Luis Williams Blog

Winter in Asia brings not just a change in weather but also a transformation in the culinary streetscape. As temperatures dip, the street food scene across various Asian countries evolves, offering an array of dishes that provide warmth, comfort, and a burst of flavour. In China, winter street food takes on a warming and hearty character. One popular item is the roasted sweet potato, known for its sweet, caramelized texture, providing both warmth and sustenance. Another favourite is baozi, steaming hot stuffed buns, which are a perfect handheld treat to ward off the chill. Japan's winter street food scene is equally enticing. Oden, a type of hot pot stew, is a staple. It features various ingredients like boiled eggs, daikon radish, konnyaku, and fish cakes, simmered in a light, soy-flavoured dashi broth. The Japanese also enjoy taiyaki during winter – a fish-shaped cake filled with sweet red bean paste, custard, or chocolate. In Korea, street carts and markets are filled with hotte...

Fermented foods have long been celebrated for their unique flavours and health-promoting properties, and autumn provides the perfect backdrop to explore these culinary wonders. Korean Kimchi, a spicy and tangy fermented cabbage dish, stands at the forefront of this fermented food movement, bringing a burst of flavour and a host of benefits to the table. Creating your batch of Kimchi begins with sourcing fresh and high-quality ingredients. Napa cabbage and Korean radishes are the foundational vegetables, while a flavorful paste made from garlic, ginger, gochu garu (Korean red chilli flakes), fish sauce, and other seasonings brings the dish to life. The ingredients are mixed and then left to ferment for some time, allowing the flavours to meld and the probiotics to proliferate. The fermentation process not only preserves the vegetables but also transforms them into a probiotic-rich superfood. Consuming Kimchi introduces beneficial bacteria to your gut, aiding in digestion, boosting the i...