An Asian-Inspired Week

Soba Noodles, Thai Chicken Flatbread, and Rice-Fried Barley (hear me out...)

Hi, Hello, and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

First off, I want to thank each and every one of you for all of the positive comments, productive feedback, and overall fabulous vibes last week. It made every second spent creating, developing, writing, and sharing worth it and I’m so excited for all that’s to come in this Restaurant Dropout community. ❤️

NOW…

This week, I wanted to switch things up and sort of pay homage to a part of my food background.

I’ve talked about this before on my TikTok, so if you’ve heard this, I’m sorry (you can skip to This Week’s Menu). But if you haven’t…

A few years ago, I left my restaurant job to work for a company that focused on virtual cooking classes. This cooking startup was AAPI-founded, which meant I got to learn a lot more about Asian cuisine, specifically Chinese, Thai, and Filipino cuisine by the 2 very talented/fabulous guys who started it all, in addition to some of my coworkers.

At this startup, I was a chef instructor where I taught 1 to 1.5-hour cooking classes on dishes ranging from Jiaozi to Massaman Curry. And let me just say, as a half-white/half-Latina 20-something-year-old girl, intimidated was an understatement.

However, my managers showed me the ropes (and were kind enough to be patient with me while I learned), and the more classes I taught, the more confidence I gained. And as they say, teaching is one of the best ways to learn!!!

Although this week’s menu is nowhere near traditional, it’s 1000% inspired by my love for the incredible flavors and techniques of various Asian cuisines and I hope you enjoy it! ☺️

Day 1: Soba Noodles with Garlic-Ginger Poached Shrimp

Elements:

• Buckwheat Noodles

• Peanut Sauce

• Carrots

• Edamame

• Scallions

• Cilantro

• Pickled Shallots & Fresno Peppers

Protein Pairing: Garlic-Ginger Poached Shrimp (Suggested Alternative: Extra-Firm Tofu)

Day 2: Barley Bowls with Garlicky Green Beans

Elements:

• Barley

• Creamy Basil Vinaigrette

• Roasted Sweet Potatoes

• Kale Blend

• Hot Honey Soy Cashews

• Garlic Green Beans

• Pickled Shallots

Protein Pairing: Pan-Seared Salmon (Suggested Alternative: White Beans)

Day 3: Thai Chicken Flatbread

Elements:

• Peanut Sauce

• Mozzarella

• Cabbage

• Carrots

• Cilantro

• Scallions

• Hot Honey Soy Cashews

• Pickled Shallots & Fresno Peppers

Protein Pairing: Baked Chicken or Extra-Firm Tofu

Day 4: Harvest Salad

Elements:

• Kale Blend

• Barley

• Creamy Basil Vinaigrette

• Carrots

• Mozzarella

• Pickled Shallots

• Hot Honey Soy Cashews

• Torn Basil

Protein Pairing: Balsamic Chicken (Suggested Alternatives: Pan-Seared Steak or White Beans)

Day 5: Rice-Fried Barley

Elements:

• Barley

• Green Beans

• Egg

• Whipped Soy Garlic Butter

• Edamame

• Cabbage

• Pickled Fresno Peppers

• Avocado

Protein Pairing: Stir-Fried Shrimp or Tofu (cooked in the Whipped Soy Garlic Butter)

Now I want to preface this grocery list with one massive round of applause…perhaps a standing ovation????

…BECAUSE MORE THAN 60% OF OUR GROCERIES THIS WEEK WERE PRODUCE!!!

I don’t know about you, but I always feel like it’s a win in my book when I can create a week’s worth (well, 5 days) of meals out of vegetables. Generally, produce-heavy shopping carts are not only more nutrient-rich, but they’re also less expensive (especially when the produce is in season). SO, GO TEAM!!!!!!

Cost Efficiency Tip

If you want to lower your grocery bill by at least $10 this week, I recommend going to your closest Asian market (if you’re near one) - their produce prices are difficult to beat.

They might not have a few ingredients on our Grocery List (like lacinato kale, mozzarella, or barley), so it’d be a 2-store shopping spree, BUT, you’d save on a lot of the produce cost, bringing your total down for the week.

Unfortunately, I didn’t go to an Asian market, but if I lived closer to one, I would have.

This Week’s Total Cost: ~$60

We’re looking at around $6 a meal per person this week (and possibly less had I gone to an Asian market)!

Grocery List

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