While quick in preparation, this robust one-pot stew from Baan Mae in Washington, DC (one of our Best New Restaurants of 2025), boasts a complex, salty-sweet flavor thanks to a clever combination of caramelized sugar, lychee, warming spices, and fiery ginger. The trick is to fully cook your sugar. Allowing it to properly caramelize is what gives the stew its complex flavor, so be patient and allow it to deepen in color before adding your sauce.
We now have a spot dedicated to surprisingly creamy tofu and banchan-and it will satisfy even the pickiest Bay Area soybean and fermentation heads. This Korean deli in North Oakland is pumping out seasonal banchan that changes weekly, and is ideal if you like lunches that are refreshing, pickled, and quick.
The salad incorporates summer's essence with fresh, flavorful ingredients, making it ideal for casual gatherings. It requires minimal cooking, fitting perfectly into a summer lifestyle.