Monday, October 30, 2023

Cheng Can Cook: Ginger Pork Recipe ★★★

Japanese Comfort Food. Easy to cook. I don't recommend adding eggplant to it after trying it, because it changes the texture and consistency of the dish. Adding onion (sauté before adding pork) will add some sweetness to the dish. Recipe below.


Recipe: (from allrecipes)
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Sake
2 Tbsp Mirgin
1 Tbsp Grated Fresh Ginger Root
1 lb. Thinly Sliced Pork Loin
3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

Directions:
1. Mix together soy sauce, sake, mirin, & ginger in a large bowl until combined.
2. Add Sliced Pork. Stir to coat. Marinate for about 1 hour.
3. Heat oil in large skilled or wok over high heat. Sauté pork in hot oil until browned and cooked through. Discard marinate.

Tip: Optional to add some kind of chili oil in the end. Also optional to add thinly sliced shiso leaf as garnish. Eat with rice.
P.S. Some people coat pork with corn starch before cooking.

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Oak & Coal@Costa Mesa ★★★

Nice Izakaya in OC. Great cocktails. Brussels Sprouts were my all-time favorite. Their Oak's Famous Garlic Noodles is a must. Can skip the shrimp add-on and go for the veggie-only option. They used to waive corkage fee from the wine shop next door to support local business, but our server did not seem to know about it. Otherwise, wine corkage fee is $20. They also used to have Sunday Happy Hour but not anymore. It gets pricey, especially without Happy Hour. Free parking in lot.

Unagi & Crispy Rice $15
crispy rice, eel, jalapeño, micro leek

Yuzu Charcoal Cocktail $16 (special order)

Brussels Sprouts $12
blistered, bonito flakes, spicy mayo

Salmon Yellowtail Hand Rolls $20 (special)

New Zealand Lamp Chops (2 pcs) $18
shiso, yuzu kosho

Snake River Wagyu Beef (3 pcs) $26
tare basting, yuzu kosho

Oak's Famous Garlic Noodles $26
wild shrimp, bonito sake butter, shimeji mushroom

Oak & Coal
333 E 17th St Ste 2
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 287-6150
oakandcoalcm.com