Quinoa and Adzuki Bean Salad... and PRE-ORDERS!

After some heavy eating (and drinking) during this past holiday i've been feeling a bit worn down.  This crazy healthy and super delicious Quinoa and Adzuki Bean Salad was a savior!  I've had so much more energy today!  Although adzuki beans (red bean) are mostly used in Asia for desserts and sweets, they're not actually a sweet bean.  Adzuki beans are a great source of not only protein and dietary fiber but also magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc copper, manganese and B vitamins.  Apparently they are also widely known in Japan to help support the kidneys (better have a big bowl after a heavy night out!).  The quinoa is also super high in protein and contains all 9 essential amino acids.  With an extra dose of fiber and calcium from the green beans and vitamin C from ripe tomatoes.... Its seriously better than coffee.  Its amazing how whole grains, vegetables, and unprocessed foods can make you feel.  :)


A NOTE ON PRE-ORDERING:  To ensure timely delivery of your super fresh home cooked meal, please pre-order the morning you would like your lunch/dinner.  Sandwiches are almost always available for ASAP delivery however MEALS and MEXICAN take a bit of love and time.  I also always cook with the freshest possible ingredients.. which means some items will not be available all the time.  I prep everything in the morning and when i'm out, i'm out until the next day.  Thank you for your understanding.  If you know what you would like for dinner on your way back from the boat, send me a message and it will be ready for you when you arrive to your house/dive shop.  If you would like breakfast/lunch for the boat, please let me know by 9PM the night before and I can deliver it before you depart in the morning :)

CLOSING EARLY TONIGHT, LAST ORDERS AT 6PM.

VEGGIE PIZZA!!

My ideal pizza is a thin crust wood fired lightly topped slightly chewy nugget of deliciousness.. however i've never been great baking with yeast and I don't have an oven.  Using the premade rounds from my baker and my awesome cast iron skillet I made an awfully tasty thick crust pizza loaded with toppings.  Broccoli, oyster mushrooms, onions, tofu, mozzarella, and a few other secret ingredients.

Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia

YUM!  I discovered that my bakery that delivers my fresh whole wheat bread also has these lovely "pizza dough" rounds.  Drizzled with a bit of olive oil, sea salt, thyme and crisped in a cast iron skillet, VOILA!  Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia.  Super delicious on its own or interestingly paired with my spicy Hulled Mung Bean Dahl.. its India meets Italy.

Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia and Hulled Mung Bean Dahl... interesting!!

Dahl and Focaccia are available for pre-order.  Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia is 70THB a round.  Spicy Hulled Mung Bean Dahl is 90THB served with brown rice or plain focaccia.

The dish is completely vegetarian and the Dahl is vegan friendly :)

Holiday Food Coma. . . . Ring in the New Year!

I can't believe Christmas 2012 is over and the year is coming to an end.  I hope everyone had a great holiday with family and/or friends.  The past few days on Koh Lanta has been jam packed with food - food - and more food the highlight being the super delicious Vegetarian Christmas day dinner at Mango House in Old Town.

Rio's Kitchen is back open today but with limited deliveries because its one of my favorite days of the week... MARKET DAY!  All items are available for order after 5PM but please pre-order if you would like timely delivery.  Limited items available before 5PM are:

Breakfast Sandwich - Veggie Crunch - A.M.C. - Grilled Cheese - Salami Melt - Salami Sandwich - Cheese Quesadilla

 Marshmallow, Oreo, almond chocolate chews!

Winter Penguins basking in the sun on the beach!

My First Ghetto Christmas

The smallest Christmas tree in the world!  Christmas has finally arrived!  (My family and I celebrate on the 24th and 25th).  I had an awesome birthday yesterday - super cool deep diving, dinner and drinks at P'dang/Lanta Miami.. and more drinks down the beach.  I've updated my holiday hours (again!), I apologize for any inconveniences as i'm much busier than I expected this Holiday season!

HOLIDAY HOURS:

24th - CLOSED
25th - CLOSED
26th - CLOSED
27th - Limited deliveries.
28th - Normal business hours commence.

Grilled Lemon-Thyme Tofu and Capsicum with Crunchy Quinoa

Bell Pepper, Capsicum, Paprika?  I usually use the word bell pepper but capsicum just sounds a bit classier.  Lemons are almost impossible to find in Thailand and when they are available, they are exorbitantly expensive.  The word lemons and limes are used interchangeably in most parts of Asia anyway.  Also, Lime-Thyme Tofu is just a bit too rhymey for my taste!  So there you go, Grilled Lemon-Thyme Tofu and Capsicums with Crunchy Quinoa.  I have never seen a box of the protein packed Incan supergrain quinoa on any shelf in Thailand... so thank you again Mom for bringing me some from home.

This delicious Christmas colored dish comes to you 4 days away from Jesus' birthday.  On another note, yesterday was my biggest day of deliveries, thank you to everyone who ordered.  Hope you had as much fun eating my food.. as I do making it for you!

HOLIDAY HOURS:  23rd, no deliveries.  24th and 25th, very limited deliveries.

Slight changes to the menu and Holiday Hours

Slight changes to the menu.  I've taken the garlic prawns and lemon dill chicken off the meals (you can still order them if you pre-order, just like anything else you see me post online) and replaced them with a delicious light yet filling Summer Spaghetti.  Grilled lemon and herb marinated chicken and green beans tossed with spaghetti in a garlic and butter sauce.   It sounds a bit odd having a "summer" dish so close to Christmas.. but the weather is warm albeit somewhat overcast in Koh Lanta, and this will be my first warm Christmas!  I'm used to bundling up from the cold crisp Los Angeles air or keeping away the chills in dreary, wet, and freezing Hanoi.

 

 HOLIDAY HOURS:  The 23rd is my Birthday so no deliveries then, sorry!  24th and 25th are limited delivery hours.  Pre-orders are welcome, i'll try to accommodate everyone as best I can.

Walnut Pesto

Toasted California walnuts, fresh basil from the garden, and garlic.  Oh em gee.. its homemade Basil Walnut Pesto.  Incredibly fresh, wonderfully delicious, and super healthy!  I see a creamy homemade pesto and whole wheat penne in the near future... time to get cooking for dinner.

Oreos, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and California almonds.

What to do.. what to do.. stay tuned for some delicious chewy candies using Marshmallows, chocolate chips, California almonds and oreos (thank you mom and gran for surprising me with them!).  It will most definitely be the most processed food i'll make all year.. but its just the perfect treat for Christmas!  Countdown 6 more days till the 25th.

Updates will be coming more frequently, hopefully everyday if not every other day.  I've just been quite busy getting my PADI Open Water diver certification (woohoo!) and my boyfriend and I went on a motorbike/visa extention trip to Krabi.

Orders are still being taken though, I look forward to delivering to you!

12-12-12 I'm in business!

Day 1, smooth sailing.  Had a handful of orders and happy customers :)  Take a look at my lovely mixed root vegetable chips.  They come as a side to all the sandwiches.

A big plate of mixed root vegetable chips.  Taro, cassava, and sweet potato.

Thank you for all those that ordered today, tomorrow i'll be doing some open water scuba diving training so only dinner orders will be available.  Thanks!!

Finally. . . THE OFFICIAL MENU!

I'm super stoked to have the menu finalized!  Deliveries start tomorrow 12-12-12.

I'm very open to all suggestions, and even criticisms.  Please pre-order for timely delivery (the day before or morning of).  If you know what you'll want for dinner for the next few days.. let me know!  Ring 0906611880 for delivery. 

Back to the grind!

It's been over a week since my last post but i'm happy to say that after a relaxing and chilled week with my mother and gran, i'm so pumped and so excited to get Rio's Kitchen finally up and running.  12-12-12 will be the official kick off date.  I've added some new items to the menu, and tweaked and perfected a few others.  Keep your eye out for the official menu...

Chill out time is over... time to get cooking!

Whole Grain Spaghetti with Garlic Broccoli and Shimeji Mushrooms in Light Tomato Sauce

Yet another fiber and veg filled meal, similar to my last spaghetti dish but with less spice, more fiber from the broccoli and loads of garlic.

I'm so excited to go to Bangkok tomorrow to meet my mother and grandmother!!  It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other (in May for my Grandma's 80th in Los Angeles) - but i'm extremely excited none the less!  Two days shopping in Bangkok and we'll all fly together to Krabi and make it back to Koh Lanta.  My mom is also bringing over a tortilla press and 10 1/2 inch cast iron griddle.  I can't wait for my new toys and to start creating some delicious fresh and healthy wraps and experimenting with the cast iron griddle.... stovetop pizza anyone?

Savory Organic Brown Rice and Mung Bean Pancakes

Another super healthy breakfast.  I love starting out the day healthy, it puts me in a productive mood and sets the tone for the day.  Savory organic brown rice and mung bean pancakes topped with green beans, mushrooms, and green pepper served with a soy-lime dipping sauce.  High in fiber and protein low carb and low fat - nothing processed but the splash of soy sauce in the dipping sauce.

Last night I cooked up a delicious feast for my boyfriend Anthony and I.  I wish I had photos  :(  It smelled so good we just dug right in - picture fall off the bone lemon-dill chicken legs with potatoes and carrots on a bed of brown rice.  Yep, cooked this one pot wonder for 3+ hours for maximum savorability (i just made up a word) and for me?  I threw in some tofu and mushrooms in the pot and I had full flavored lemon-dill tofu with mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots with brown rice.  The lemon-dill legs will for sure be a daily special on the menu!

Tofu Burritos - Vegeterian and Vegan Friendly!

My Tofu burritos are seriously the bomb.com.  The picture doesn't do it justice - Its a handcrafted flour tortilla filled with grilled onions, capsicums, mushrooms, tofu and mozzarella cheese (omit the cheese for vegans).  The perfectly seasoned tofu with the light crunch of the capsicums and tortilla - with ooey gooey mozzarella my favorite thing to eat this week!  Add a few dashes of my homemade fiery hot sauce.. yum yum yum.  Best thing is, its super healthy too.  When I get my hands on some whole wheat flour its a whole new ball game for the tortillas.

Healthy Vegeterian Whole Grain Spaghetti with Spicy Tomato-Basil Sauce

 YUMM!!  Breakfast today was a little unconventional.  But then again I am a firm believer that breakfast foods can and should be eaten at all hours of the day so why not be able to have spaghetti for breakfast?

This morning I made an AWESOME vegetarian dish.  Healthy whole grain spaghetti with grilled tofu, enoki mushrooms in a spicy tomato and basil sauce (basil fresh picked from my garden!).  Loads of fiber, lycopene, niacin, and very little to no olive oil.

Launch delayed to first week of December :(

Great news for me, my mother is coming to visit!!  Her first time back to Thailand in over 15 years and second time visiting me abroad since her and my step-dad spent Christmas with me in Hanoi in 2010.  Because of this i'm pushing the official launch date of Rio's Kitchen to the first week of December so I can spend some much needed time with my lovely mother.  R&D is still in the works, check out the tentative menu:

I'm also super excited for her to come as my mother along with my grandma are the two women in my life that instilled in me a genuine passion for cooking.  I'm sure after her visit there will be some new additions to the menu.. possibly even Filipino inspired!

All suggestions, comments, and criticisms are much appreciated, please send me a message! :)

Welcome to Rio's Kitchen.. Launch in 2 days!

Hi everyone, welcome to Rio's Kitchen!  A small operation based in Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta in Southern Thailand.  I am obsessed with food and love cooking and making people happy.. so I thought, why not combine it all together?  Create delicious home cooked western style meals and deliver it to peoples homes. 

If all goes well, i'll have the menu up tomorrow, visit the market to get fresh ingredients, and start filling your bellies starting on the 24th of November.  Keep posted, hope you enjoy my food!