Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Potpourri

10 Feb 2021

Tết 2021: Not Your Grandma’s Bánh Chưng (Zoom Edition)

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For the ninth year running (check out previous festivities from 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019), the Banh Chung Collective gathered before Tet to make banh chung. It was a virtual affair given the pandemic, but the spirit of the event was as wonderful as ever.

The event kicked off with a soulful performance from Thao Nguyen of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down that set the tone for the day beautifully. The Astronomer and I were so deeply moved by the performance that we bought her latest album Temple right then and there.

Participants picked up supplies and ingredients beforehand at Proof and Yang’s Kitchen and then together over Zoom chef Diep Tran demonstrated how to make the banh chung.

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Potpourri

06 Nov 2020

Pandemic Prose

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Medan Kitchen - Photo by Wonho Frank Lee

One of the unexpected upsides of the past couple of months has been growing as a writer. Finding new angles and exploring unexpected stories while reporting on the restaurant industry has been a tremendous challenge and a much-needed distraction. Here are a few pieces that I’m proud to have penned:

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Restaurant Review

20 Oct 2020

Feasts From My Trunk: Taiwanese Breakfast, Cambodian Sausages, and More

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Not much has changed since last. With the pandemic running its course and the upcoming election looming in the not-so-distant future, I’m still trying to make sense of it all while seeking out moments of joy. Amid all the chaos of 2020, I’m truly grateful for the family, friends, and good food in my life. I’m also thankful for this 14-year-old blog and its community of readers, so thank you. Here’s a rundown of where I’ve been eating lately…

It’s hard to believe that Long Beach is the furthest I have traveled since March. Located on the corner of Anaheim and Obispo on the edge of Cambodia Town, A&J Seafood Shack is absolutely worth a trek for incredible Cambodian cooking.

On the surf side of the menu are fresh lobsters hacked and stir-fried with aromatics, along with garlic shrimp that rivals the trucks on Oahu’s North Shore.

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