What I Eat In A Week: Dad’s Korean BBQ Birthday

I kicked off this week with my dad’s chill, at-home Korean BBQ birthday celebration, and ended with a successful kai dong Canada and New Product Launch. It has been an emotional journey of ups and downs and late night 10 minute noodles for me, but I’m happy to have my family and all of you there supporting me. Let me show you what I cook and ate this busy week as I celebrated my dad’s birthday, launched my latest products, and watched fireworks with friends and family!

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In Memory Of My Dad

A month after this video was filmed, my dad passed away peacefully in Taiwan surrounded by family. Since he was diagnosed 5 years ago, I’ve decided to NEVER ever take family time for granted anymore, no matter how small the moment was. We explored Japan, revisited nostalgic spots in Taiwan, and made my dad’s chemo cravings together. My dad especially loved reading your responses to some of his favorite foods and places.

These were happy memories in my life, and I shared them as a reminder for all of us to cherish every moment. Even when life gets hard, you can find the positive when you’re surrounded by those you love. Sometimes something as simple as a shared meal is a memory that will last forever. I love you, Dad.

Tuesday: Dad’s Birthday Korean BBQ

Today actually my dad’s birthday. He specifically said he didn’t want to do anything like gifts or birthday cakes. Instead, we planned a very very chill Korean BBQ day with the family. It’s his favorite feast!

I’m in the process of cleaning out my freezer, so I started the day with a berry pineapple smoothie. For lunch, I made an easy Korean Soft Tofu Stew to warm me up for the gloomy weather. We spent the rest of the day gardening with my mom and prepping for our family Korean BBQ dinner.

If you want to bring this KBBQ Feast to your kitchen, check out my Korean BBQ Night Guide!!

Lunch: Korean Tofu Stew

It’s gloomy outside today, and I needed something soupy and comforting. Why not make a 20-minute stew for lunch? To go with our Korean theme today, I chose an easy vegetarian Sundubu jigae. This Spicy Soft Tofu Stew heats things up instantly with some kimchi, soft tofu, and veggies that soaks up all the soup. Spicy, savory, rich – I finished my bowl of rice so fast with this tofu stew!

• 1 pack of Soft/Silken Tofu (12 oz) 
• ¼ Onion (chopped) 
• 1.5 – 2  tbsp of Korean Red Chili Flakes (adjust to your spice tolerance) 
• 1.5 tbsp of Soy Sauce 
• 3 cloves of Garlic (minced) 
• 3 stalks of Green Onion (chopped and separated with white and green) 
• 2.5 oz of Pork Belly or Beef (sliced and optional) 
• 2 cups of Anchovy or Dashi stock (vegetarian, chicken, or beef stock also works) 
• 4 Fresh Shiitake Mushroom (sliced) 
• One pack of Enoki Mushrooms 
• 1 Egg 

Korean Spicy Soft Tofu Stew – Sundubu Jjigae

25 minutes minutes

Spicy and addicting Korean Spicy Soft Tofu Stew is not only tasty but also super easy to make at home. Get yourself a big bowl of rice and get ready to indulge in Itaewon Class-inspired Sundubu Jjigae this week!

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Dad’s Birthday Korean BBQ Dinner

While Dom and my mom are still wrapping up gardening, I started putting everything together for our Korean BBQ dinner. I’ve premade some sides, and marinated the meats yesterday just to give myself less work today. All I have to do today is set everything up, plate the sides, and make our last fresh salad, a Wasabi Soy Crab Salad.

Banchan: My Side Dish Assortment

Just like the Korean Restaurants, our Korean BBQ starts with a ton of banchan, or side dishes. I actually pre-made most the side dishes yesterday, including spinach salad, bean sprouts, spicy cucumber, braised quail eggs, and marinated mayak eggs. All of these are recipes that not only keep well in the fridge in bulk over the week, but are super simple to make!

Korean Spinach Salad (Sigeumchi Namul)

10 minutes minutes

Here are two types of healthy and delicious Korean Spinach Salad (Sigeumchi Namul) that take less than 10 minutes to make and can last in the fridge for a whole week! We are making two flavors today, one spicy and one savory; both flavors taste good with everything and are super simple to make. Make Sigeumchi Namul in bulk once a week, and you got vegetables ready to go for the rest of the week!

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Korean Bean Sprout Side Dish – Kongnamul Muchim

15 minutes minutes

Are you ready for a meal prep recipe that is healthy, delicious, AND super EASY to make every week? Here’s how to make one of the most popular Korean side dishes from my favorite Korean drama, “True Beauty,” Korean Bean Sprout Side Dish – Kongnamul Muchim. It takes less than 15 minutes to make, and I literally have this every week. All you need is a big bowl of hot rice to enjoy with this tasty Korean Bean Sprout Side Dish. We will be making two flavors today, one spicy and one savory; both are super addicting and refreshing! 

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Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad

10 minutes minutes

This spicy and savory cucumber salad will be the ultimate hit at every summer picnic and gathering. The best part is? Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim is super refreshing, and you can also prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days! I have it as a side dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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Korean Braised Quail Eggs – Mechurial Jorim

40 minutes minutes

I am sure I am not the only one that drooled a little bit when watching all the delicious Korean Side Dishes made by Mrs. Kang in “It’s Ok Not to Be Ok.” Welcome to my new series, where I cook recipes from my favorite K-dramas. The one dish that particularly stood out to me was the super addicting Korean Braised Quail Eggs – Mercurial Jorim. The quail eggs were marinated to perfection with a perfect balance between sweet and savory. Super easy and affordable to make at home and can last in the fridge for up to 5 days! Get your rice or porridge ready because this will for sure be a crowd pleaser side dish that your friends and family will LOVE!

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Korean Marinated Eggs – Mayak Gyeran

2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Get your rice ready because these delicious, garlicky, and savory Korean Marinated Eggs will be your go-to side dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! If you never tried Korean Marinated Eggs – Mayak Gyeran, you are seriously missing out. The egg yolk is gooey and soft on the inside, while the egg is marinated in a savory, spicy, and sweet sauce that pairs perfectly with a hot bowl of rice! Mayak Gyeran is easy and affordable to make, and I promise you will love it too!

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Refreshing Wasabi Soy Crab Salad

There’s something about warm weather and sunshine that makes me crave fresh vibrant salads like this Wasabi Soy Crab Salad. The crunchy bell peppers and cucumbers combined with sweet-spicy wasabi soy dressing is so irresistible. All you have to do is mix everything together, and it’s done! It’s refreshingly addicting, perfect for cutting through the salty fattiness of grilled marinated short ribs.

• 3 bell peppers
• 1 cucumber
• 1 pack imitation crab meat (227 g or 8 oz)
• 2 tbsp Rice Vinegar or Sushi Seasoning
• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1-2 tsp any sweetener of your choice
• 1 tsp Sesame Oil
• 1/2 tsp Mustard (to taste)
• 1/4 tsp Wasabi (to taste)
• 2 tbsp Roasted Sesame Seeds (ground)

Japanese Crab Salad with Wasabi Soy Dressing

5 minutes minutes

I made this 5 Minute easy Japanese Crab Salad as part of my dad's birthday Korean BBQ day, and it was a hit! Made with wasabi, rice vinegar, and soy sauce as the dressing, this is the most refreshing crab salad. This umami-packed salad has a tart flavor that cuts through the fattiness of grilled meat. You'll love making it for the next family gathering!

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Korean BBQ Marinade – Just Like KBBQ Restaurants!

For tonight’s Korean BBQ dinner, we got some really well marbled beef short ribs, or galbi. To make the meat extra flavorful, I love using this Korean BBQ Marinade recipe for all sorts of proteins. Made with fresh grated ginger, onions, pears, apples, and garlic, this marinade tenderizes the meat while marinating. It’s a super flavorful and meaty bite once grilled!

• 1 apple
• 1 onion white or yellow
• 1 Korean pear if cannot find, double the apple
• 10-15 cloves garlic minced
• 1 inch ginger
• 1 cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup mirin
• 3 tablespoon honey can replace with brown sugar
• 1 tsp black pepper – adjust to your own liking
• 1.5 tbsp sesame oil

Easy Korean BBQ Meat Marinade

10 minutes minutes

This Korean BBQ Meat marinade is a game changer! I use it not only for beef, but also for pork and chicken. The natural fruit juices of apple and pear provide a natural sweetness while making the meat super super juicy and tender. 

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Wednesday: Cozy Comfort Foods

Last night ended up getting my period, so today is all about cozy and comfy foods. I made myself a nostalgic Hot and Sour Soup with a plateful of Pork Dumplings for lunch. It’s a meal that truly brings me back to student times!

Later in the day, I made myself a healthy air fryer bread pudding to satisfy a sweet craving. Honestly, it hits every time. I ended my day with a workout session and some pan fried buns at my mom’s place. She always makes them so crispy and yummy!

Lunch: Dumplings and Hot and Sour Soup

I’m having the most intense craving for hot and sour soup and dumplings. This was my go-to combo when I was a student in Taiwan. I swear, Taiwan’s beef noodle shops also sell the best dumplings, but the dumpling places also have the best hot an sour soups! Obviously, dumplings and hot and sour soup is the perfect combo.

• 6 Shiitake Mushroom (sliced) 
• 1/2 Carrot (cut into thin pieces) 
• 1 pack of Tofu (cut into thin strips) 
• 1/2 cup of Sliced Bamboo Shoots 
• 2 Eggs (beaten) 
• 5 cups of Vegetable Stock 
• 2 tbsp of Corn Starch mixed w/ 4 cold water
• 3 tbsp of Soy Sauce 
• 4 tbsp of Black Vinegar 
• 3 tsp of White Pepper (or more if you like it spicy) 
• 1 tsp of Sugar

Vegetarian Hot and Sour soup

15 minutes minutes

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of Hot & Sour Soup? Hot and Sour soup is one of the easiest and tastiest soups that takes less than 15 minutes to make at home. Spicy, savory, and tangy soup is delicious, healthy, and filled with yummy vegetables. I am sharing a vegetarian version today, but you can also add any protein of your choices, such as sliced chicken and pork. Give this Hot and Sour Soup recipe a try today, and you will be shocked how easy it is to make a classic buffet favorite at home!

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• 1 lb of Chives (Chopped)
• 2 tbsp of Sesame Oil
• 1.5 lb Ground Pork or Chicken
• 2 tbsp of Oyster Sauce
• 2 tbsp of Soy Sauce
• 1 tbsp of Ginger
• 1 tsp of Salt
• 1 tsp of Chicken Powder
• 1 tsp of White Pepper
• 50 Dumpling Wrappers

Pork and Chives Dumplings

50 minutes minutes

Welcome to DAY 2 of the Lunar New Year Series, and today we will be making Pork and Chives Dumplings, which brings you WEALTH in the New Year! Dumplings are a traditional lucky dish that symbolizes wealth since it resembles ancient gold ingots. In my culture, the more dumplings you eat during Lunar New Year, the more money you make in the new year! Not only are dumplings good luck, but these juicy, delicious Chive Dumplings are also the best dumplings you will EVER try!

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Dessert: Air Fryer Bread Pudding

I’m craving something sweet, so I made my super easy air fryer bread pudding recipe in 20 minutes. Inside, I added some blueberries, and topped with ice cream and honey. If you ever have a sweet tooth, just make this bread pudding at home. You can top with any berries or fruits of your choice. Sweet tooth satisfied everytime!

• 2 Eggs 
• 1 cup Milk 
• 3-5 tablespoons Sugar 
• 2 slices Toasts 
• Ice cream 
• Drizzle of honey 
• Powder Sugar 

Air Fryer Bread Pudding

20 minutes minutes

This is the EASIEST dessert you can make in 20 minutes, crispy on top, jiggle, and soft on the inside! Air Fryer Bread Pudding takes less than 20 minutes to make at home and is super delicious and affordable. You can customize your Air Fryer Bread Pudding by adding other toppings such as ice cream, honey, raisins, coconut, or chocolate, but here is my easy four-ingredient dessert that you need to make this holiday season.

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Dinner: Mom’s Pan Fried Buns

After my workout, we dropped by my parents place for some of my mom’s delicious pan-fried buns. They’re pan-fried till crispy and golden brown, while the inside is packed with a savory vegetable filling. Growing up in Taiwan, I had Pan-Fried Vegetable Buns for breakfast at least three times a week! I make these myself all the time, but it just tastes better when my mom’s making it.

• 2 cups of Flour 
• 1 tsp of Salt 
• ½ cup of Cold Water 
• ½ cup of Warm Water 
• 1 tsp of Yeast 
• 1 tsp of Sugar 
• ½ Cabbage sliced 
• 2 tbsp of Salt
• ½ cup of Shiitake Mushroom Sliced 
• ½ cup of Black Fungus sliced 
• ⅓ of a Carrot sliced 
• 2 tbsp of Vegetarian Oyster Sauce 
• 1 tbsp of Mushroom Powder 
• 2 tbsp of Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp of White Pepper 
• 3 Stalks of Green Onion (chopped and separated) 
• 50g  Vermicelli Noodles (Mung Bean Noodles) 

Pan-Fried Vegetable Buns – 水煎包 (Shui Jian bao)

2 hours hours

Day 2 of Cooking 15 Street Foods for 15 Days, and today we are making a Taiwanese Classic Street Food that I grew up eating at least 3x a week, Crispy Pan-Fried Vegetable Buns that are insanely delicious! Pan-Fried Vegetable Buns – 水煎包 (Shui Jian bao) is one of the best things you will ever put in your mouth! The bao is pan-fried till crispy and golden brown, while the inside is packed with a savory vegetable filling. Extra Crispy Buns that I promise every person in your household will LOVE!

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Thursday: New Sauces by kai dong – Now Ships To Canada!

Today we’re doing our photoshoot for the kai dong new product and Canada launch, which is so exciting! We are releasing a new Everyday Garlic Oil and Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce, and I am so excited for you guys to try them out.

It has been a dream come true to create kai dong. From the bottom my heart, thank you so so so much. I would never have thought that someone like me would able to start my own brand and share my recipes with the world. From creating the recipe to bottling each jar, every product is made with so much love.

This launch includes a FULL RESTOCK of all your favorite sauces and noodles, PLUS two new sauces: Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce and Everyday Garlic Oil.

All sauces are 100% preservative free and vegan friendly, made from scratch in Taiwan. Plus, kai dong now ships to CANADA!

Buy now

Late Night: Easy Spicy Noodle Soup

I finally finished editing late into the night, and I’m starving. Dom and I enjoyed a hot bowl of Spicy Noodle Soup with some marinated eggs and spinach salad as a late night snack. It reminds me of those college days slurping down a bowl of noodle soup after a night of studying. It’s a simple, but warming reward. It’s ready in 10 minutes, and satisfies any noodle cravings.

• 1 serving of kai dong QQ noodles
• 1.5 tbsp kai dong Golden Shallot Oil
• 1 tsp kai dong Four Season Scallion Sauce
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp powder stock (I like dashi!)
• 2 cups hot noodle water
• Green onion and cilantro to garnish

Easy Noodle Soup

10 minutes minutes

Let’s make my EASY NOODLE SOUP ready in 10 MINUTES! One of my go-to recipes whenever I am on the run, is my easy noodle soup. All you need is a few simple ingredients, and you go lunch ready in 10 minutes! Depending on what you have in the fridge, you can customize the easy noodle soup with pan-fried spam, poached egg, or fish balls.

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Friday: Book Club Day

I’ve got a packed day today, since we have a ton of prep work before kai dong’s launch. I’ve also got Book Club tonight with my sister and friends, so I’m knocking out my to-do list. To start, I made myself a blueberry banana smoothie. It’s like a dessert in a cup!

For a quick lunch, I made a Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Rice from some of the leftover Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce in my fridge. It was such a satisfying meal before Book Club!

Lunch: Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Rice

For lunch I’m thinking doing something quick and easy. Since we had some black pepper sauce left in the fridge, I made some delicious Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Rice, just like Taiwan’s night markets, or like Pepper Lunch! I remember finishing my homework super fast after school in Taiwan so we can run to the night market and try all kinds of yummy food. My dad’s favorite was for sure the black pepper steak.

• 1.5 tbsp of Butter 
• 4 tablespoon kai dong Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce
• 1 onion
• 0.5 pound Thinly Sliced Beef 
• 1 bowl of Rice 
• Toppings
  • Corn 
  • Green Onion

Taiwanese Night Market Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Rice

15 minutes minutes

This is the easiest way to take home Taiwan's Night Market Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Rice! If you've ever been to a Taiwanese Night Market Steakhouse, or Pepper Lunch, you know a Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Rice always hits the spot. We created kai dong's new Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce because of how much my dad loved Black Pepper Steak and Rice. Today, I wanted to share his favorite so you can make it at home!

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Dinner: Book Club!

It’s Friday night, with means it’s Book Club Night with my sister and a couple of our friends. Every week, we take turns hosting and picking our books. We share our thoughts on this week’s book, The Perfect Child, over a delicious spread of Thai food. It’s a chance for me get a new perspective on something I’ve read, and my favorite part is actually fan casting the characters! If you’re curious about my thoughts on these books, heck out my review of all my recent book club bestseller picks!

Read With Us!

Do you also love reading? Come join me and so many other book worm friends in my BOOK CLUB, where we read, discuss, and share!

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Saturday: Spending Time with Family and Friends

I’m so excited to start enjoying the weekend! I spent most of the day editing, but I’m ready to spend some time with friends and family. Dom and I headed over to Another Beer Co for some draft beers, before getting tacos at Mi Casa.

It’s Vancouver’s annual Celebration of Light fireworks show tonight! This event happens every summer, where 3 countries compete for the best fireworks over 3 nights. Vancouver comes alive every year for this event, and it really is spectacular! This year, our friends invited us over to their apartment for drinks and Hwachae during the show. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Another Beer Co.

Prioritizing your wellbeing isn’t just about exercising and healthy eating. It’s also about going out and enjoying that beer with loved ones on a hot day. To officially start our weekend, Dom and I headed over to Another Beer Co in New Westminster for some draft beers. They offer wide range of craft beers, both canned and on draft. Some of these are from their own brewery as well!

Another Beer Co is open Tuesday to Sunday, and also offers monthly events and pop-ups. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a warm afternoon, especially sitting in their outdoor patio! Come by and enjoy a craft beer on their patio, or check out one of their workshops.

Mi Casa Cocina Mexicana

Next, it’s taco time! We headed over to Mi Casa Cocina Mexicana for some authentic Mexican dinner. We ordered almost everything, from tacos to tamales. Everything tasted so fresh, and they’ve got so many unique options you might not find elsewhere. If you visit, you have to try their tamales – and don’t forget the green salsa!

Mi Casa Cocina Mexicana is open weekly Tuesday to Sunday. If you want to keep some authentic Mexican food at home, you can even order tamales and salsas for pickup on Saturday.

Hwachae and Fireworks with Friends

This year, we got the chance to view the Vancouver’s annual Celebration of Light fireworks show away from the crowds downtown in the comfort of my friend’s apartment. In the meantime, we shared some drinks and a huge bowl of the Tiktok viral Hwachae with our favorite fruits. A friend recently told me that almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. I’m glad to be creating memories with my friends, because a good laugh with them really recharges my battery.

• 2 cups Watermelon, cubed
• 1 dragonfruit, cubed
• 1 carton blueberries
• 1.5 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 carton blackberries
• 6 coconut jellies
• 1 bottle of strawberry milk
• 1 bottle of Sprite
• ice

Hwachae: Korean Watermelon Fruit Punch

5 minutes minutes

I've been seeing Hwachae ALL OVER TIKTOK and I wanted to make it myself. This refreshing Korean Watermelon Fruit Punch is fizzy, fruity, and fun! Make with a variety of berries, strawberry milk, and soda, its a refreshing way to rehydrate and cool down. Grab a big bowl, and take 5 minutes to make this fruity summer treat. You'll love eating it by the pool this summer!

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