Spring Fling Cocktail: A Burst of Sunshine in a Glass I remember the first time I tasted a lychee. It was in a bustling Hong Kong market, the air thick with the scent of spices and exotic fruits. I hesitantly peeled the bumpy, reddish-brown skin to reveal the translucent, almost pearly flesh inside. The sweet, … Read more
Spanish Watermelon Salad: A Taste of Summer Sunshine My earliest memory of watermelon involves a scorching summer afternoon in Madrid. The air hung thick and heavy, and even the shade of the ancient trees offered little respite. Then, my abuela appeared, her face beaming, carrying a massive watermelon, its green rind glistening with condensation. After … Read more
Vhun With Tropical Fruits (Thai Jello): A Sweet Symphony of Agar and Sunshine The first time I tasted Vhun, or Thai Jello, I was wandering through a bustling night market in Chiang Mai. The air hummed with the energy of vendors hawking their wares, the scent of grilling meats mingling with the sweet aroma of … Read more
Tom Yam Siam Cocktail: A Taste of Thailand in a Glass The clinking of ice, the vibrant aroma of lemongrass, the subtle sting of chili – these are the sensory memories that flood back every time I think of Bangkok. It was there, amidst the bustling street food vendors and the serene temples, that I … Read more
Stuffed Lychee: A Taste of Tropical Paradise The first time I tasted stuffed lychees was at a small potluck hosted by a friend who had spent a year teaching English in Southeast Asia. I remember walking into her apartment, the air thick with the scent of ginger and something subtly floral. On a small platter, … Read more
Theresa’s Spinach Salad With Lychee Mango Dressing My sister Theresa has always been a burst of sunshine – vibrant, sweet, and unexpectedly refreshing, much like the lychees she once left overflowing on my kitchen counter. I remember staring at the pile of exotic fruit, the bumpy red skin hinting at the juicy treasure within, and … Read more
Paraiso Rose: A Lychee Liqueur Cocktail The first time I tasted lychee, I was a young cook exploring the vibrant markets of Southeast Asia. The fruit, with its rough, crimson shell giving way to a glistening, translucent orb, was unlike anything I’d ever encountered. Its delicate, floral sweetness transported me, and I’ve been chasing that … Read more
Thai Lychee Soda: A Refreshing Sip of Southeast Asia The first time I tasted lychee, I was a wide-eyed culinary student backpacking through Thailand. The sweet, floral aroma wafted from a street vendor’s cart piled high with the rosy-hued fruit. I bit into one, and the explosion of juicy sweetness transported me. It wasn’t just … Read more
Stuffed Lychee: A Taste of Tropical Paradise I’ll never forget the first time I tried stuffed lychee. It was at a tiny, family-run restaurant in Honolulu, hidden away from the tourist traps. The burst of sweet, floral lychee, combined with the creamy, tangy filling and the delightful crunch of macadamia nuts, was an explosion of … Read more
Stewart’s Thai Red Curry W/ Lychee The first time I tasted this curry, I was instantly transported. It was at a bustling summer potluck, the air thick with the aroma of grilling meats and bubbling side dishes. Amidst the culinary chaos, a friend, Stewart, presented this vibrant red curry, its sweetness unexpected and utterly captivating. … Read more
Fresh Pineapple and Lychee Chicken – Empress of China, San Fran I still remember the first time I encountered lychees. It was at a small dim sum restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown, not far from where the Empress of China once stood. These peculiar, knobby orbs sat glistening on a dessert platter. Their delicate, floral … Read more
The Lychee Martini – Bethenny Frankel’s Signature Sip I’ll never forget my first sip of a lychee martini. It was a sweltering summer evening in New York City, rooftop bar buzzing with energy, and that first taste of exotic sweetness cut through the humidity like a refreshing breeze. The floral aroma, the smooth vodka, the … Read more
Googly Eyes – R You Looking at Me? I remember the first time I saw these “googly eyes” – it was at a Halloween party in culinary school. A classmate, known for her delightfully macabre creations, had them adorning a devil’s food cake. The effect was both unsettling and hilarious, and they were a huge … Read more
Stewart’s Thai Red Curry W/ Lychee The first time I encountered this vibrant curry was at a potluck hosted by a group of international students. The aroma alone was captivating – a symphony of sweet, savory, and spicy notes that drew me in. Nestled amongst the familiar pasta salads and dips was a dish unlike … Read more
Kem Trai Vai Voi Gung: A Symphony of Lychee and Ginger Ice The first time I tasted kem trai vai voi gung, I was sitting on a tiny plastic stool in Hanoi, the air thick with humidity and the scent of pho. My aunt, a culinary wizard who could coax magic from even the simplest … Read more
Cold Lychee, Mango Soup Garnished With Mint The memory of my sister Theresa experimenting in the kitchen always brings a smile to my face. One sweltering summer afternoon, the air thick with humidity, she was attempting a new salad dressing. The aroma of sweet fruit and a hint of spice wafted through the house, a … Read more
Watermelon and Lychee Salad: A Taste of Summer Nostalgia I can almost feel the sticky sweetness on my fingers just thinking about it. Growing up, summer wasn’t complete without my mom’s Watermelon and Lychee Salad. It wasn’t just a dish; it was a symbol of long, sun-drenched days, family gatherings under the old oak tree, … Read more
Stir-Fried Pork with Lychees: A Sweet and Savory Delight The first time I tasted pork with lychees was at a tiny, bustling restaurant in Hong Kong. The aroma of the stir-fry, a fragrant blend of sweet and savory, wafted through the air, instantly captivating me. The tender pork, perfectly balanced with the juicy, slightly tart … Read more
Vietnamese Beef Stir-Fry With Lychees: A Taste of Summer The first time I tasted this dish, I was backpacking through Southeast Asia, and a tiny, bustling street food stall in Hanoi offered a curious combination that forever changed my perception of flavor. The tender beef, bursting with umami, the bright, almost floral sweetness of lychees, … Read more
Madagascar Salady Voankazo: A Taste of the Island Paradise My first encounter with this vibrant fruit salad wasn’t actually in Madagascar, but in the sun-drenched kitchen of a dear friend who had spent years working as a medical missionary there. The explosion of tropical aromas, the delicate sweetness of lychees mingling with familiar fruits – … Read more
Stir Fried Pork With Lychees: A Sweet and Savory Delight The first time I encountered lychees in a savory dish was at a tiny family-run restaurant in Hong Kong. I remember walking in, the humid air thick with the aroma of ginger and soy sauce. When the dish arrived – glistening pork stir-fried with plump, … Read more
Passion Fruit and Lychee Martini: A Tropical Escape in a Glass The first time I tasted a lychee, I was standing in a bustling market in Bangkok, the air thick with the scent of spices and exotic fruits. A kind vendor pressed one into my hand, its knobby pink shell yielding to reveal a translucent, … Read more
Vietnamese Banana Rice Pudding: A Taste of Nostalgia My earliest memory of this dessert isn’t from a fancy restaurant or a culinary school lesson, but from a small, bustling kitchen in my grandmother’s home. The sweet aroma of ripe bananas mingling with warm spices would fill the air as she stirred a pot of bubbling … Read more
Mango, Lychee, and Passionfruit Salad: A Tropical Delight The first time I tasted lychees, I was a wide-eyed child on holiday in Thailand. Their fragrant sweetness, so unlike any fruit I’d ever encountered, was pure magic. Paired with the sunshiney tang of mango and the exotic perfume of passionfruit, it’s a flavour combination that instantly … Read more
Pink Grapefruit and Lychee Cocktail: A Taste of Sunshine The memory still shimmers in my mind like sunlight on a perfectly mixed drink. It was a balmy summer evening in Miami, the air thick with the scent of salt and blooming jasmine. A friend, a seasoned bartender with a mischievous glint in his eye, presented … Read more
Barbecued Chicken & Lychee Salad: A Tropical Delight The first time I tasted lychees was at a bustling night market in Bangkok. The sticky sweetness of the fruit, combined with the smoky aroma of street-side barbecues, was a sensory explosion I’ll never forget. This salad, a vibrant fusion of barbecued chicken and juicy lychees, is … Read more
Lychee Lady Cocktail – A Tropical Martini from the Island I remember the first time I tasted lychee. I was backpacking through Southeast Asia, and a street vendor offered me a handful of the bumpy, pink-skinned fruits. Peeling back the skin to reveal the translucent, almost pearly flesh was like uncovering a hidden treasure. The … Read more
Lychee Conserve: A Taste of Sunshine in Every Bite I remember the first time I tasted a lychee. It was at a bustling night market in Thailand, the air thick with the scent of exotic spices and grilling meats. A vendor pressed a handful of the rosy, bumpy fruits into my palm, and as I … Read more
Big John’s Thai Roast Duck With Red Curry The first time I tasted Phed Yang Gaeng Daeng, or Thai roast duck with red curry, I was backpacking through Southeast Asia. I had wandered away from the bustling markets of Chiang Mai and found myself in a tiny village where a family was preparing a feast … Read more
Lychee, Strawberry and Spinach Salad: A Symphony of Sweet and Savory My most cherished food memories aren’t always elaborate feasts; sometimes, it’s the simplest dishes shared with good company that truly stand out. This Lychee, Strawberry and Spinach Salad instantly transports me back to sun-drenched summer afternoons spent with friends, laughter echoing through the air, … Read more