17 Comments

Andrea- Here is a source for gac. https://lenscoffee.com/cochin-melon-powder-gac/

I've used this to make xoi gac for dinner parties and friends loved it.

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Thanks, Gail! You wouldn't happen to have a source for gac seeds, would you?

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No - I've not looked. I first bought the gac powder on a whim when I came across it on the Len's Coffee site, because most of the recipes I saw used substitutes. I liked it and so bought more.

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Thanks for this. Loved the pickled green cherry tomatoes and great to add these shallot pickles to the list. Looks like you could also (cross-cultural alert!) use them for tacos, etc.

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Hella yes to shallots for tacos and pork or chicken pibil! The shallots have a bit more verve than the onion. Thanks for the idea, Susan!

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Happy New Year, Andrea!

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Big New Year Hug to you, Jolene!

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🤗

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Looks easy and sounds yummy!

So happy got to eat at our friends’ place in Honolulu - Pig & the Lady - so delicious and inventive.

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*you

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Andrew and Alex were incredibly kind. You're friends with them? How wonderful. I hope to return to HNL again and look forward to getting to know them better.

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We started going to the farmers markets 13 years ago, Alex still runs 3 of them. At the Honolulu mkt, we were a community of regulars. There eventually were so many of us, they set up tables & a tent for us. We started going to some of their pop ups, & met their dad, Raymond. What a character! And their mom, Loan. We sanded chairs & banquettes for their restaurant; it’s been ten years. In 2019, they opened the Tokyo restaurant. We took our first Japan trip to celebrate with them. Before Covid vaccines, they would deliver meals we ordered. We get to the restaurant less often now, but always enjoy Andrew’s creativity & Alex’s hospitality. Perhaps I’ll see you there at your next visit!?

Suzanne

@808soos

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I didn't find anywhere that I could save the recipe to Pinterest so I went on Pinterest and looked up a similar recipe and saved it.

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You can always return to the newsletter and search the recipe archives for pickled shallots. I unfortunately can't vouch for other people's recipes.

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Yes, but I still can't save it on Pinterest even if I find it in the archives. It's easier for me to find the recipe I want on Pinterest.

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Do the Vietnamese give out red envelopes with money in them for New Year’s like the Chinese?

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Oh yes we do!

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