Dumpling Bake
Presentation: 8.6 out of 10
Taste: 9.0 out of 10
Yesterday was Emmanuelâs birthday so Mel decided to make lunch to celebrate / give him a day off of cooking đ Sheâd been seeing this dumpling bake on TikTok for a while and figured it wouldnât be too difficult to mix coconut milk and red curry paste (both things we already had at home) and add veggies and dumplings into the pan to bake. Sheâd tried really hard to keep the menu a secret but Emmanuel said he figured it out as soon as she asked him to grab the pan from the top shelf of the cabinet. The meal ended up being a success nonetheless and Mel had the realization (once again) that itâs actually not too difficult to cook. Perhaps sheâll do more of it in the future and not just on anniversaries and birthdays?
For Melâs birthday this year, Emmanuel curated an eat-along menu to go with one of her favorite movies of all time, Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. đ„čđ«¶đŒ
100/10 on presentation and on taste. đ„°
#birthday #eeaao
Miso Glazed Salmon
Presentation: 8.4 out of 10
Taste: 8.7 out of 10
The last time Mel actually cooked anything for Emmanuel (and not just assembled ingredients) was in Boston five or six years ago when he had started a new job. Our wedding anniversary felt like a good time for Mel to step up her game, though, so she decided to pull out her speciality (can it be called âher specialityâ if sheâs made it a grand total of, like, 3 times?) of miso glazed salmon. She went grocery shopping the day before, marinaded the salmon, prepped the veggies, and made everything on this plate herself! The salmon ended up being a tiny bit salty but considering she hadnât really cooked in years means that she gets an automatic A+ for effort! Yay and happy anniversary to us.
The Reddit Soup
Presentation: 7.6 out of 10
Taste: 8.8 out of 10
To be completely honest, Mel doesnât usually like tortellini, but this meal was actually pretty yummy. Known as âthe soupâ on Reddit, this was a recipe that Emmanuel kept seeing, and after making it, he could see why it was so popular. Itâs a combination of Italian sausage, mirepoix, tomato paste, (homemade) chicken broth, kale, basil, and cheese-stuffed tortellini, and the heartiness of the dish was flavorful and comforting. The sausage added a lot of richness to the soup but the kale and basil balanced it out, and even Mel had to admit that it was a delicious meal (even though sheâd been a bit skeptical about it at first).
Boeuf Bourguignon
Presentation: 8.4 out of 10
Taste: 8.3 out of 10
One of the dishes that Emmanuel used to make a lot back in Boston (especially when we had friends over) was boeuf bourguignon, especially since itâs not too difficult to make but comes across as âelevated.â Mel was craving something particularly hearty so Emmanuel went to pick up some beef and onions and carrots, which he then seared before adding wine and letting everything simmer for several hours. The meal was really delicious but it was just a bit salty, so Mel was grateful that the potatoes balanced everything out nicely. We ate this reminiscing about our One Beachmont Apartment back in Boston and how it was one of the last meals Emmanuel made for friends before COVID hit and we moved out of the U.S.
Okonomiyaki
Presentation: 9.2 out of 10
Taste: 9.4 out of 10
A year-ish ago, we were exploring Japan, eating pretty much everything the country had to offer. During our time in Osaka, we came across a little alley with lots of tiny restaurants, one of which served okonomiyaki. We stood in line (for a VERY long time) but the food there was worth it, so Emmanuel decided to bring a bit of that magic back to the U.K. With crispy pork belly and dancing bonito flakes to top off the cabbage okonomiyaki, we ate everything alongside a small serving of udon noodles, which was a perfect way to transport ourselves back to the bustling streets of Japan.
Nanaimo Bars
Presentation: 9.4 out of 10
Taste: 9.7 out of 10
Emmanuel hadnât made Nanaimo Bars since our time in Boston, but after being reminded of this classic Canadian dessert while watching Schittâs Creek for the first time (thanks for the recommendation, @leah.fryer ), he decided it was time to whip up a batch (and an extra batch for the freezer, too). This no-bake treat has three decadent layers: a chocolate-coconut-graham base, a creamy custard filling, and a dark chocolate topping. Itâs one of Melâs favorite desserts, and they were just as yummy as they were back in Boston!
Kimchi Risotto
Presentation: 8.7 out of 10
Taste: 9.0 out of 10
Mel normally has mixed feelings about risotto â she really likes it but also feels that itâs a bit heavy after the first few bites, so Emmauel decided to add a bit of a twist to this classic Italian dish by adding kimchi to it. The tangy and spicy kimchi was able to help in cutting the richness of the risotto, creating a lovely balance within the dish. Topped with a soft-boiled egg and grilled asparagus, as well as crispy chicken skin, this dish ended up being a fun combination of textures and layers and flavor!
French Onion Soup
Presentation: 8.8 out of 10
Taste: 9.0 out of 10
Emmanuel chopped onions for a very long time to have enough to caramelize for French onion soup, something that Mel had been wanting for quite a while. The caramelization process took several hours, and Mel helped by stirring the onions every 10 minutes while watching JJK. Eventually, the onions cooked down (itâs surprising how much 12 onions will cook down to) and Emmanuel made the soup by deglazing the pan with wine and simmering everything with beef stock and aromatics. He then topped the soup with cheesy toasted bread and we had this meal, ensuring we wouldnât need to speak to anyone for fear of our onion breath.
Duck Noodle Soup
Presentation: 8.6 out of 10
Taste: 8.8 out of 10
One of the things Emmanuel made with the whole duck he bought during the Christmas holidays was a delicious broth using the leftover bones, simmering it with spices like garlic, ginger, sichuan peppercorns, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, star anise, coriander stems, and soy sauce. Then, when the broth was finally done cooking over several hours, he added noodles and vegetables to it in order to make a meal inspired by Thai duck noodle soup. This dish ended up being warm and hearty, and it was perfect for a cold and wintry evening.
Hwachae
Presentation: 7.1 out of 10
Taste: 8.3 out of 10
Though Hwachae is a traditional Korean fruit punch, it has found renewed popularity, thanks to a TikTok trend that has everyone raving about how itâs the cure to feeling dehydrated at 3 AM. A few weeks ago, Mel tried making hwachae at a friendâs house but it (unfortunately) wasnât very good. This time around, Emmanuel decided to actually look up proper ratios for the drink, and the result was a massive improvement with a balance of sweetness and refreshing-ness. This version of hwachae was loaded with a mix of fresh fruit and condensed milk in a bowl filled with strawberry milk and sprite â a perfect drink to enjoy these last few weeks of hot weather!
