Rice & Kai is a food blog by fellow Aucklander Audrey Young. An adventurous foodie, she is not shy to test out new recipes with bold flavours or textures and to and tackle epic food challenges or dinner parties.
Below are her answers to the tasty questions I cooked up for your enjoyment.
Describe your blog:
The blog documents my food adventures! It’s where I take note of recipes and food ideas I’ve tried that I think other people would be interested in. I also write a little bit about places I’ve eaten at.
What is the most popular post on your blog?
Bill Granger’s chocolate chip cookie recipe, followed closely by the deep fried homemade egg tofu recipe.
Name your favourite comfort food:
Wonton soup! I love having a big bowl of pork and prawn wontons. I can eat a scary amount of wontons in one sitting.
What did you have for breakfast?
I went out with a friend for breakfast this morning. I had a baby spinach, prosciutto, tomato and blue cheese omelette. It was good.
What is the most delicious thing you’ve eaten this week?
Ooooh, too hard to say! I’ve had a lot of my favourite winter meals this week such as pho, wontons and laksa. Plus I went out for Korean BBQ which I love. And I also tried a new Thai chilli chicken recipe which was also really yummy. I think I’ve eaten too much this week.
What is an underrated ingredient?
Noodles in general. I love noodles of all kinds and cook them quite regularly – stir fries, soups, salads… you wouldn’t find my pantry without a packet of dried noodles in there somewhere. They make easy and quick meals.
What are 3 sources of inspiration to you?
I guess this relates to food right? My parents would be a big influence. Definitely travelling as well, and the amazing food and new ingredients you try. I also love cookbooks, magazines and cooking shows and can spend hours looking for ideas.
Favourite Auckland restaurant?
These questions are hard! I don’t think I could pick a favourite – I love so many different types of cuisines that I don’t think I can compare them!
…and your favourite dish there?
Sorry… see above…
There’s a potluck dinner tomorrow night, what are you bringing?
Hmm, depends on who will be there. I’ve just learnt to make braided Nutella bread so maybe that? It’s a bit of an odd dessert though! Perhaps the sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce which I’ve taken to friends’ places the last couple of times.
What is your most memorable meal?
Again, there’s not one in particular! Maybe a meal associated with travelling, such as the dinner we had at Eric Ripert’s restaurant in New York, or when we were in Rome and I had porcini pasta for the first time, or when I had mango with sticky rice (also for the first time) in Bangkok. Actually, speaking of Thailand, we had a very memorable KFC meal there where we tried their hot and spicy larb-style fried chicken salad. It was so hot that it made my brother cry! I’ll always remember that (and he’ll probably love that I’m telling that story too).
An Auckland eatery that is on your wishlist?
I want to try Nanam in Royal Oak as I don’t know much about Filipino cuisine and I’ve heard lots of good things about this place.
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