Going big with Crab Benedict brunch

Had some leftover king crab (taraba gani) so decided to to make a sort of crab Benedict, perfectly poached eggs on a toasted whole-wheat English muffin topped with luscious king crab and a buttery smooth Hollandaise sauce flavored with white wine, vinegar, lime juice and fines herbes. The effect was rich and delicious, but not overly complicated. The slight acidity of the sauce kept the dish from being too rich or too much. Every sublime fork-full lingers clearly in my usually faulty memory.

Enjoy every sandwich. The comfort of mussels and French fries.

David Letterman, the late night talk show host asked Warren Zevon (musician, singer, song writer) about what he had learned from his struggle with terminal mesothelioma. "Enjoy every sandwich," was Zevon's reply.

This simple bowl of mussels steamed with white wine, shallots and saffron brought to mind Zevon's quote because I enjoyed this meal so damn much. The Prince Edward Island mussels were sweet and briny and such a perfect match with the saffron. The French fries were made from organic potatoes fried twice to a perfect crispness.

Met almost by accident and scrutinized fleetingly, this sort of food is a comfort that means so much.

The Beef Chow Fun is Deep

Beef gan chow ho fun fried rice noodles

75 g (dry weight) wide rice noodles (sen yai)
2 tsp oyster sauce
2 tsp fermented black bean sauce
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp rice vinegar
3 Tbsp water
30 g nira garlic chives cut into 7-cm lengths
1 bunch green onions cut in 7-cm lengths
1 clove garlic crushed
100 g beef cut into 7-mm by 3-cm strips
Vegetable oil for frying as needed


Marinade
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine (shokoshu)
1 tsp cornstarch

Coriander leaves for garnish


Pour very hot water (90C) about over the noodles and let soften for 10 minutes, remove from water and drain. 

Pour soy sauce and rice wine over meat, sprinkle with cornstarch and let marinate for about 20 minutes.

Mix oyster sauce, black bean sauce, soy sauce, vinegar and water and set aside. 

Sear the meat in 2 Tbsp oil in a smoking hot wok, quickly remove. 

Clean wok, heat again add 2 Tbsp oil for frying, stir fry garlic, nira and onions for about 15 seconds, add noodles and stir fry vigorously over high heat until well softened (2 or 3 min.) 

Stir in enough sauce to lightly coat the noodles and mix well for about 30 seconds. Add meat and mix well. 

To serve; garnish with coriander leaves.

Whitefish Jrs.

These guys get around on the Powwow circuit. I believe they are Crees from Canada and they are a big deal and have a lot of CDs out. We enjoyed their singing and drumming that encouraged the dancers to do their best at the Crow Fair. 

Crow Fair 2014

Yes, we were there at the 96th Crow Fair. My daughter, Ms. Wiggy Boots, was so excited. You see Crow Agency, Montana, looks like Mongolia and the Crow people (Apsaalooke) reminded her of Mongolians.

Lots of drumming and singing and dancing. A bracing combo of nostalgia and now as the Crow Nation gathered for good times. Check one off the bucket list. Could see making this a regular August stop.

Great Plains Road Trip

The August road trip to Deadwood, South Dakota (extreme tourist trap), Glacier National Park (heavenly scenery) and Billings, actually Crow Agency, for the Crow Powwow (An inspiring gathering of the tribe.) 

An entirely too short 9 days. A story of hell--Deadwood-- and long hours behind the wheel that brought redemption in the soul-stirring State of Montana. Could have easily spent a month. 

Bonded with the Subaru as the little 4-wheel-drive tramp stretched out all day at high speeds over the endless vistas of the Great Plains. Ms. Wiggy Boots fed me pringles and water all day and we stopped to dine on the finest of fast foods and convenience store burritos. (Wiggy still talks about that KFC buffet in North Dakota, or was it Minnesota?) We had all manner of nasty food like snickers and Trader Joe's cookies and so forth. To be cont.

Tell Me, Who Do You Love?

OK now don't think too hard about this. Just pick one quickly. It doesn't really have to be love, which one would you rather share pancakes with?