Date My Dish

Making raw beef for a date is either going to impress them or make them question your judgment. There’s no middle ground. I found this recipe in chef Nuit Regular’s cookbook and thought, you know what, sometimes you need to take a risk. Here’s why…

During my travels through northeastern Thailand, I stumbled upon a small family-run restaurant in Udon Thani where I tasted the most incredible larb I’ve ever had. The grandmother was expertly mixing the minced chicken with toasted rice powder, fresh herbs, and just the right amount…

I’ll never forget the first time I tried authentic chicken satay at a bustling night market in Bangkok. The aroma of grilled chicken mingling with the sweet, nutty peanut sauce was absolutely intoxicating. The vendor was expertly grilling dozens of skewers over charcoal, each one…

I first tried tteokbokki from a street vendor in Seoul’s Myeongdong district, and it was a revelation. Chewy rice cakes swimming in this glossy, spicy-sweet sauce that was simultaneously fiery and addictive. I watched the vendor stir the massive pan, the sauce bubbling and coating…

This matcha tiramisu became a running gag in my office after I lost an amateur cooking competition show for serving it. Apparently, I single-handedly ruined the beloved tiramisu cherished by Italians everywhere, who are absolute purists about it being served only with coffee and nothing…

I had chimichurri for the first time at an Argentinian steakhouse on a date, and it completely changed how I thought about steak. The server brought out this bright green sauce and spooned it over our grilled meat. One bite and I understood why people…

I didn’t understand gremolata until I tasted it on top of osso buco at a tiny Italian restaurant in Little Italy. I’d seen it mentioned in recipes but always skipped it, thinking it was just garnish. Then the server brought out this braised meat dish…

First time I ate osso buco was at my friend’s place. His Italian mom made it and mentioned it was the first thing she cooked when she met her husband. Said it made him fall in love with her. I remembered that. Fast forward to…

Polenta is one of those versatile dishes you reach for when you don’t want rice or pasta. It’s made from cornmeal and used across different countries. In Italy, it’s a northern staple served with everything from braised meats to seafood. In parts of Eastern Europe,…

These are my go-to potatoes for date night. I’m not serving plain mashed potatoes or boring baked potatoes when I’m trying to impress someone. These have actual technique, which makes you look like you know what you’re doing in the kitchen. They’re loaded with butter…