Have any of you guys seen the Pixar short film Bao? Obviously though, I am here to do my usual talk about food not movies! 😂 ‘Bao’ is the Chinese word for ‘bun’ as in bread. I grew up eating bao regularly whilst living in Hong Kong, though mostly outside when we are eating dim sum during our weekly family Saturday brunch.
Growing in an Asian household, baking wasn’t something that came naturally to me as steaming was the more prominent cooking method my family used. Likewise, bao is a steamed bun rather than those being baked in the oven. Yesterday, I decided to use my mum’s giant wok to do some steaming.
The bao I made is officially known as ‘Gua bao’ – a popular Taiwanese street food, though more well known simply as ‘bao’ in the Western world in the recent years. The recipe I used for the buns is from BBC Good Food (Link👉 https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/steamed-bao-buns) I adapted the recipe with a fairly traditional stewed pork belly and cucumber filling. It’s a very straight recipe to use, so give it a try! 😉
Have you heard that it’s common for one to lose their appetite in the summer? I sometimes wonder if is it really to do with the heat, or people are careful about watching their beach bodies? Either way, the heat wave today didn’t seem to have affected my appetite at all (though it did change my diet to mainly compose of cold drinks and ice creams…🍹🍦🍧🍨) So, today, I paid a visit to Bao in London Soho.
Their Signature Classic Bao with Braised Pork, Peanut Powder and Coriander
I was introduced to this place by a friend of mine two years ago. It is quite well known in the city and this particular branch I visited usually have a long queue outside (especially in the evening), so I was quite lucky today that I managed to get straight inside without waiting. The restaurant is known for serving Taiwanese street food with some old classic dishes and some with a modern twist.
I’ve come here a few times before and I must say the food is delicious. Though a warning to big eaters like me, because the dishes are small, you might get carried away ordering too much and ended up with an expensive bill! 😅 (The place does offer £90 to order everything on the menu. Feel free to give it a try haha!) Their signature classic bao did not disappoint as the bread bun was soft and fitted perfectly with the rich, tender pork filling.
Guinea Fowl Rice
The second dish I ordered was the guinea fowl rice. It was recommended to mix the rice and the toppings together before eating. It was a simple dish but one that very much reminded me of home. The guinea fowl was tender and the yolk brought the life to this dish.
Fried Pig Trotter Nuggets and Pig Blood Cake, a Taiwanese Classic
Next were two of my favourites here. 😋 The fried pig trotter nuggets were crispy on the outside but very juicy on the inside. Pig trotters are often considered cheap meats, but it is enjoyed in many Asian cuisines. Now, I am actually not a fan of pig trotters (despite being loved by many in my family), but this modern spin is one definitely not to be missed by me, especially when paired with the green chilli sauce.
On the other hand, pig blood cake is a very traditional, classic Taiwanese street food. The reason I love this dish so much is because it reminds me of my time growing up eating pig blood curd in Hong Kong, and also when I used to have black puddings for breakfast whilst I was living in Scotland. The rich, savouriness of the pig blood mixed with the sticky rice and cured egg yolk might not be one for everyone, but it certainly ticked a lot of my boxes. 😉
Have you also tried Taiwanese food before? Let me know about any thoughts you have in the comments! 😊
Tango's Baking 