New Year, New Site!

Hi, if you've landed here, I've moved my blog to my new and rebranded website, so PLEASE visit me at wokstar.us/blog!

This will be the last post here...
I was invited by NBC Miami to celebrate Chinese New Year with their audience and thought you might enjoy some funny things that happened and the three lessons I learned:
– check lists are only good if you actually check them
– sisters are helpful except when their shots are of producer’s backs
– you can’t always trust your GPS

Thanks to Betty Yu, news reporter for NBC Miami for hooking me up with the producer for the Today Weekend Sunday Show to celebrate Chinese New Year!

Jennifer Reeves, meteorologist made my cooking segment so much FUN! She’s the BEST, got right to my cooking classes and Wok Star Kit, what a STAR!

I got Jennifer to stir fry and had to apologize because she had to use a plastic spatula, yuk! While packing for the TV appearance, I forgot to repack my spatula even though I checked it over & over, so thank goodness there was one in the studio drawer! This goes to show the IMPORTANCE of a good tool and why my spatula is so perfect.

Uh the spatula wasn’t the only thing I forgot, I also forgot the dish to put my prepped vegetables prior to the stir fry. Good thing I can think fast and used the red paper plates!

Sharon Lawson, news reporter had a taste of the Sizzling Shrimp dish and asked about my Chinese New Year table setting before winding down the news show. I can’t wait for them to join me in a Wok Star class.

After the show, we were chatting and Sharon thought she was supposed to sprinkle the contents of her red packet into the Shrimp dish! Good thing Jennifer stopped her cause she knew it was a buddha inside!

It was fortunate my sister, Valerie was visiting and was able to help me. It’s not easy to drive, work the GPS, setup and take photos as well as focus on my message, ha, ha!

Thanks to Yari, the floor producer for all your help. Sorry, my sister only got your back! Wow, you were fantastic running the whole show. I love how the reporters and producer would say, “oh, 15 seconds is a long time!” Really?

Thanks NBC Miami for inviting me!

HOH WOK CLUB: Little Lotus

Join me, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh at my upcoming HOH WOK CLUB gathering (it's a sorta Asian supper club)...Great way to meet people who share the love of food and always a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

So happy our next gathering is at Little Lotus Miami, such a cozy Asian & Japanese Tapas restaurant in downtown Miami. They opened not that long ago, so go read my restaurant review. They've been featured on ABC, Ocean Drive, Urban Daddy, Daily Candy, New Times, Miami Herald, etc.

The team, Andi, Chef Nyoman, Sari and Chef Michael helped me create this exotic and tantalizing menu with dishes from Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia. I know you'll LOVE it and want to go back and try more dishes from the talented chefs. And if you can't make this gathering, you can always go on your own and tell them Wok Star sent you.

Now, if you were my newsletter subscriber, you had first dibs before I made this event public. As a subscriber, you'll get the inside scoop for Giveaways and specials not available to even blog subscribers which is open to public viewing. You can subscribe by emailing me wokstar at eleanorhoh dot com. Anyway, CALL NOW.

WOW! What a GREAT DEAL for 38 lucky people on a first come, first served basis!

Sat. September 17, 12:30pm - 2:30pm

$25 incl. tips and tax.Drinks not included, cash bar, separate check.

Little Lotus Restaurant

17 East Flagler Street #107, Downtown Miami, Fl 33131

Street meter parking or garages all round

Here's the incredible 5 course menu we put together for you!
Appetizer

- Salmon Bola: Baked Salmon with seaweed salad.
- Crispy Bok Choy: Deep Fried Chips with garlic sauce.

Second Course
- Beef Rendang: Indonesian Stewed Beef, slightly sweet.
- Gado-Gado: Indonesian Steamed Vegetable Salad with peanut sauce dressing (see photo)

Third Course
Crispy Paratha Tuna: Japanese/ Malaysian Pizza Style with sweet onion sauce.

Fourth Course
Laksa Ayam: Malaysian Chicken Curry with coconut milk and rice noodles

Dessert
Natalie Portman: banana wrapped with sushi rice deep fried, topped with coconut flakes and served with wine glaze sauce and fresh strawberries.

Here's the lowdown:
1. Call 305-533-2700 and ask for manager, Andi
2. Mention Wok Star Event: Sept. 17
3. How many in your group? They will try and accommodate you as best they can but it's a tiny restaurant, so you may not sit together. It's a good time to meet new people!
4. Prepay with your credit card
5. Provide your email AND telephone number (this is ESSENTIAL in case there's last minute announcements and we need to get hold of you.)

Look forward to seeing you there!

Wok Star Eleanor

Explanation of HOH WOK CLUB.

Join Little Lotus Miami Facebook page.

For latest Updates, join Wok Star Eleanor Hoh Facebook page

Chef Demos at Common Threads Fundraiser!

Iron Chef contestant, Chef Dena Marino, MC Hospitality Group was our headliner and closing act for Kids Eat Miami's inaugural fundraiser event for Common Threads! I'll be posting the chef's individual posts soon. Also, all the recipes will be posted on Kids Eat Miami site soon.

I can't wait to hear the tally on how much this event raised. For a first, I think everyone did a FANTASTIC job of pulling together for a great cause! 

Thanks to Jungle Island for hosting this event and to all the participating sponsors, auction donors, organizers and especially to the volunteers. The kids love ya! Please visit Common Threads to see how you can get involved in this community project. And let's not forget Chef Michelle Bernstein who started the Miami chapter.

Common Threads Chef instructor and Nutrolution, Rachael Richardson, RD, LN/D made a delicious, very fluffy Tabbouleh using quinoa instead of bulgar wheat.

Kelly Saks, Miss Earth Florida teaches adolescents success through ecology (T.A.S.T.E.). A vegetarian herself, she does a great job promoting healthy eating and the kids related to her.

Wok Star Eleanor Hoh gives monthly cooking classes in Miami. I made a sizzling beef with baby bok choy and bell pepper. I wanted to show a tasty, one-dish dinner for busy weeknights can be simple and easy.

Chef Shawn Fralin, Rakkasan Chef and his teenage kids made Conch Soup from the Overtown CookBook. As he says, can be served hot and sassy or chilled and spicy, umm.

Great turnout for the chef demos even though the other activities were way out in Jungle Island. What I noticed was the minute people smelled food, they were THERE!

I couldn't resist doing the celebrity chef photo op.

Lyons Salon + Spa host Wok Star in Miami

Lyons Salon + Spa is a loft-like, beautiful, open space where I'll be giving my Wok Star cooking class!

Just booked 3 dates there, first one Wed. Jan.12 just in time for Chinese New Year and start to a new way to make healthy, simple, fresh weeknight dinners!

For me, it's all about giving people a wonderful experience when they come to my class, it sets the tone, mood and atmosphere for socializing and inspires people to learn.

The owners did a wonderful job making the space tranquil and serene with Asian motifs and accents, love it. 

An incredible PLUS is free and secure parking all round the building! One of the reasons why I've never succeeded in nailing down a South Beach venue.

Friendly wave from staff in the lobby area.

Buddha, bamboo, vintage wood table and rug with exotic Asian accents.

Rocky, the owner/hairstylist is quite the renaissance man!  He designed the bench in the lobby. Notice GORGEOUS vintage wood Spa door.

Asian ceramic pot, I think it's called 'thousand flower' design or something like it. Sorry it's a bit dark contrast.