Hi Melissa, I have been seeing this girl for a month who loves spicy food, and I would like to make her a special homemade meal for her birthday. What is the best dish to cook for her? – Chris
Hi Chris, I would like to know what “kind” of spiciness your girl likes because there are several different kinds of spiciness in Chinese food. For example, Sichuan, arguably China’s most famous province for spicy food, is noted for its “numbing spice” (麻辣)—a spiciness that both numbs and ignites fires on the tongue at once. The people of Hunan, on the other hand, are known for their love for the aroma of fresh chilis, cooked in a “dry hot” style. This is called a fragrant spice (香辣). I think the best “numbing spicy dish” to cook for her is the Kong Bao Chicken (宮保雞丁). If she embraces a healthy lifestyle, Spicy Thai Papaya Salad is great. If a worst-case scenario occurs, the dish is too spicy, and she faints—break out your CPR mouth-to-mouth skills to rescue your beauty. If the dish is just right, a kiss and a hug will be the perfect side dish for any cooking date. Best of luck, Chris! 
Hi Melissa, I love sushi, but I always screw up the rice. Do you know any quick and easy way to make sushi rice? - Annette
Hi Annette, first, rice matters. What kind of rice do you have in your pantry? If you have jasmine, sticky, Calasparra, arborio, or basmati rice, NONE of them will work. They just won't. A friend of mine cooked basmati rice and wanted me to make sushi out of it. I tell you that rice is like a couple who is going to get a divorce. They just want to separate from each other no matter how hard I tried to squeeze them together. First, you need to get the right sushi rice. For some help, read my sushi shopping guide blog post. And then you need to wash the rice at least seven times until the water is not cloudy. Unfortunately, there is NO shortcut. It’s not like risotto or paella when you want the starch in the dish. Last but not least, a good rice cooker, such as a Zojirushi rice cooker, will make it all easy for you! Happy cooking, Annette!
I plan to go to Taiwan with my brother this summer, and I am a big fan of the Street Food series on Netflix. What do you think about “stinky tofu”? Where would you recommend getting that?
Hey Eduardo, This sounds exciting! Eating street food is one of my childhood memories! Unfortunately, I’ve NEVER developed a palate for stinky tofu. But I know of a place in Taipei called “Three Mother Stinky Pot (三媽臭臭鍋),” which was a popular place for stinky tofu when I was at the National Taiwan University. My favorite street food is the pork lotus bun. My go-to when I was in college was the “Blue House Lotus Bun (藍家刈包)” near school. I went there every week. You can even specify how “fatty” you want our pork for your lotus bun fillings. For me, a combination of lean and extra fat, AKA, 35% lean and 65% fat, is my weakness!
Are you single?
Hi Zachary, Yes, I am single but not ready to mingle!
Hi Melissa,
I always get overwhelmed by the wine menu every time I go to a restaurant, so I just follow the color pairing guideline: white meat with white wine, red meat with red wine. Is this the rule of thumb? Could you recommend one or two kinds of wine that will go well with anything, and still show that I have taste at a business dinner?
– Vladimir
Hi Vladimir, I hear you! Don’t worry too much about this. Since you know the color pairing guideline, you’re already ahead of the game! The reason red wine typically pairs well with red meat is that red wine tends to be higher in tannins. Tannins are a good complement to the rich fattiness that can be found in red meat. White wine pairs with seafood because there are no tannins from white wine, and it has a higher acidity to brighten a seafood dish. However, it doesn’t mean you can never break the rule. Pinot noir is light in tannins and can pair well with some heavier seafood dishes, such as paella, seafood cassoulet, cioppino, or bouillabaisse. Now, sake is getting more and more popular in the states. Sake pairs well with BOTH seafood and red meat! In Japan, there is a saying: “Sake never fights with food.” There is higher umami in sake than white wine. It pairs well with any food that’s high in umami because umami + umami = more umami!
Hi Melissa,
Do you know about Getaway? I booked a house for my family trip with our two young kids this summer, but I have no idea how to cook with the limited kitchen equipment. Do you have any smart ideas?
– YinWen
Hi YinWen, Yes! I know GetAway. I took my ex-boyfriend there to celebrate his 49th birthday. He is only 65% hip, so he was a bit shocked when he found out we were going to sleep in a trailer. Nevertheless, we had a BLAST! I burned the omelet for breakfast, and the steak for dinner was a bit overcooked, but he didn’t care at all. One thing that I always want to remind people of is cooking is the labor of love. A showstopping dinner doesn’t guarantee happiness. Think about what you can do to create memories, such as sparklers for your children when they play outside the Getaway house. Or something simple, such as marshmallows and a campfire to make s’mores. You can use the induction cooktop to melt chocolate and make strawberry chocolate fondue. If you have time, marinate some steak or chicken thighs, which are wonderful for grilling. If not, the marinated meat from Wegmans or Whole Foods will totally work. A charcuterie board with cheese, jam, and crackers, is the perfect appetizer. Have fun, relax, and spend quality time with them at your Getaway house. You will love it!
Hi Melissa,
I plan to go to Taiwan with my brother this summer, and I am a big fan of the Street Food series on Netflix. What do you think about “stinky tofu”? Where would you recommend getting that?
– Eduardo
Hi Eduardo, This sounds exciting! Eating street food is one of my childhood memories! Unfortunately, I’ve NEVER developed a palate for stinky tofu. But I know of a place in Taipei called “Three Mother Stinky Pot (三媽臭臭鍋),” which was a popular place for stinky tofu when I was at the National Taiwan University. My favorite street food is the pork lotus bun. My go-to when I was in college was the “Blue House Lotus Bun (藍家刈包)” near school. I went there every week. You can even specify how “fatty” you want our pork for your lotus bun fillings. For me, a combination of lean and extra fat, AKA, 35% lean and 65% fat, is my weakness!
Hi Mel,
Are you single?
– Zachary
Hi Zachary, Yes, I am single but not ready to mingle!
Hi Mel,
Are you single?
– Zachary
Hi Zachary, Yes, I am single but not ready to mingle!
Hi Melissa,
I plan to go to Taiwan with my brother this summer, and I am a big fan of the Street Food series on Netflix. What do you think about “stinky tofu”? Where would you recommend getting that?
– Eduardo
Hey Eduardo, This sounds exciting! Eating street food is one of my childhood memories! Unfortunately, I’ve NEVER developed a palate for stinky tofu. But I know of a place in Taipei called “Three Mother Stinky Pot (三媽臭臭鍋),” which was a popular place for stinky tofu when I was at the National Taiwan University. My favorite street food is the pork lotus bun. My go-to when I was in college was the “Blue House Lotus Bun (藍家刈包)” near school. I went there every week. You can even specify how “fatty” you want our pork for your lotus bun fillings. For me, a combination of lean and extra fat, AKA, 35% lean and 65% fat, is my weakness!
Hi Melissa,
Clam chowder or lobster roll for the first time tourist in Boston?
– Suzuki
Hey Suzuki! Welcome to Boston! Are you a fan of Junichi Tazawa? Oh! This is a hard one… I can’t choose since I LOVE both! You MUST have both. My go-to for clam chowder and a lobster roll is at Even Tide in Fenway. Yay! (Go watch a Red Sox game after the meal. And never wear a Yankee hat, okay?) The bun for the lobster roll at Even Tide is an Asian-style steam bun. It's insanely delicious because it absorbs all the juice from the warm butter lobster meat. Their clam chowder is also delicious, but their lobster stew (made with coconut milk) is to die for. Oh, and don’t forget the oysters with kimchi ice shavings!
Dear Melissa,
High holidays are hard for me since I am not hungry for food. I am hungry for love.
– King
Hi King, I hear you. Thanks for sharing your feelings with me. I don’t know if you’re going through the grieving process of ending a relationship, or if you have been single for a while. All I can say is to stay optimistic and embrace the different seasons of life. When you’re single, enjoy your alone time and focus on what you can do to make yourself a better person. For example, you can practice cooking or baking and become a better cook! You can use this as an excuse to invite friends or neighbors over. Food is the best ice breaker. I’ve been the most popular guest among my friends since I can cook! Dating is like parking. You only need one spot. Be patient! The “one” usually shows up when you’re not looking.
