This picture was taken in Shek O, off the southeastern coast of Hong Kong Island where we’ve been visiting Andy’s brother and family for the past seven days. That’s Phoebe, jumping — after much prodding and negotiation — off the roof of a junk, and plunging into the South China Sea. A good reminder of how big and beautiful this world is, and how full of things to see. We hope you’re doing some of that, too, this summer.
See you in a week or so.
Jenny & Andy
PPS: Ten Things to Hold You Over Until We’re Back
1. Chicken-Apricot Skewers This one for me is all about that drizzling sauce with coconut milk and peanut butter. (From Bon Appetit)
2. Steamed Clams with Shallots and Wine. Serve with crusty bread and a fresh green salad for a 15-minute dinner. And secure the freshest clams you can find.
3. Baby Back Ribs with Mustardy-Potato Salad and Fennel Slaw. A perfect summer menu, best enjoyed wearing flip-flops.
4. Grilled Shrimp Tacos With or without homemade tortillas.
5. Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp (above) which we ate for dinner beachside in Koh Samui, watching a sunset, Chang beer in hand, toes wiggling in the sand. I don’t hold out hope I’ll be replicating a night like this again any time soon, but I can at least try to replicate the dish. I think I’ll start here.
6. Grilled Fish Tacos with Pineapple Salsa (page 236, Dinner: A Love Story)
7. Lamb Sliders (p. 206, Dinner: A Love Story) with Chick Pea Fries (p. 210) Bon Appetit served the fries as hors d’oeuvres at the DALS book party and they rocked. I’m resolved to serve them in my house with marinara instead of ketchup this year.
8. Cold “Peanut Butter Noodles” (page 261, Dinner: A Love Story) This is such a good one for easy entertaining. Can be made a day in advance — then all you have to do is set out toppings.
9. Summer Ginger-Peach Galette If you’ve chosen Dinner: A Love Story for your next book club selection, or even if you haven’t actually, there’s a reading guide (plus a recipe for this beautiful galette to serve if you are hosting) right here.
10. Tomato Caprese Salad You shouldn’t go a day without this on your table in some form between now and Labor Day.
Loving page 66 and 67 of DALS, the book! Re-read it twice because I got such a kick out of it!
#8 on your list? It’s what’s for dinner!
Hi Jenny,
I’m enjoying a library copy of your book right now (graduate school finances don’t allow me much of a “fun” budget right now…someday) and wanted to let you know that I’ve noticed several little food spots on pages of your book…evidence that even this library copy is making the rounds and being loved!
Loving the book and looking forward to having my own copy later!
Have fun! I have your book on my kindle app, and LOVE it so much!!! Made your mexi slaw tonight with some flank steak, and it was a huge hit with our neighbors. Also, made your chick pot pie last week for my parents, and was also a hit. {Did I mention that I am a terrible cook, so this is big!}
I live in Shek O too! Hope you enjoyed it….
Laura – We loved Shek O but were really only there for lunch. (Ate at the Black Sheep.) I don’t think we will be making our way over there again (our trip is pretty much over) but if we do I’ll be emailing you for advice! Thanks for writing.
Shek – O Beach is gorgeous. We were there about 4 weeks ago visiting my sister. Such a beautiful place.
Enjoy.
Wow – how fun!
made the pork tenderloin for dinner last night. deliiiiish. always to afraid to grill ’em (afraid that they’d be too dry), but it was so easy and perfect!! (and a good way to use up a little bourbon :))… have fun!!
I wanted to say a big thank you for the Vacation Meal Planning Made Easy in the book. Our family just got back from a vacation that featured bbq chicken, fish tacos, tony’s steak, corn/tomato salad, mexi-slaw and potato salad. All star all the way and all in one place… Thanks!!!
What an experience.
Enjoy!
Yesterday I finished reading, cover to cover, your book which I borrowed from the library. It was wonderful. I have been married 30 years, and have 7 children, 4 still at home. I am getting really tired of cooking dinner (we rarely eat out.) Your book has inspired me. I am looking forward to trying the fish cakes, something I have never made before. My plan is to make a BIG batch of chili and freeze it for a couple meals. The Swedish meatballs sound yummy(also never made those before.) And I am so excited to buy some good potatoes at the farmers market on Saturday and make your classic potato salad.
Thank you! And enjoy your vacation!
McNally is my FAVORITE book store, I used to live up the street! Have fun! 🙂
hope you amherst alums enjoyed HK (my home for the past 5 yrs) – very fun and very yummy! you would also like eating your way through singapore (where we moved to this summer)!
Not many options besides Black Sheep, which is why I rely on recipes from you… and with a re-read I realize that you are/were visiting HK, not just Shek O. In which case there are many other delicious things for you to eat, such as: the sea caviar at Rakuen, or the laksa at Katong….
Enjoy your trip! I used to live in Hong Kong in high school – in Tai Tam. Shek O was my favorite place – I hope you made it to the Chinese-Thai restaurant in Shek O! The best.
That is exactly how you should jump into the South China Sea. Amazing photo!
I am an occasional visitor to your site so you can imagine the feeling of serendipity I felt when I came across this post while in the middle of reading Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel THE PIANO TEACHER about World War II from the perspective of a group of ex-pats living in Hong Kong. Since this site encompasses all of my favorite things (food, family, and books) I was inspired to write this comment and send along my recommendations for a great book and my appreciation for this great site.
Beautiful photo! Sounds like a fun adventure. Thanks for the links. 🙂