Sunday, September 22, 2013

North Jersey Foodventure #1: Bhoj

So after living here in Elmwood Park, NJ for quite a while, I started my own list of foodventure destinations in North Jersey (and possibly New York City). My first stop is right in town: Bhoj Indian Restaurant.

This humble joint is kinda easy to miss to its location. It's right on the corner of a shopping complex without any huge sign. Anyhow, once you enter in, you won't even feel like you're in Elmwood Park. It was really quiet for a Saturday lunch, with Indian folk music playing in the backdrop. There were only one server (could've been the son of the owner) who seated me right away as I entered, served me water, and gave me the go-ahead for the buffet table.

There were about 10 entrees selections+salad with various Indian dressing. As how it is with any other buffet, I like to try a little bit of everything then come back for two or three I love the most. At first, I was kinda puzzled not being able to find the naan on the buffet table. "What would an Indian meal be without it?"  thought. But surprise surprise, the server brought a bucket of fresh-from-the-oven naan to my table! The fact that they only serve the freshest naan is quite a luxury to me.


What I'd totally recommend are the butter chicken, tandoori chicken, and the variety of dals. I guess I also hit the jackpot that day because they had my favorite snack bhel phuri, as well as dessert: gajar halwa.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

What I've Been Up To Post-Graduation + Pad See Ew

So I haven't really updated this blog for a while and you might wondered what's been going on with my life post my graduation from Drexel. It's been hectic, but well, here's a brief version of the run down:

  1. Traveled to Niagara Falls, took my family sight-seeing in NYC, Washington DC, Atlantic City, PA Dutch County, and Philly
  2. After 1 online test, 1 video interview, 2 on-site interviews all within 2 weeks, landed a job in Elmwood Park, NJ
  3. Relocated temporarily to Rutherford, NJ then moved to a really awesome apartment with a really awesome roommate in Elmwood Park, NJ (3 minutes walk from church, 10 minutes walk to work, I really can't ask for a better place)

Now that I've finished school and started working, I have more time to do more domesticated stuffs. Yeah, like cooking. Living outside a city is no excuse not to cook Asian anyway. I happened to visit Flushing, NY which was like the 2nd Chinatown in NY and stopped by Hong Kong Supermarket. Not as awesome of a shopping experience that I used to have at 1st Oriental Supermarket in Philly, but for now it will do.

What's cooking, you asked? Thai food is!

Pad See Ew

Ingredients:
1 lb. wide, flat Chinese rice noodle
0.5 lb. firm tofu, diced
4 tsp. light soy sauce
A bunch of scallions, or any greens you love, chopped
3-4 Tbsp. oil
6 cloves minced garlic
3 Tbsp.  thick soy sauce
3 tsp. sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature
3 tsp. white pepper

Directions:
1) Soak rice noodle in warm water for over 1 hour. Drain well.


2) Meanwhile, you can prep the other ingredients. Mince the garlic, dice the tofu, chopped the veggies.


3) Heat oil in a wok. Saute in garlic until fragrant.


4) Add tofu. Stir until tofu is golden cooked.


4) Toss in noodle, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Saute and flip the noodle until evenly coated in soy sauce. Add veggies and continue sauteing


5) Sprinkle sugar. Flip evenly.
6) Push mixture to the side to make room for egg. Wait until the egg is nearly cooked, then scramble lightly, breaking it into chunks as you toss the noodles


7) Sprinkle pepper and toss evenly. Serve.

Tadaa..! What a treat after weeks of surviving first job, moving in-and-out a hotel, and finally moving into a new apartment. I'm so thankful of where I am today :)