#ma-sheng

#ma-sheng

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings is known for its handmade soup dumplings, made in an open kitchen where diners can observe the preparation process. The menu features traditional dim sum and noodle dishes, including Shanghai Siu Mai and pan-fried crispy noodles.

The overall landscape design of the garden centers on the theme of auspicious clouds, with a circular landscape boulevard connecting the entire garden and a centripetal layout creating a diverse array of scenes.

Lately, I've been craving malatang, the individual hot pot restaurant concept with roots in Sichuan, and have thus tried almost every version in the city recently. Growl Growl (which also has a location in Boston) is my favorite so far. The inclusions here are pretty straightforward, but I liked the accouterments the most. The broth options are varied, including "global inspirations" like Japanese sukiyaki broth and Thai tom yum broth.

Though they were only serving in town for one night, the chefs and staff behind the Mexico City supernova Masala y Maíz managed to cause what felt like a temporary ripple in L.A. dining during their pop-up last week. It reminded this diner that despite the era's current dedication to culinary and cultural boundaries - you should only cook what you know, write what you know - a spirit of mixture and melding can actually lead to something extraordinary, and not cringey, in practice.

A small splash can brighten the sweetness of corn and add a subtle herbal lift. It should enhance - not dominate. Think of it as a squeeze of lime, ever so popular in Mexican food, in spirit form.

Characterized by bold and balanced notes of heat and sourness, southwestern Chinese cooking has been influenced by the many ethnic groups that call the region home, including the Miao, Dong, and Buyi peoples. Hengry's dishes come straight from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, where Au's family owned a restaurant in the early '90s.

It is a side dish that has main-character energy. Think about it. You put bacon in ice-cream and it is the bacon that sings. You use candied bacon as a cocktail garnish, and suddenly that is all anyone's talking about. But, while all bacon is great, some bacon is just greater than others. If you disagree, try some Chinese-style bacon called Lap Yuk or La Rou.

Stir-frying is all about wok hei, or wok's air' in English, which you can think of as the height of fire', or the level of heat. It's said that Chinese cooks have good wok hei if they have a true understanding of the heat of their wok and how to handle it in all situations, and a stir-fry's success is based on the quality of the cook's wok hei.

Christmas is lovely, but my kids think Chinese new year is by far the best holiday. I might be biased, but, unusually, I am inclined to agree with them. As my eldest puts it, New clothes, cash, booze and food what's not to love? There's the added bonus that cash is absolutely more than acceptable in fact, it's de rigueur, so there's no shopping for mundane socks and smelly candles. Chinese new year is full of rituals and, just as at Christmas, every family has its own, but they are all variations on a theme. Symbolism looms large in Chinese culture, and at new year it centres around messages of prosperity, luck and family.

Located inside the Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Xibei (not to be confused with Xibei Dumplings in Silver Lake) made a splash in the San Gabriel Valley dining scene for its diverse, hyper-regional lamb preparations. Diners can find executive chef Defei Meng behind the stoves: the Inner Mongolian native began working for the restaurant group 30 years ago and has a deep understanding of the ingredients and flavors of Northwest China.

Clear counter or table space for everyone to cook together, and be sure to get enough ingredients for each person to eat at least a dozen dumplings. Then, set up your assembly line in a circle: Place a bowl of filling in the middle of every three to five cooks, along with wrappers and a floured sheet tray or plate. (Cooks can chat more easily if they face one another when wrapping dumplings.)

Stuffed peppers are the homey, cozy, and nutrient-dense dish that you didn't know you needed. They're incredibly easy to prepare, as all you need to do is boil the peppers just enough so that they soften before loading them up with your favorite fillings. There are also many ways to upgrade stuffed peppers, seeing as the shells can be filled with meat or plant-based fillings, adorned with your favorite gooey cheese, and seasoned to your liking.

But when restaurant ramen isn't possible, instant ramen can be a terrific second-best, especially if it includes top-notch noodles and flavorful broth. While not all packaged ramen brands hit that target, one that is all but guaranteed to please is Samyang Buldak, a Korean brand that was introduced in 2014. Bright, colorful packages picturing adorable cartoon chickens are filled with more than 20 inventive flavors, including Quattro Cheese, Tom Yum, Carbonara, Taco and more.