Retro Food For Modern Times

Welcome back, time travellers! Today, we are journeying back in time to February 2005 and, concurrently, embarking on a culinary expedition across Asia. I am incredibly excited about this month’s culinary adventure because Asian cuisine holds a special place in my heart, with Thai, Malaysian and Japanese food being among my favourites. Furthermore, my blog favourite, Delicious Magazine, inspired today’s menu. Nevertheless, before we delve into the culinary delights it provides, let’s set the stage for our time-travelling feast.

What Was Hot – February 2005

Books

The fiction list contained the usual suspects of The Da Vinci Code and Five People You Meet in Heaven. However, the non-fiction list is, to my mind, a bit more interesting:

• Blink – Malcolm Gladwell
• Collapse – Jared Diamond
• Witness by Amber Frey

While both 1 and 2 sound really interesting, as someone who loves a true crime pod or ten, Witness was the one that caught my eye. Specifically, Amber Frey was one of the key prosecution witnesses in the case against Scott Peterson who was accused of killing his wife Laci. Therefore, this would be a fascinating read!

Movies

1. Hitch
2. Constantine
3. Diary of A Mad Black Woman

I haven’t seen any of these which either says something about them or me  If these are on your favourite film list/s please let me know.  I will give them a try!  How little I know about these film is exemplified by the fact that I thought Hitch was the film about Alfred Hitchcock!  Given that one came out in 2012 I may also not know much about time!

Music

1. Let Me Love You  – Mario
2. 1, 2 Step – Ciara featuring Missy Elliott
3. Soldier – Destiny’s Child Featuring T.I. & Lil Wayne

Ok, so I don’t know what I was doing in February 2005 but it was neither going to the movies nor listening to music.  I only remembered 2 songs in the Top Ten which were Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day and Since You’ve Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson.  

   The Menu

Lemongrass & Mint Tea

I positioned this herbal team at the beginning of the meal, but it would undoubtedly serve as an equally delightful palate cleanser or digestive at the meal’s conclusion. Furthermore, I enjoyed several cups of this beverage as an iced tea, finding it incredibly refreshing on a hot day. Either way, I encourage you to give this recipe a try as it is a delight!

Lemongrass and Mint Tea Recipe

Thai Style Egg Salad

I loved this.  It is simple and delicious with a bit of a deviled egg vibe.  It is also jam-packed with flavour.  This was a revelation!   It may not be an authentic Thai recipe but it was an absolute winner with me!

Thai Style Egg Salad Recipe

Chinese Duck Coleslaw

So this was a winner-winner duck dinner!  It’s was so bright and colourful!  Again, it was really easy as it uses a bought roast duck.  It was a perfect dinner on a hot summer day.  

Chinese Duck Coleslaw Recipe

Coconut and Lime Sorbet

You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ together
Put the lime in the coconut and you’ll feel better

After the disappointment of the blueberry gelato last month this was a surprising success.  I am saying it was surprising because with this…first you get the tangy lime…then you get the warmth of the cinnamon…then you get the creamy mellowness of the coconut.  It’s a triple whammy of delish!!!!

Coconut and Lime Sorbet Recipe

My Nigella Moment – Potato Salad with Sour Cream, Chives and Pancetta

For first-time readers, this refers to the moment at the end of Nigella Lawson’s cooking shows when she sneaks back to the fridge to have another bite of something delicious.  In the context of these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that may not fit with the overall menu theme but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share. 

I generally adore potato salad, but unfortunately, I found this particular rendition somewhat underwhelming. This recipe originated from a Jamie Oliver article that promised ‘lovely tweaks on the old classic.’  However, the purported ‘tweak’ was a topping of crouton-like fried breadcrumbs on a rather standard potato salad. I believe I understand Jamie’s intention – to introduce a textural contrast and inject some much-needed crunchiness into what is typically a rather soft salad.  

Nevertheless, in my opinion, the combination of carbs proved somewhat overwhelming. Moreover, the bread became disappointingly soggy the next day, completely negating the purpose of its inclusion.  To be honest, I would have preferred this salad without the bread altogether. I cannot emphasize this enough: for a truly exceptional potato salad, one cannot surpass the recipe by Rosanne Cash!

Have a wonderful week!