Obanyaki: mini stuffed pancakes These puffed-up Japanese pancakes open up to reveal delicious interiors. Custard or red bean paste is often used as a filling inside the round treats. They're quite similar to taiyaki, except without the stylized fish shape. Though they're often eaten for dessert, tweaked recipes make them more savory by inserting meat, vegetables, or curry. Want to see how they're cooked? Fun fact: They're named after the Oban coin. … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday First: Aebleskivers
I ate my first... Aebleskivers: Danish pancake balls A few hours away from Los Angeles lies Solvang, a Danish-American community. Its name translates to sunny meadow. Immigrants from Denmark established themselves here, partially because of the local folk school, where cultural traditions and other skills were taught. Aebleskivers are traditional pastries made around Christmas. They are cooked in a special pan with hemispherical indentations. Once they bubble up, the pancakes are turned … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Frog Cake
Frog cake: frog-shaped pancakes Spring is here. Flowers burst into bloom, and life abounds. Did you know that some species of frogs start singing with the rise of warm temperatures? In honor of this season, I'm doing a quick post on frog cakes that we ate at Taipei Zoo. They are classic vanilla-flavored pancakes with a cream filling, a little bit like taiyaki. I think they taste even more delicious because of their cute animal shape. Happy spring! … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Thousand-Layer Pancake
Thousand-layer pancake: fluffy and layered carb treat Tired of traditional pancakes? How about having multi-tiered ones? I first ate these because I loved their intricate designs (kind of like how I'm in awe of the weaves in funnel cakes). In texture, they're similar to scallion pancakes. They're chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside (except they're not inundated with green onions). Since they lack much flavor, I prefer their crusty cousin: roti. (I love dipping roti in curry … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Coconut Pancake
Coconut pancake: Asian pancake with shredded coconut I never had this dish until I tried it at a local restaurant. It's a pancake filled with shredded coconut and sesame seeds. The crust is the hearty kind, not at all like a crepe or the IHOP breakfast variety. Inside, there's an intriguing tropical flair with the mashed coconut concoction. The sesame seeds balanced out the taste well, but overall I felt that the pancake was a bit too sweet. … [Read more...]