Here’s the recipe I wrote about earlier that calls for Japanese mayonnaise. I encourage you to go to your local Asian market to get some since it really does have a flavor that is unique and adds a special note to the dish when prepared. Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed
• 1 dash garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 pounds scallops
• 1 cup Japanese mayonnaise, such as Kewpie brand
• 1/2 teaspoon chili-garlic sauce, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped Read “As Promised: Scallop-Topped Portabello Mushrooms”

Many Asian cultures share the tradition of gathering family to cook and enjoy meals together, but the activity can be broken out by three distinct regions:The southwest style of Asian cuisine includes dishes from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Burma and is strong in kebabs with t he use of hot peppers, black pepper, cloves, and other strong spices.The northeast tradition of Asian cooking is comprised of China, Korea, and Japan which all place an emphasis on the use of fats, oils, and spices in the cooking process. Additionally, spices are used for more than mere cooking in the northeast tradition since they move to the medicinal category as well.The third dietary culture of Asia is the southeast style which includes Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Indonesia, and Singapore (as well as a few others). This region Read “Three Asian Cooking Cultures”

If you consider yourself a “foodie” it’s a good chance you’ve run across a recipe or two with some ingredients that you’ve either never cooked with before; or worse, never even heard of. This happened to me recently when I happened upon a recipe for Japanese mayonnaise. Hmmm, I wondered, how is this any different from American mayonnaise? I was soon to find out the answer to that question plus a whole lot more as I ventured to my local Asian food market.Once inside I was like a kid in a candy store noticing sights, smells, and colors I had not seen before. The produce alone was Read “The Asian Grocery Store: A Whole New World”