I’ve always said that the best part about south-east Asia, is not the beaches, the cheap beer, or ladyboys… but the FOOD. This week’s recipe is one that I’ve been working on for a while that even upon the smell of the marinade, throws me back to sweltering nights sitting on the side of the road or public parking lot turned street food hub chowing down on plate after plates of these chicken satay skewers served to us by an Indian hawker who insisted we called “Little Brother”. My buddies and I were such great customers what when we sat down, he’d greet us as “Big brother” and immediately asked “how many plates?” – in Cantonese.
I try to actively search out places that offer unique dishes and thoughtful mid-morning meals. Too many are the places that serve up griddlecakes that resample rubber mouse pads and overcooked fried eggs encompassed with crispy inedible bits that look like the dry sheets of white glue you let dry on your palm in grade-school. For example, instead of offering inspired menu items like that ones seen at Biarritz (homemade corned beef and patatas braves hash) or Régine Café‘s “Un Peu de Tout” (a little bit of everything) a platter of homemade pastries, crème brulée made with yogurt, homemade compotes and jams, my local cookie-cutter breakfast joint is now offering VALET service… please, try not to be too obvious by making up for your menu shortcomings by offering to park my car for free.
If you’ve never had Dynamite sauce before, I highly suggest you follow my recipe here and dunk your face in a bucket of it or drink it my the glassful. This miracle condiment comes second to ketchup in my world of dipping sauces and reasons to get up in the morning. A spicy and savoury blend of Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise and tongue tickling Sriracha with the inclusion of a few secret ingredients make the ultimate dipping sauce so versatile that it can accompany anything. For this recipe, I modify my dynamite sauce recipe to bring it up to the next level to make my awesome baked mussels.