Candied Horsetails

Candied Horsetails: An Intriguing Addition to our 1st course(It will be 4 kinds of snacks on a plate)

When it comes to unusual foods, candied horsetails might be the epitome of unconventional. But despite their strange appearance, they offer a unique and delicious experience for those who dare to try.

I will collaborate with Folke restaurant for an event, and I knew I wanted to introduce this dish to their menu. But let me tell you, making candied horsetails was not an easy feat.

First, I had to clean and branch the horsetails. Then, I tried cooking them in a soy sauce caramel, but the water from the horsetails made the caramel thinner and stickier than I wanted. I also realized that they needed extra flavors to balance their unique taste.

So, I tried dehydrating them overnight, which not only enhanced their flavor but also made them easier to cook.(Double win, yay)

However, I could only candy about 10 pieces at a time because the horsetails are quite fragile. In total, I made around 130-140 pieces.Took me a few hours.

Once I candied them, I coated them with rose sugar, which added a floral acidity that perfectly complemented the horsetail. After air-drying them for a few days, they were ready to serve.

The result was an intriguing, imperfect yet perfect dish that offered layers of flavors. And while it might not be for everyone, it’s certainly an experience that food enthusiasts should try at least once.

If you're interested in trying out new and exciting dishes, be sure to join us at the collaboration event with Folke restaurant. Along with candied horsetails, you'll be able to enjoy a variety of deliciously cooked seasonal vegetables and plants.

In conclusion, candied horsetails are a unique and unconventional addition to any plate. Don't let their strange appearance fool you – their flavors and textures will surprise and delight you. So, go ahead and try something new – you might just discover your next favorite dish.

About the event information, ticket link is here.

Great grapes

I was at farmers market to look around interesting vegetables that I only can find at the market.

Stoney paradise farm. They are famous for tomatoes, their tomatoes are flavourful and sweet, they have huge line ups when they are at the market.

I saw they are selling coronation grapes - and I was wondering how do they taste like. I tried a grape berry - wow. It was amazing.

The grapes are in our second course, eye ball beets.

Cherry blossom flavoured slow cooked beets. Beets are stuffed with local hazel nut cheese.The grapes are on the centre, it is tiny part of the dish but their flavour is bold, perfect with floral flavoured beets.

Serving with plum seed flavoured dashi broth. The plum pit flavour is from Denmark’s famous distillery Empirical’s liquor.

Flax seed crackers on the side.

Our dinner pop up event at Burdock and co, tickets and details are here. Don’t miss it - this is our last pop up 2022

Trick, or…Dinner

Finalizing the menu ideas for my event on 18th October.

Today is a test for a snack. Planning to make a “black tart”.

My experiment went well. I was originally thinking to make it very thin crusts but, it looks neat and ancient when I made thicker crust with unfinished touch of shapes. It is perfect for my theme.

The dough is made with activated charcoal, Canadian ancient grain red fife flour from Flourist.

The filling is made with local potato with truffle flavour, chestnuts, vegan caviar.

Vegan farm to table dinner vol.11 at Burdock and co “Nightmare before halloween” tickets link is here.

Cheese board, green walnut

Finished for a test for one of a menu for vegan contemporary dinner series vol.9 Far East.

We will feature Vancouver vegan’s favourite, plant based cheese shop, Blue Heron’s products.

We call it “board”, cheese samplers are on a pear compote(the cheeses on the pear are ideal, we don’t have actual products yet since we need to serve them fresh).

Pears.When I saw the pears at a farmers market, I bought it right away.

They looked like a treasure that I found in a cardboard, beautiful product.(And actual taste is perfect too)

Green walnuts. I received them from a farm where I took a field trip to, and then preserved in pickling liquid in mid summer.

I’ve tried the taste of nochino before but not pickled green walnuts.

After fermented a few days, the liquid got so black and I was excited how strange they are. Then left it about a month.

When I tried them two weeks ago, it was slightly too bitter and I thought I can’t use it for the event. Then I tried it again this week -happy surprise! It wasn’t bitter. Food science and time made a magic. Wonderful fragrance, unique texture and taste. Great addition for cheese & wine snack.

Shiso. Found them at a farmers markets then made an extract, then jelly. Very unique flavour, in between anise, basils, and mint.

Try them at our event. September 14th at Burdock & co. 7 course tastings dinner with a glass of wine, cold brew coffee & a dessert. The details are here.

Take a glance look for vegan take away lunch box pop up on 6th & 7th March / Kale caesar salad

Our pop up 0.1 : Vegan takeaway lunch box at Harken coffee.

Introducing one of menu items -

Kale caesar salad. Sounds standard again?

What is special about the salad?

The kale is from organic farm, then the dressing is a big key.

It is sort of Japanese & vegan version caesar dressing.

Using Yuzu for the citrus flavour, a few of umami ingredients are also in it.

Toppings are buckwheat bread crumb and almond gremolata, dehydrated chick pea and capers, sliced olives.

The full menu of the lunch box :

Confit carrot, sunflower seed “cheese”, Crushed candied Tamari almonds

Charred broccoli with yuzu salt, shichimi, evo

Marinated, compressed Tempeh steak

Buckwheat Sourdough slice

Preserve sampler : Shiso rosehip jam

Kale caesar salad

$18 before tax

Limited number. Pre-order from Maest market, or just simply walk in to Harken coffee 338 Powell street.

Take a glance look for vegan take away lunch box pop up on 6th & 7th March / Tempeh block steak.

Our pop up 0.1 : Vegan takeaway lunch box at Harken coffee.
What is in the box?

Introducing one of menu items -

Tempeh block steak.

Tempeh steak sounds ordinary?

The secret is our marinade sauce.

Using Harken coffee’s espresso(decaf) & tamari, also infused smokiness from some umami ingredients.

The full menu of the lunch box :

Confit carrot, sunflower seed “cheese”, Crushed candied Tamari almonds

Charred broccoli with yuzu salt, shichimi, evo

Marinated, compressed Tempeh steak

Buckwheat Sourdough

Preserves : Shiso rosehip jam

Kale caesar salad

$18 before tax

Limited number. Pre-order from Maest market, or just simply walk in to Harken coffee 338 Powell street.

Take a glance look for vegan take away lunch box pop up on 6th & 7th March / Confit carrots & seed cheese, tamari almonds

Our pop up 0.1 : Vegan takeaway lunch box at Harken coffee.
What is in the box?

Introducing one of menu items -

Confit carrots and seed cheese, crushed caramel tamari almonds.

Confit carrots, using local farm carrots, I choose kind of ugly ones, they are flavourful and cute look, those carrots are my favourite. I used them often when I did my dinner pop up.I also added Daikon radish for the confit, Daikon sounds Japanese a lot, but it works for mediterranean or middle eastern food too. Confit with some oil, plus buttery richness of a secret ingredient.

The sunflower seed cheese(the pink saucy thing on the bottom) is fermented, orange flavour.

Caramel tamari almonds, it’s a rich flavour from the tamari soy sauce, let’s say - it tastes like salted caramel plus more flavour.

Anyways. All layers of flavour will make you happy.

The full menu of the lunch box :

Confit carrot, sunflower seed “cheese”, Crushed candied Tamari almonds

Charred broccoli with yuzu salt, shichimi, evo

Marinated, compressed Tempeh steak

Buckwheat Sourdough

Preserves : Shiso rosehip jam

Kale caesar salad

$18 before tax

Limited number. Pre-order from Maest market, or just simply walk in to Harken coffee 338 Powell street.

Glance look of vegan take away lunch box : Maest food pop up 0.1

We are so excited to launch our take away pop up at Harken coffee.

Introducing one of the contents of the lunch box - sourdough bread.

Joey Ridos will make us Buckwheat sourdough bread!

I’ve asked him to make it before when I was planning dinner pop up, however the restriction was changed at the time, the pop up was cancelled.

So this is sort of re-collab with him. His buckwheat bread is perfectly matching with Japanese flavours which I am going to use them for a hidden seasonings.

¨To-go style¨ lunch pop up at Harken coffee(338 Powell street).

It will be every weekend from March 6th with a weekly rotation menu .

The menu for March 6th & 7th :

Confit carrot, sunflower seed “cheese”, Crushed candied Tamari almonds

Charred broccoli with yuzu salt, shichimi, evo

Marinated, compressed Tempeh steak

Buckwheat sourdough

Preserves : rosehip jam

Kale caesar salad

$18 before tax

Limited number. Pre-order from Maest market, or just simply walk in to Harken coffee 338 Powell street.

Maest food at Iktsuarpok coffee stand

Our Vegan hojicha chocolate chip banana bread is available at Iktsuarpok coffee stand (425 Carrall street )from Saturday, 27th February.

This banana bread is all about flavours, good smoky bitterness from hojicha tea & bitter sweet chocolate, aroma of caramel, fruitiness of banana..

Available by slices.

Vegan Hojicha chocolate chip banana bread.