ABC Cooking School :: Dutch Crust

I finished the basic bread course at ABC in the Spring and am now onto the Master Course. These breads are, in theory, more difficult than the basic set, but they're actually not that hard. Each month focuses on a thee or technique. July was French bread month, so obviously I made...Dutch Crust rolls? No matter, I love this bread. My dad would occasionally buy dutch crust rolls on the weekends for our weekly German brunches. 

So, to honor that tradition, the 6 Foot Eater and I made sandwiches for dinner after class. There's nothing like a sandwich made with right out of the oven bread. 

** Yes, that is another nickname change for the boyfriend formally known as Squidward and Blammo. He would like me to point out that he is actually 6'1". 

The Best Banh Mi in Tokyo

I've searched high. I've searched low and I can say with certainty, that the Banh Mi Sandwich shop in Takadanobaba is the best Banh Mi you'll find in Tokyo. The bread is baked fresh on site and they flavor their meats with a lot of lemongrass. Now, keep in mind, I didn't say these are the best banh mi sandwiches ever but definitely the best in Tokyo. For example, there's no pate and no hot peppers. I'm also pretty sure they use Korean kochujang instead of Sriracha. But hey, they do their best.

In any case, this place makes me happy and gets the job done. They also make desserts and breads you can buy to go.

Banh Mi Sandwich Takadanobaba (バインミーサンドイッチ　高田馬場）
新宿区高田馬場 4-9-18
畔上セブンビル101


* Take the Waseda exit at JR Takadanobaba Station, go left down the main street, take your frist left after the Becker's Cafe then a right down a small street/parking lot. Keep an eye out for the red awning.


* Be warned that they sell out fast and once they sell out, they're done for the day. Go early if you can. 

¡Holy Guacamole!

Waiting for a friend at Tully's and got tired of studying kanji. Now I'm clearing off my iPhone pix. Here's one from Chile.

Chicken Lomito with about a pound of smooshed avocados. I do believe this was my last meal in Santiago. Chile recap coming soon.

World Cup Treats

Once Mama's was knocked off my list, I moved on quickly to my (very close) second favorite SF establishment, Tartine. The line at Tartine actually isn't that bad. It moves quickly and there's lots to oggle at while you're standing around. Delicious buttery treats, inventive sandwiches, inappropriate morning cleavage and wannabes rolling their own cigarettes.

Thankfully my sister lives just down the street from the bakery (LUCKY GIRL) so we loaded up on some pastries and headed home for some World Cup soccer. Can it get any better?

The answer is an emphatic "FUCK YEAH!". How about a day in Inverness, CA with your best college gal pals? OK! My trip fortuitously coincided with my girlfriends' summer vacation week in Inverness, a mere 2 hours from my hometown. I trucked up to their rental early for breakfast and some USA soccer. It was the perfect day minus 3 things: 

1. The US lost. 

2. I cut my throat on an ambitious but delicious bacon pancake sandwich. 

3. It had to end. 

I mean, c'mon...we made peanut butter s'mores!!! And friendship bracelets!!!

Next?  The next morning, my cousin and her German husband came over bright and early to watch Germany embarrass England. My cousin was too nervous to watch so she whipped up fresh berry and peach crepes for everyone. This was a lovely start to a family BBQ day starring 30lbs of kalbi, ice cream, kimchi burgers and homemade apple pie.

Germany plays Spain today. Honestly, I like both teams but am CLEARLY rooting for Der Mannschaft.  What will I be eating? Considering the game is on at 3am in Japan...I'm just not sure but I do have one last piece of Baumkuchen in the fridge waiting to be eaten when Germany wins the World Cup!

Sandwich Party!

I really like options. Buffets, toppings and self-assembly parties are all the rage in my book. I didn't have a lot of birthday parties when I was younger (wah wah) but if I could go back and do it, I would do a blow out Sweet 16 with a make your own Sundae bar. Take that Heiress from Paris! Last night I was inspired by my roommate's recent trip to NY and was painfully jealous of all his yummy sandwich pictures. Tortas! Banh Mi! Pastrama on Rye oh my! It was painful. To remedy, I decided to buy a butt-load (that's a lot, btw) of sandwich ingredients and had sandwich party of my own.

I'm no sandwich rookie mind you. I became with subs while living in Seattle. (I love you Firecracker!) When I briefly lived in San Francisco, my sister and I got really serious about panini's thanks to my suggestion that my mom get a fancy panini press for her/us. I learned a lot in that brief year in SF Paniniland.

1. If you make a panini on a crunchy baguette, turn it upside down when you eat to avoid shredding up the inside of your mouth.

2. Spinach or arugula dressed in olive oil, salt and pepper make the best greens option.

3. You gotta have thinly sliced red onions.

4. Pesto spread makes everything better.

5. MAYO

Sandwich party was a success even though bread in Japan is depressing. It is so humid here that if you pick up a baguette, even if it is from a nice bakery, it looks like a flacid penis. Once you heat it up, it dried up and somewhat resembles real bread, but it's still a far cry from anything you could get in your regular grocery store in America.

Oh yeah, I also made smashed potatoes as a side from my new cookbook from COOK COOP. They were also tastey - a nice alternative to most potato chips. (But not these kind of potato chips...)