Building an Asian Wok Kitchen

I am so thrilled to let you know that I finally completed my remodel project of converting my small walk-in-pantry into an Asian wok kitchen, thanks to my sponsors Atherton Appliance and BSC Culinary in the San Francisco Bay Area!

Being an Asian cooking enthusiast, especially wok cooking, I have never been happy with my American kitchen with regular cook tops and range hood. I have lost count of how many times I set off the smoke detector and alarm in my house when I fire up my wok for a quick stir-fry. If you are into Asian cooking or wok cooking, you would understand what I mean. The heat is not hot enough, the range hood doesn’t suck away the grease and smoke, and the smoke alarm would go off the hook whenever we are trying to create “wok hei” (breath of wok). So, it’s been my dream to have a wok kitchen—in addition to a regular kitchen. I cook so much for the blog and for my family that I indeed need two kitchens, and thanks to Atherton Appliance and BSC Culinary, my dream finally comes true.

My walk-in-pantry is small, in fact, it’s just 67-inches wall-to-wall. However, space is not an issue if you know how to plan and design the small space into something functional for your needs. I wanted to have two (2) 15-inch gas cooktops, and one of them specifically for wok cooking with high-power burner / BTU. I do not need a huge counter space as long as I have some space on both sides of the burner. I called in a kitchen designer and we drew out the plan. It’s the best way to use up the limited space I have, while being completely functional and efficient. There are cabinets, drawers in the wok kitchen, and one of the cabinets is equipped with a roller shelf unit for my sauces so my limited kitchen counter space will be mostly clutter free.

I reached out to Atherton Appliance and BSC Culinary. When I lived in the bay area, I visited Atherton Appliance in Redwood City and fell in love with its ample offerings of high-end and specialty kitchen appliances. I proposed my plan to them and that my dream cook tops for my wok kitchen would be Wolf gas cooktops. They came back to me and proudly sponsored the Wolf 15-inch multi-function cooktop and the Wolf 15? gas cooktop. Thanks so much to their generosity.

The remodel took a little long than anticipated but I now have an amazing and modern looking wok kitchen. Even though the space is small, it’s exactly what I wanted—a kitchen where I can whip up Chinese stir-fries with ample wok-hei (breath of wok), making curries, stews, soups, and all sorts of delicious Asian food. The wok kitchen is going to be my everyday kitchen where I cook while the regular kitchen can be used for lighter cooking. Now that’s the perfect set up for a cooking enthusiast like me. Let’s check out my wok kitchen.

Here is my walk-in pantry before the remodel.

After the remodel, the Asian wok kitchen.

The gorgeous Wolf gas cooktops. I have two (2) 15-inch cooktops side-by-side, and I can cook up to 3 dishes at the same time.

This Wolf 15-inch Multi-Function Cooktop is made specifically for Asian cooking. The bottom of the wok sits perfectly on top of the flame, which is 22,000 BTU/hour. The direct heat will make sure that I get Asian stir-fries with plenty of “wok hei” (breath of wok).

This Wolf 15-inch Gas Cooktop has two hobs that allow me to make soup, stew, curry, or other dishes while I am stir-frying.

Even though the space is small, my Asian wok kitchen is practical, functional, and I can comfortably cook in the kitchen. I have a roll-out shelf for my Asian sauces and cooking oil, etc. It’s so convenient and saves space, plus my countertop will be mostly clutter free. Because the kitchen is small, it’s also easier for me to clean up and I can keep my regular kitchen spotless all the time.

I have also shot a short video walk-through of my kitchen below. Please check it out now.

If you are in the Bay Area and are planning to have a kitchen upgrade, remodel, or to equip your new home, do stop by Atherton Appliance and BSC Culinary to browse their wide selections of kitchen appliances. I am sure you will be able to find something you love there, and while you are at it, tell them that Rasa Malaysia sends you there!

About Atherton Appliance and BSC Culinary:

Atherton Appliance and BSC Culinary offers high end appliances, design consultation, drawings, cabinetry and countertops for those in need of a complete kitchen remodel.

Atherton pride itself on educating its customers and continue to match them with appliances that suit their cooking styles and add value back to their lives and homes. They feature several fully functioning kitchens that allow their customers to experience the fit and finish of their cabinetry and the trusted appliances that they offer.

The company was founded in 1956 with the idea that they could make a meaningful impact on their customers lives by helping them find the right appliances for their homes and, in turn, increase the enjoyment of their home life.

Brands: Miele, Bosch, AGA, BlueStar, Aficionado, Dacor, GE, Gaggenau, Viking, Wolf-SubZero, Thermador, Body Glove, Capital, and more!

Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/athertonapplianceandkitchens
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/athertonkitchen
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cgea
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsJnKPHiO0M
Google+ : https://plus.google.com/114695392869736046870
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bscculinary/

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Building a Perfect Meal Cookbook Giveaway

Michelle Tchea got in touch with me and wanted to giveaway her cookbook Building a Perfect Meal. There will be one (1) winner whom will receive one (1) copy of Building a Perfect Meal by Michelle Tchea. The retail value of Building a Perfect Meal by Michelle Tchea is US$24.50 (approx. RM71 / S$30).

About Building a Perfect Meal

Building a Perfect Meal shows novice cooks that cooking at home is both achievable and fun. The concept of this cookbook is simple: start with a basic recipe and then elevate it into something spectacular with the addition of a few more ingredients. After perfecting the basics, you can create elaborate meals at home worthy of impressing loved ones.

From truly simple bites such as Toy Soldiers with Poached Eggs, and Creamy Mashed Potatoes to more substantial dishes such as Steamed Snapper with Spring Onions and Creamy Dreamy Seafood Stew, this collection of 100 recipes is great not just for beginner cooks but also foodies looking for ideas to whip up quick and easy dishes at home.

About the Author

Michelle Tchea’s love for food began at her grandfather’s restaurant in Los Angeles famed for its delicious dumplings, hand-pulled noodles and Chinese pancakes. She was raised with a rolling pin in her hand helping out at the restaurant during peak hours. She is a skilled home cook, and a qualified Biomedical Scientist specializing in research and development in the food and beverage industry.

Michelle gathers her inspiration from artisan bakers, local farmers and talented chefs she meets on her travels. her love for food and culture often sends her on adventures discovering crusty croissants, perfectly cured meats and frothy cappuccinos that are worth replicating in her own kitchen. Michelle currently writes for health and luxury publications and food magazines in Asia Pacific and North America.

To enter to win, just enter your name and email address using the entry form below. Please don’t forget to click on the “Submit” button.

Eligibility

Malaysia and Singapore only

Closing Date

April 29, 2012, 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be randomly selected and contacted via email on April 30, 2012.

Number of Entries

You can enter every day using the entry form. One entry per day strictly enforced; comments left on Facebook do not count as entry to this giveaway.

Bonus Entries

Like Rasa Malaysia on Facebook. Submit 1 extra entry using the form below.Follow Rasa Malaysia on Twitter. Submit 1 extra entry using the form below.Share this giveaway on Facebook. Submit 1 extra entry using the form below.Retweet this giveaway on Twitter. Submit 1 extra entry using the form below.cforms contact form by delicious:days

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The New Entry Form

If you’re a regular on Rasa Malaysia, I’m sure you noticed that my comment system was down when the KitchenAid giveaway reached over 5,000 entries and you couldn’t enter a comment to win.

This new entry form will be able to handle many entries without breaking my site. All entries will be stored in my website database and you will have a fair chance of winning.

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Building a Japanese Pantry and Mizkan Shopping Guide

June 21st, 2011 | Endorsement, Sponsorship | 26 Comments

One of my favorite things to do is shopping, especially for food and ingredients that I use a daily basis to prepare all the mouthwatering dishes you see on Rasa Malaysia. I can spend hours walking the aisles of supermarkets, scouring the shelves looking for produce, sauces, spices, etc. Because of my focus in Asian cuisines, I tend to shop more at Asian supermarkets and specialty stores that carry Asian ingredients. Lucky for me, I live in Orange County, Southern California…the diversity here means that I can pretty much find any ingredients, be it fresh produce, imported goods, or hard-to-find items at the many food stores here.

I get many emails from my readers, many of them are very keen to try my recipes but have no idea where to shop for the ingredients called for in the recipes, for examples: salmon teriyaki, Japanese beef rolls, and hand roll (Temaki) recipes where Mizkan Japanese condiments are the key ingredients. So, today, I am taking you all shopping—albeit virtually—to my favorite food stores where you can get practically all Japanese ingredients. It’s going to be fun, let’s go…

Our first stop is Mitsuwa Marketplace, which is the largest Japanese supermarket in the United States. There are currently eight (8) stores here; the one I go to is at Costa Mesa, Orange County. I love Mitsuwa a lot—the store is always clean, and most importantly, you can find really fresh fish (sushi-grade fresh) and all kinds of Japanese products in that store. If you wish to stock a Japanese cooking pantry, go to the aisle where Shoyu (soy sauce) and Cooking Sake are. You will find the basics such as a variety of Japanese soy sauce, sake, mirin, rice vinegar, BBQ sauces, and more.

You can also find the complete range of Mizkan Japanese condiments at the same aisle: Mizkan AJIPON® Ponzu, Mizkan (Bonito Flavored) Soup Base, MIZKAN HONTERI® Mirin Seasoning, Mizkan Rice Vinegar, Mizkan Sushi Seasoning.

These Mizkan Japanese condiments can be used for a wide range of dishes in Japanese cooking. For cooking ideas, you can check out the Japanese recipes on Rasa Malaysia.

Other than the market, the Japanese food court inside Mitsuwa Marketplace beckons with stalls selling ramen, soba, udon, and bento boxes. There are also stores selling Japanese bakery, mochi, kitchenware, Japanese books and magazines. If you are a fan of Japanese food and culture, you ought to check it out.

Next, we are going to H-Mart, a Korean supermarket which has many stores in the United States, especially in the East Coast. There are four (4) of them in Southern California, one very close to where I live.

Even though H-Mart is a Korean store, you can find non-Korean products in the shop, for examples: Japanese, Chinese, and even Vietnamese food products. The first aisle is where you will find all the Asian sauces and seasonings. Unlike Mitsuwa, the sauces and condiments in H-Mart are grouped by types and not by brands. If you are looking for the complete line of Mizkan Japanese condiments, please check out the various sections of the aisle: the ponzu shelf, the mirin shelf, the rice vinegar shelf, and so on.

Here is a bottle of Mizkan AJIPON® Ponzu, which is great as a dipping sauce for gyoza, marinade, and pour-over sauce.

If you live in California or Hawaii, there is Marukai, a Japanese food specialty store that offers some of the best selections of Japanese products (I love the Japanese utensils and serving ware sold at Marukai!). You can also check out Nijiya Market. All in all though, it’s easier than ever to stock a pantry of Japanese ingredients. Retailers such as 99 Ranch Market, Uwajimaya, Chinese, and Korean stores usually carry a supply of Japanese food products. You might also find Japanese condiments at Vietnamese stores, case-in-point: the first picture of this post was shot at a Vietnamese market in Little Saigon, Orange County. If you live in a small city and have no idea where to shop for the ingredients, reach out to your local Japanese restaurants for help. I am quite certain that they will point you to a good source.

Once you find a store, always start at the condiments aisle and purchase the basics: soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, ponzu, and soup base. Then move on to the other aisles for other ingredients such as sushi rice, kombu (seaweed), bonito flakes, and the ingredients called for in the recipe. If you are an online shopper, you can buy Mizkan Japanese condiments online at AsianSupermarket365. The other online options are Marukai and Amazon.

You will soon realize that it’s rewarding to build a Japanese pantry. Have fun shopping for Japanese ingredients and happy cooking!

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