Having traveled in Asia quite a bit in our household we love having access to authentic Asian cooking provisions in Boulder. There is a funny little strip mall in which resides a small Asian market, an Indian shop and a Mexican bakery. I frequent the Asian shop for supplies, fresh produce or just to poke around. The owner makes fabulous Sesame Balls (large round balls with sweet sesame paste in the middle, deep fried with sesame seeds covering the outside; gluten free) and recently a Vietnamese New Year roll. It took me a long time to work up the courage to speak to the owner. She’s a bit abrupt and I felt like I might be infiltrating a cultural domain to haul my white girl self in there, unsure I was completely welcome.
8 Precious Pudding and Happy Dragon Cocktail
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Lana says
I applaud your determination, planing, and sense of adventure! No wonder you always amaze us with your creativity!
I wish I had visited San Francisco's Chinatown at the time when it was not so touristy, but I feel lucky to have ever visited it.
BTW, I was born in the year of the Dragon, but I am not that self-assured, not at all conceited, and not in the least tactless:) Those are some other dragons!
PolaM says
What a complex undertaking! But the result seem like it is really worth it!
[email protected] German Kitchen...in the Rockies says
Toni, you made me laugh. I could visualize and also hear the store keeper talk. So did you ever bring her a slice of the dessert? If, so, I would be curious to know what she thought of the American version of this traditional pudding.
The pudding looks a lot more complicated than the recipe reads. It looks pretty straight forward.
By the way, I am a fire goat and you?
monique says
I love that you reached into your childhood and over came your fears in talking to the owner – all resulting in an amazing dish. Nice Swap!
CS says
Holy cow, Toni, PHOTO JACKPOT!!!
I know I always say this, but you have outdone yourself! I especially love the third one, with the pudding centered and tangerines on the margins …..
I might be biased since I am born in year of the Dragon. Over the top, my friend! These photos make me want to wear all the colors in them all year. This might be my favorite post of yours to date! THANK YOU for all the work and skill and enthusiasm you put into them.
Lizzy Do says
What an adventure you went on to make this beautiful cake! So full of history and lore, just perfect for the upcoming new year. And I think I'd need a couple cocktails if I actually found all the ingredients and made one as lovely as yours!!!
Shumaila says
OMG you did go through a lot of work for this swap! That is some dedication and a true mark of a good cook! Loved reading about your pursuits and it looks like it paid off!
Kim Bee says
You totally blew me away with this one. I feel like a slacker now. Lol! I applaud you for going out on a limb. It can be so hard to do when ingredients are hard to find. I run into that here often. The area I live in is behind the times when it comes to cuisine. You adapted this beautifully. The pictures are stunning.
Claire says
Another beautiful post – the pictures are gorgeous and the food and drink look just amazing. Thanks for sharing and all the effort! cx
The Cozy Herbivore says
This is absolutely GORGEOUS. I love the flight of fancy you took with the original recipe, and I loved reading about your adventures in putting this dish together! It looks amazing, I can't wait to try it! Thank you, as always, for your out-of-the-box loveliness!
PS My mouth is watering now too, thanks to your mention of Pao. Mmmmm… we have a small Chinatown here in Philly, but everytime I go past I can't resist getting me some red bean Pao.
Julia says
Just last night my husband and I were talking about making a trip to SF this spring. If we go, I KNOW I'll be searching high and low for a dish like this. It looks super good and I need to try it! Happy Chinese New Year!
Rachel says
I can tell that this dessert is really worth the effort! All those gorgeous fruits on top and the exotic, albeit slightly Americanized, ingredients sound fabulous. I can picture the little grocery store and the woman who helped you with the recipe perfectly : )
Camilla ~ Caffay Way says
I love rice pudding and I will for sure give this a try sometime. I also enjoyed your story of the year of the dragon, and your childhood! You had me clicking around and finding my year… I am a horse, and my year will be 2014 🙂
alex says
I love the story. I love the recipe. I love the whole thing!
Connie Findley says
I love your story of communicating with the shop owner. You perfectly captured how I feel whenever I go into an Asian store, but you're obviously braver than I am. Cool dish!
ping says
I swear you're more Chinese than I am. I wouldn't even dare try this … actually I never knew something like this even exists. I've always thought this 8 treasures thingy was a savoury dish. But I guess in different parts of Asia, there'll be different versions of this. I like this one tho. Looks seriously good. Very impressive indeed! So, here's wishing you a very happy Chinese New Year! 😀
Kiri W. says
This looks wonderful – I recently was in China for my honeymoon, and loved the steamed desserts and jellies. Lotus seeds are a wonderful thing!
Julia says
You can find fresh lychees in Boulder when they are in season (don't remember when but I think maybe summer). Look for them at Vitamin Cottage and Whole Foods. They are lusciously unbelievably good fresh.
Shari says
This looks amazing – amazing, amazing, amazing – you always do go above and beyond. Shari from http://www.goodfoodweek.blogspot.com
Burwell General Store says
Hahah!!! LOVE it! What an endeavor… it's always a pleasure to read your posts!
Christine's Pantry says
This looks so good. Nice photos.
Toni (Boulder Locavore) says
The Dusty Baker: You are too much! Thank you! I loved your swap post too.
Christine: Thank you!
Burwell General Store: Fortunately it was not the endeavor my Asian store owner would have me believe it was! Thanks for your kind words and for organizing this great effort every month.
Kiri: How fabulous! The desserts in Asia are often so different than those recreated here. Certainly this is an Americanized version (even 'Colorado'icized' version) but it's worth making. It's very unique and delicious.
Shari: Thank you!
Connie: I plucked up some nerve and now find the owner charming and a bit like a character from Seinfeld.
Sabrina: You probably have a chance to either find an authentically made version or a better number of authentic ingredients to make it due to your geography. Do let me know if you do!
Alex: Thank you!
Camilla: Isn't the horoscope part fun? I marvel at what seem like broad sweeping characterizations….and yet how true they are in most cases!
Sabrina Modelle says
Oh, I love Chinese New Year, and you know I love me some Asian markets. Toni, your story, as always, is fantastic. I have never had this pudding, but it sounds really delightful. Perhaps we'll have to try it during Lunar New Year. Thank you for sharing.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
You did weave a bit far off center but that's the fun part of this…whatever inspires you!
What a great tribute to your personal history.
thedustybaker.com says
Toni you're KILLING ME THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! What a gorgeous dish and take on the swap. Breathtaking, really. I want to eat and drink and eat and drink again! And you are far braver than I in asserting your “I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS DISH” insistence on getting as traditional ingredients as possible. I confess to being quite shy about that 🙂 Lovely, lovely, lovely.