{Now that summer finally seems to be making its grand entrance, my cravings for the Hot and Sour Soup at Yen Ching really should be vacationing until the fall, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’ve sampled many a bowl of this classic Chinese treat. While others are watery and bland, Yen Ching’s is spicy and savory, loaded with tofu, bamboo shoots, egg whites and tiny, chewy shrimp. My Sunday night take-out order at this Richmond Heights eatery isn’t complete without a big, steaming styrofoam cup of this soup.}
{On mornings when I feel particularly in need of comfort – or when I’m just feeling overly indulgent – I love taking the short stroll from the office to Park Avenue Coffee for a Peanut Butter Cup Frappicano. Disguising what’s basically a mocha-peanut butter milkshake as a coffee drink appropriate for the morning is genius. Hey, by default, it’s made with skim milk. Totally justifiable, right?}
{I’m pretty confident that if my kitchen were reduced to simply a rice cooker and a hot plate, I’d still be a pretty happy lady. My favorite go-to lunch is half a cup of white rice topped with a fried egg, sliced avocado, pickled ginger and a sprinkling of furikake. I finish it with generous splashes of Japanese okonomi sauce and soy sauce. The result is like a highlight reel of all my favorite meal toppings, combined in one bowl of tasty goodness.}
This article appears in June 2013.
