AUGUST 2011 UPDATE

It's time for a bargain basement update.

 Thanks to Ron and Gail for the tip about paella at Banco de Marina in Ciruelas, Alajuela. “Paella for two” costs about C9000 and is so large that the take home uneaten portion after two huge plates-full is enough for at least four more generous servings – it's tasty and redolent with shrimp, clams, octopus, pork and chicken. My wife has an aversion to peas and loves that this rendition is pea-free.

Hal is a fast food junkie. He touts the cole slaw and biscuits at KFC and Popeye’s. Yes we did try them and have the chutzpa to admit it. KFC’s biscuits and slaw were fine, but the slaw was a little too sweet for me. Popeye’s was a little less sweet. Both biscuits were great. I prefer the “Louisiana” spicier flavor of Popeye’s chicken over the Colonel’s. Popeye’s cocktail sauce served with fried shrimp actually has an appealing balance of horseradish and tomato. The only negative was an order of fried fish, so cardboard dry that I suspect freezer burn.

 My favorite Asian market is Sony in San Jose. Lovely Carolina, the daughter of the owners recommended Wong’s for dim sum. She was absolutely right when she said, “Their dishes are as good as anybody’s and their prices are a lot cheaper.” They are located at the base of the hill on Avenida One on the eastside of downtown San Jose just across the street from the arcade of artisan crafts and souvenir stalls that run between Paseo Colon and First Avenue. The sidewalk face of Wong’s is a little scruffy but the interior is clean and functional. We were there on a busy Saturday late morning and the dining room was full of smiling Asian faces. To my delight, servers wheeled carts loaded with steamer baskets and small plates among the diners. That’s the style in Honk Kong, Shanghai and my favorite places in San Francisco. We selected so many of their thirty different offerings for just the two of us that the surface of our large table disappeared beneath them. The steamed cha siu bao were perfect. The usual har gow, siu mai, fan gor, shrimp and scallion dumplings, noodle rolls, tiny spareribs, sesame balls and chicken feet were wonderful. Yes I actually do love chicken feet and their portion was huge and far tastier than the simple soy sauce version. It included just the right amount of five-spice. The hot sauce on the table was indeed hot. It was authentic – mashed chili peppers, fermented black beans and oil, not the usual commercial bottled stuff. When we waddled out smiling an hour and a half later, we got change from a ten-thousand-colon bill. There has been some talk that the government might try to appropriate the property. I hope they don’t.  

Ruth asked why I, a former cardiologist, never offer healthier alternatives to standard dishes. Her email coincided with this recipe from my past medical affiliate, Northern California Kaiser Permanente:  

Serves 6    Ingredients for a healthier hamburger:

1½ pounds ground turkey or beef (or a mixture of both)

10 ounces baby spinach leaves

zest of one lemon

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Fire up the grill. Sauté the spinach in olive oil until it wilts. In a large bowl, mix the turkey or beef, spinach, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper. You can make healthier quarter pounders using a half-cup measuring cup to get an equal amount per burger and flattening them on waxed paper. Grill the burgers until done. Serve them on whole-grain buns.

Nutrition Information Per Serving (does not include bun or additional toppings):
Calories: 183
Fat: 10 g
Saturated fat: 3 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg
Carbohydrate: 2 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sodium: 338 mg
Protein: 21 gm

If you want an even better nutritional profile, I suggest you substitute non-fat pan spray for the olive oil and serve the burger wrapped in a leaf of ice-burg lettuce rather than on a bun. Add unsweetened pickles or pickle relish and mustard instead of cheese, mayonnaise or catsup. If you choose all or part beef for the patty, look for the lower fat variety. If firing up the grill is a problem, use a non-stick skillet with the above-mentioned spray. Buen provecho.

 

Comments

[supra youth]

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