade a spade.

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Game Day Ready: Recipes for Anxious Snackers

January 26, 2015 // Posted in Appetizers, Dips & Sauces, Entrées, Food I Made, Photo Journal, Recipes

January 26, 2015 | Posted in [post_category]

Gearing up your household for GameDay? This year’s Super Bowl XLIX featuring the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks is just around the corner, taking place on February 1st. If you’re not holding a get together at your home, but attending a party, try bringing one of these appetizers to help those anxious snackers as they root for their team. Not into football or sports in general? No problem! My recipes are still great for any party. No matter what party you plan on hosting: pity, pajama, dinner, for funsies, just ’cause, graduation, baby shower, etc you can’t possibly go wrong with some homemade salsa, guacamole, or cheesy corn. If you’re just an anxious snacker & need new snack ideas, avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine, & hot dogs. Get your nerves relaxed with some chamomile tea & some whole grain chips dipped in any of my Game Day recipes. If you’re going to carelessly munch on food, it should at least benefit you right?

Additionally, I’d like to give a shout out to my brother. Today is a special day for Vinny because it’s his birthday! My father is terrible with remembering dates–which is why I made our WiFi’s password his wedding anniversary so he’ll never forget–but he is grateful that my mom coincidentally popped us out during holidays: Super Bowl Sunday (Vinny) & Memorial Day (me). Obviously these dates change every year, but he knows when those holidays come around, our birthdays probably will too. Vinny made some really excellent guacamole last time I bought an excessive amount of avocados, so my recipe of guacamole isn’t dedicated to him. Rather, I’m dedicating my Vegetarian Meatless Meatballs recipe to the guy whose favorite Subway sandwich was the meatball one. Vinny may be too lazy to make these meatballs, but I think he would enjoy them because they’re packed with umami. Ladle on some homemade marinara & hug them with some buns to get your own vegetarian meatball sub. These meatballs are perfect for Game Day for your vegetarian friends (meat lovers will enjoy them too)! Cook them in a pot with marinara (store bought is fine) & watch it get devoured!