The Seventh Daughter - Cecilia Chiang

Shares her Culinary Journey from Beijing to San Francisco



To be honest, I had never heard of Cecilia Chiang until my friend, the food-writer Amanda Berne, whom I first met three years ago when she interviewed me for an article about food bloggers in the San Francisco Chronicle, left the paper to work for Ten Speed press and edit Chiang's book, The Seventh Daughter. [Yes, before you rib me for it, that is the longest sentence I have ever written on this blog.]

Had Amanda stayed on in California to finish her task instead of moving to New York City, which is what happened instead, no doubt would she have forced a copy of this book upon me, insisting it was a present from a friend, not a press copy (which she knew would have gone against my carefully guarded blogging policies). Amanda had also promised me that if she was allowed a guest, I would be the one who would accompany her to a launch party for the book. Amanda clearly enjoyed working with Chiang and was certain I, too, would delight in meeting such a spirited octogenarian. I was looking forward to it. Until Amanda blew me off and moved to the opposite coast.

Fast forward several months and I read somewhere that The Seventh Daughter had finally been published. Despite having little connection with Chinese food, and not immediately understanding the influence Chiang had on the restaurant industry, particularly in California, I decided to go ahead and buy myself a copy. The purchase was mainly out of solidarity to the dear friend I miss. I hoped that reading a book she edited would allow me to enjoy a little piece of the Amanda I don't get to see so often these days.

Despite being a insatiable bookworm in my youth, these days I procrastinate too much to read. I tire easily. I often start a book I never finish or otherwise torture myself by eking out a heavy tome at a rate of one page a day until I realise it will take me a good part of a decade before I can move on to a new read.

Not so with The Seventh Daughter. This book, despite flitting back and forth between past and present, drew me in immediately. Cecilia Chiang's life is so irresistibly fascinating and so far removed from anything within the bounds of my own experiences, I could not fail to be charmed and intrigued by it.

I don't want to give away Chiang's startling story, I just need to let you know it is out there, begging to be read. And as if the story of her life's journey wasn't enough, the book is peppered with the recipes that mark her life. I thought Chinese cooking wasn't really my thing but maybe all I needed was a little inspiration...




?Did you ever eat at The Mandarin? I'd love to hear about it from Chiang's past customers?

Archives
2007 | One of the most important posts I wrote last year
2006 | Ms Glaze's Pommes d'Amour
2004 | Nettle Fettucini

© 2008 Sam Breach

The Seventh Daughter - Cecilia Chiang

from Sacramento to Santa Cruz

Is there anyone out there who doesn't have a food-related blog these days?

Digest This! - Yelp restaurant reviews, favorite recipes, thoughts on wine and cocktails, and plenty of other errata regarding the gastric delights

The Peanut Butter Boy - Peanut Butter is a highly effective hair gel

Food Gal Carolyn Jung - Musings on food, wine, laughter and life

The Gourmet Pig - soon to be a Porker

Something Sweet - Because baking is clearly different from cooking

Do Better - The journey of an ordinary housewife doing better

Paajaka - Indian, vegetarian, food recipes

TasteFood - a culinary journey beginning and ending at the kitchen table





?Why don't you have a food blog too?

Archives
2006 | Johnny Walker Journey of Taste Revisited
2004 | Egg sandwiches (before blogger had pictures)

© 2008 Sam Breach

from Sacramento to Santa Cruz

Dining Outside in San Francisco

It's going to be sweltering today, you might be needing this...


View Larger Map

I found this link to map of outdoor restaurants in the Bay area in the comments section of Michael Bauer's blog post yesterday on the same subject. This map was created and shared by an SFGate reader with the handle 'djflux'.

It seemed like a lot of hard work was employed in creating this map, so I hope djflux doesn't mind that I am sharing it here too. In his comment he said:

"Here's a Google Maps listing I've been working on for a little while that has restaurants/cafes/bars/lounges with outdoor patio seating. I'm eschewing sidewalk seating in favor of patio seating because most establishments only have a few tables on the sidewalk and I'm more in favor of nice, big, secluded outdoor spaces tucked behind the facade. If you have any more suggestions please let me know-- as you can see, most of them are in San Francisco but I'd ideally like to expand it to all around the Bay! You can leave a comment on the maps page."

All credit goes to djflux, thank you, stranger. Enjoy the heatwave!




?Where is YOUR favourite outdoor dining spot in the Bay Area?


© 2008 Sam Breach

Dining Outside in San Francisco

Things I'd Like to Share

Today marks what would have been the 42nd birthday of my teenage best friend, Sheena. Sheena, who lost her swift battle with cancer last Autumn, was in my mind throughout today. Along with others, mutual friend Karen, affectionately known as 'Wurzel' is taking part in A Race For Life in my home town of Bristol this coming weekend where she is hoping to raise £100.00 to help Cancer Research UK fund its into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. Today I made a donation in Sheena's memory to help Karen achieve her goal. She's almost there, but needs just a little bit more. If you would like to help Karen too, please visit her web page.

When our lives are touched by the sadness a disease like cancer can cause, it is comforting to be able to share our experiences with others. One blogger who is very special to me is Barbara, from Winos & Foodies, in Australia. In support of Lance Armstrong's Live Strong Campaign, Barbara founded A Taste of Yellow in 2007. This year 179 bloggers joined Barbara in making, eating and writing aout all kinds of delicious foods with a yellow element to help raise awareness about cancer. For my official entry I posted about Oeufs Mayonnaise but actually I had made second yellow item too. Pictured above are Alice Medrich's Very Tangy Lemon Bars which were turned out quite well despite the fact I mistakenly baked them in a larger than recommended baking pan resulting in bars that were thinner than they should have been. In culinary terms, the revelation that came with making this recipe was in the crust. I didn't know that pastry could be so easy and successful. You, yourself, can check out Alice's marvellous crust-making methodology because the recipe is replicated online here.

Please head over to Barbara's Taste of Yellow 2008 roundup to share with the Yellow experiences of hundreds of other bloggers from all over the world:

- A Taste of Yellow, 2008, Roundup Part #1

- A Taste of Yellow, 2008, Roundup Part #2





I will leave you, today, with a picture of a bench that was dedicated to Sheena's memory just a few weeks ago in Wales. Peter Hutchison, a man I have never met, but who found me through my blog because he also shared a connection with Sheena wanted to share the following image and words...


Today on a dull afternoon, later to turn wet, a number of the Gower Society Committee and a larger number of the Gower Society Youth Action group gathered to dedicate a bench in the Ilston Quarry Nature Reserve to Sheena's memory. It is a very nice bench in a very nice spot that Sheena took us to now and again.

Sheena was a magical youth leader and the children adored her. My favourite memory is of her dancing by King Arthur's Stone (a local cromlech,) in a frock that purported to be an imitation of a very old design.

I have never met anyone like her and we miss her at our GSYA meetings. To the children I think it was "Sheena's Club"

Peter Hutchison


© 2008 Sam Breach

Things I'd Like to Share

Sixty Nine

Dollars



Today I got out of the Farmers' Market for $69:
2 organic navel oranges - 2 organic lemons - 1lb organic Straus butter - 1 squoodgy Buffalo mozzarella - a large bunch of basil - 2 gleaming organic little gems - a bunch of beautiful dirty organic radishes - an organic cauliflower - a bunch of organic leeks - handfuls of favas - sturdy stalks of rhubarb - organic King trumpet mushrooms - half a pound of grass fed beef skirt steak - an avocado - a pain epi - two croissants - three punnets brimming with Swanton's wonderful strawberries.

Things left over from last week I can add to the mix:

milk - cream - eggs - celery - onions - carrot - shallots - cheese - guanciale

what I am, perhaps, thinking about:

stewed rhubarb and strawberries - orange caramel strawberries - classic ragu and homemade taglietelle - simple salad with French-style vinaigrette - Paul Bertolli's cauliflower soup - roasted mushrooms with mozzarella and basil - favas roasted whole in their pods.

I don't know about you, but I do this every Saturday - you know - make up all sorts of ambitious, delicious-sounding plans for the produce I've just bought. It never seems to turn out quite how I imagine though. I wonder how many of this week's ideas will actually end up on my dinner plate?

Either way, I think I need a nap before I get to work in the kitchen...




?What did you buy at the market today and what are you thinking about doing with your bounty?

Archives
2007 | In My Fridge
2005 | Tapeo B, San Rafael, Now closed

© 2008 Sam Breach

Sixty Nine

Dogpatch: Moshi Moshi to Open on Sundays

4pm - 9pm, starting May 4th

The Dogpatch dwellers' favourite Sushi spot, Moshi Moshi will start serving dinner on Sundays from May 4th. This news was given to customers this week by the restaurant's owner, pictured above on a Third Street T-Line poster, and lovingly known to the locals as Mits. Just look at that smile! Mits is perpetually a gracious host. It is one of those rare restaurants in that everyone, staff and the varied mix of customers alike, are always in a friendly, happy mood.

Maybe it's because, from time to time, Mits will offer a gift of some free sake, a random display of hospitality that is not just reserved for regulars. On Tuesday I witnessed a group of four huddling inside the doorway perusing the menu and uhm-ing and ahh-ing over whether they should eat their dinner at Moshi Moshi. Finally they decided no, apologising that they had changed their mind. Without showing disappointment or even trying to persuade them otherwise, Mits simply insisted they should join him for a cup of complimentary sake whilst they wait for their cab. Witnessing his sweet gesture gladdened my heart.

Moshi Moshi is a truly welcoming spot that is long established in the recently gentrifying neighbourhood of Dogpatch. Mits isn't resting on his laurels, however and over the years we have been seeing gradual and welcome improvements that can mean a visit can still have its surprises - even for those who have been there perhaps over 50 times. The outside patio has been spruced up, twinkling star lights have been hung from the windows, the addition of a simple but stylish drape has made the entry-way more welcoming and in the last couple of weeks soy sauce is now being presented in dedicated vessels instead of the bottles they came in. The menu, too, always has something new to discover, especially when you consider the constantly changing specials board. Drinks-wise, a wider range of sakes, and a flight has even been added, cocktails are now making a mark and top shelf liquors like Hangar One are available too.

From the food menu, I have my personal favourites, depending on my mood, but I always have to include fresh salmon in the shape of a sake bomb (less rice, a little ginger). Other edibles often on my own personal radar include the piping hot, crisp shrimp tempura, the small and simple avocado maki, the vegetarian 'sweetheart' with aged tofu and sweet chili sauce or the 'geisha' a spicy tuna maki deep fried in tempura batter and served with a dab of hot sauce, when I need something a little more bold. Fred often has a pork chop salad (double sauce) whenever he feels the need for salad, but his preferred meal at Moshi is simply a serving of their Gyoza followed by... wait for it... a serving of their Gyoza.

Moshi Moshi caters for everyone. Old, young, couples, groups, singles, cops, those who fear sushi (Fred & my mum), vegetarians, vegans (I heard that a well-know vegan restaurant had their Holiday party catered by Moshi Moshi), meat eaters, sports fans (they show games on a TV at the bar), USCF workers, students and more. Whoever you are, you'll find a warm welcome at Moshi Moshi. Dogpatch is lucky to have Mits.

Already good value, Mits told me there would be 50% off food at this Sunday's launch, joking that a voucher would be given to customers if they run out of space or food. Don't say I didn't warn you it might be busy at Moshi Moshi this coming Sunday...

Moshi Moshi 2092 3rd St
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 861-8285




?Have you been to Moshi Moshi? What's your favourite dish?
Local Resources
My mum liked Moshi Moshi
A visit to Moshi Moshi before I even lived in the hood

© 2008 Sam Breach

Dogpatch: Moshi Moshi to Open on Sundays

The Story Unfolds: Animated! Cookie Tray

Yesterday I posed a 'What Am I' mystery object challenge. Many of my readers clearly already know about this wondrous little gadget. For those of you who were in the dark, I hope with this little animation I prepared, it all becomes clear.

I picked this tray up at Lovejoy's Tea Room for the reasonable price of $18. Lovejoys, for those of you who don't know, is a quirky little teashop in Noe Valley with mismatched china where you can enjoy an afternoon tea of little sandwiches, scones, fruit, crumpets and cake. It's really fun - one for the ladies. Out of the six of us who met there on Sunday, half of us also went home with one of those darling unfolding cookie trays...




Other Resources & Further Reading

Lovejoy's by The Grub Report

Featured cookies are Nibbly Whole Wheat Butter Cookies from Alice Medrich's Pure Dessert.

Other Nibbly Butter Cookie Fans:
Not Derby Pie
101 Cookbooks



© 2008 Sam Breach

The Story Unfolds: Animated! Cookie Tray

What Am I?

Archives
2005 | As the Bar Flies

© 2008 Sam Breach

What Am I?

Time for some Links, Methinks

Serving Up San Francisco Bay Area Food Blogs since March 2005

Brandon Brown's Mama said start a food blog and it's called Supper
Local Chef [here maybe?] Gregory Clausen writes Greg's World on a Plate
Like me, Lulu LaMer works in Videogames and blogs about food. Bitter Greens.
Leah Bradley writes at Slow Food Taste Life
I think could get on with these people: Tour of Meat
Dara's wisdom for your kitchen can be found at The Sage Table
A 23-year-old badass with a refined taste: Metropolis Devoured

Surf's up, catch a good one...



PS. In the market for affordable food art? I just hung my new Mattson painting on the wall and I am in love with it. By coincidence it also reminded me of this photograph by Jen Maiser taken at an old favourite haunt. It never even crossed my mind the painting would match my appliances so perfectly.




Archives
2007 | A Thoroughly Modern English Dinner Party
2006 | English Dessert Recipes
2005 | Pin-Up-Boy spices up the Chicken Tikka in my Kitchen

© 2008 Sam Breach

Time for some Links, Methinks

Sussex Pond Pudding for St George's Day

Here's one I made earlier [this year]:


Today is England's National Day [you know, the one that nobody celebrates or even remembers the date of], St Georges Day. This English pudding, containing a whole lemon and brown sugar was made using chopped fresh beef suet using a recipe from Jane Grigson who calls it: "The best of all English Boiled Suet Puddings... The name of the pudding refers to the sauce, which runs out of it, when it is turned onto a serving dish, and provides it with a moat of butter brown liquid."




?How are you celebrating St George's Day?

Archives
2007 | To Celebrate St George's Day, 65 people from all over the world insist that English Food is Not A Joke Because...

2006 | An English Tea Party for St George's Day with live Flickr Photo Set.

© 2008 Sam Breach

Sussex Pond Pudding for St George's Day