Moment: Last Night’s Dinner

Last night we took inspiration from this month’s Food and Wine feature and whipped up this delicious dish while listening to Lykke Li and enjoying how good it feels to be home after our adventures in Berlin and San Francisco. We declared it one of the best meals we’ve ever made.  The addition of the fresh limes at the end brighten the whole dish up and are a perfect contrast to the earthiness of the kale and beet greens.   Enjoy.

Red Rice with Sliced Sirloin Steak and Peas

1/2 cup red rice (see Note)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 ounces thinly sliced sirloin steak
1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
4 cups thinly sliced mixed dark leafy greens such as beet greens and kale
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen peas
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Lime wedges, for serving

1. In a small saucepan, cover the rice with the water and bring to a boil. Cover the saucepan and cook over low heat for about 25 minutes, until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed. Spread the rice out on a baking sheet and let cool.

2. In a skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook over moderately high heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the sirloin, season with salt and cook, turning once, until browned, 1 minute; transfer to a plate.

3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet. Add the onion and ginger and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the greens and stir-fry over high heat until wilted, about 1 minute. Stir in the rice and peas, then the soy sauce and steak and stir well. Season with salt and white pepper and transfer to a bowl. Garnish with the cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Make Ahead

The red rice can be prepared through Step 1 and refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days. Bring the cooked rice to room temperature before proceeding.

Notes

There are many varieties of red rice; Yu prefers Thai red cargo, which can be found at Asian markets and at Whole Foods.

moment: Ace Hotel PDX

On a recent trip to Portland, we made an evening out of a delicious dinner at Clyde Common and a late night photobooth session next door at The Ace Hotel.

Dinner:
-pork belly served on top of a fried green tomato, pocha beans and piccalilli
-roasted beets with potatoes, boiled eggs, pickled carrots and touch of fennel
-grilled flatiron steak accompanied by a smoked tomato relish
-roasted peach shortcake with a maple-bourbon ice cream and a dollop praline cream

Cocktail of choice:
East of Eden: Bombay Dry, lemon, elderflower liqueur, Gewurtzraminer reduction and an egg white served up

Summer perfection.

moment: Evan’s birthday brunch

On a perfect Tuesday morning we enjoyed:

Homemade Watermelon Agua Fresca
Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Siphoned Courier Coffee
Moo’s famous banana bread
Local blueberry scones
Chocolate chip scones with an espresso glaze
Olive oil granola
Local blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Creamy papas con chiles
Homemade tortillas!
Scrambled eggs with queso fresca
Carlton Farms Bacon
Pico de gallo
Guacamole