Rossi Rosticcerria & Sons (Rossi’s Deli) has been my favorite lunch spot for home-style Italian cookings. The place runs by the family, and everyone is friendly. I have tried almost everything on the daily specials and have not been disappointed yet. Some of my returning dishes include beef shishkabob, roast beef with pasta, and spinach lasagna. Took my mom there once, and she approved. As a fine chef and a demanding food critic, her approval means the food has to be tasty and healthy.

Located in Braintree, Massachusetts, Konditor Meister bakes some of the finest European-style cakes that suit my preferences: rich in flavor but light in sweet. From the delicate flour to the delightful filling to the delectable buttercream frosting to the delicious chocolate dipped strawberries, Strawberry Grand Marnier is a heaven-sent treat. If you’re in the Boston area and need a fantastic cake for your special occasion, “let Konditor Meister bake the cake of your dreams.”

Thanh Huong, which located deep inside an alley on Canal Street of New York Chinatown, reminds me of com binh dan (commoner’s cuisine or food for workers) in Viet Nam. The place is extremely small and only wide enough for a few tables, but the food is amazing. Thanh Huong is a kind of place that doesn’t need to find its customers, but the customers will find it through words of mouth, and that is how I learned about it. My first dish was Bun Bo Hue (Hue’s Style Vermicelli Soup), which was highly recommended to me, and it was delicious. The broth was spicy and savory, just like the one I had in Hue couple years ago. It was so hot that I needed a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice to cool down my system. I was sweating while slurping. After finishing up my bowl, I noticed a guy next to me ordered a gigantic plate of rice with Thit Kho (Pork Simmered in Caramel Sauce), Dua Gia (Pickled Bean Sprouts) and Tom Rim (Shrimp Simmered in Fish Sauce), which also made my mouth watery, but had to save it for next time.

After watching Lost In Translation, I’ve been looking all over for an authentic cuisine that Bill Murray has commented as, “What kind of restaurant makes you cook your own food?” Last Sunday, I have found what I have been searching for at Shabu-Zen in Boston, and I was impressed with the quality of the foods, the prices, and the services.

The whole meal is simple and elegant. Just fresh meat, fresh seafood, fresh vegetables (including tofu) boil in blazing broth according one’s personal preference (Yeah baby, I like it raw…), and then dipping in the flavorful sauce for a tasty experience. A bottle of Kirin Ichiban is a perfect choice to rinse down the food, but a glass of real-fruit smoothie, especially mango, is a delightful alternative.

I have to come back to try everything on the menu even though the “Meat Combo” (lamb and beef) and “Seafood Platter” (salmon, cod, scallops, fish cake, and squid) were magnificent. Although I am not getting paid or a free meal for my recommendation, Shabu-Zen is a worth visit if you’re in the Boston area next time.

Most restaurants translate Banh Xeo as Vietnamese Pancake. I would call it omelets to be more exact since it is prepared more like an omelet. Summertime is the best time for Banh Xeo because we need the fresh veggies. The variety of herbs, especially the lizard’s tail (rau dap ca), boosts the flavor significantly. Of course, a good mixed bowl of fish sauce is required. To make a good Banh Xeo, the skin needs to thin and crispy. Cu xan (the white strips that sneak out from the photo) needs to be sweet and juicy. I like the stuffing to have at least two jumbo shrimps and a bit of pork’s fat. A bottle of chilled beer, preferably Sapporo, might be necessary to wash down the food.

Another fantastic sweet treat from mom. Although Banh Khoai Mon is not as popular as Banh Trung Thu (Moon Cake), I like the light sweet and distinctive taste of the taro root. This piece of cake is highly enjoyable with a cup of hot tea.

Mom always find something new to go with her foods. She made this wonderful Chao Goi Ga (Congee with Chicken Salad) that got me sweating while slurping. Chao Goi Ga is nothing new, but Vietnamese chicken salad with nachos is quite different. She asked me to try, and I was reluctant at first, but was hooked once I gave it a taste, especially when accompanied by a bottle of Tsingtao. Her special mixed fish sauce added an astonishing tang to the Vietnamese taco. Mom, you rock.

Although mom was not able to make much food this time because of her surgery, she did managed to make a delicious banana cake, one of my favorite desserts. The light sweet banana is enhenced by the creamy coconut milk, and together they taste fantastic.

Too hungry to describe. Let the photo speaks for itself.

I can’t wait for the weekend to come so I drive up to Dorchester for my favorite Bo 7 Mon at Pho 2000. Even though Bo 7 Mon is being served at several Vietnamese restaurants in Dorchester, Pho 2000 stand out the most, thanks to their incomparable Mam Nem (Fermented Anchovy Dip). Based on Mekong’s style, their version of Mam Nem includes fine chopped fresh lemongrass and pineapple.

Beef is the main part, but the meal would not be complete without the savory dip and fresh vegetables. My favorite dishes are Bo Nhung Dam (Beef Fondue), Bo Chien Bo (Butter-Fried Beef), Bo Tai Chanh (Rare Beef With Lime), Bo La Lot (Grilled Beef-stuffed Leaves), and Bo Mo Chay (Fatty Beef). I am not too crazy about Cha Dum (Beef Pate) and Chao Bo (Beef Congee). Fortunately, switching dishes are allowed.

I like the way they serve each course one at a time, instead of throwing everything on the table at once. I also like the self-serving part of the meal. Some like it rare, some like it cook, some like a certain vegetables, and some don’t. So the best solution is to let each person does it the way he or she prefers. My rolls are always packed with vegetables, which required two spring papers to hold them together. Obviously a glass of cold beer is the best choice for washing down the beef and Mam Nem, but they don’t serve alcohol at Pho 2000. So a glass of durian shake is not a bad supplement.

Anh Hong, a newer restaurant also in Dorchester, offers Ca Bay Mon (seven-course fish) as an adaptation. Although the dishes are not so bad, they just don’t flow together as smooth as the original Bo 7 Mon.