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I wanted to think of one straightforward product recommendation to include and this one sprang right to mind. Salute Lao Gan Ma and Lee Kum Kee -- here at the Spyplane Test Kitchen we keep their chili oils on deck -- but a newer option that is fantastic and way more expensive per ounce, but real talk worth the splurge?? Fly By Jingās Sichuan Chili Crisp. As with any good chili oil you can put it on stir-fries, pizza, coconut ice cream, etc. Itās made in Chengdu and in addition to classic bedrock ingredients it includes fermented black bean, shallots, mushroom powder, ginger, seaweed, etc...
May 27, 2021
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Like many people over the course of pandemic, I've gotten really into chili crisp over this year, because it makes even the most simple, lazy meal instantly better. The upside of the chili crisp boom is that there are a lot of new options, many of them from small sellers and each with a different approach to flavor and texture. These are my favorites.Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp This is the OG and probably the best entry point into the world of chili crisp, because it's cheap and easy to find at most online retailers and well-stocked grocery stories. This is extremely savory, thanks to MSG (we love it!), and has a nice crunch from fermented soybeans. I love eating this on top of rice with basically any meal, and it's also great on dumplings.Boon Sauce This small batch chili oil is made by LA pastry chef Max Boonthanakit, and while it's not crunchy, it's extremely flavorful due to all the aromatics and the addition of anchovies. I love this on bitter greens or on top of eggs. This is the chili oil to get as a gift, in my opinion.Ā Sze Daddy Eric Sze of the New York City Taiwanese restaurant 886 makes this cult favorite chili sauce that always sells out quickly. With a blend of chiles and star anise, this chili sauce is spicy and super flavorful. Toss this around with some noodles, throw in crispy tofu and scallions if you have 'em, and you've got my go-to weekday lunch.
Dec 1, 2020
Lately Iāve been into the Fly by Jing chili crisp, but the original Lao Gan Ma is unmatched. It improves nearly everything it touches. Whatās your favorite one?
Jan 14, 2025
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lao gan ma is the best. Fly by Jing and Momofuku are good too.
Put it on/in anything. Soups, dumplings, sandwiches, pasta.
The "chili onion crunch" at Trader Joe's is not acceptable because it does not have sichuan pepper or msg/mushroom powder.
Oct 5, 2024
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You donāt actually need whatever s**t is in yr cart, and at the very least you donāt need it boxed up and rush delivered in <24 hours by workers whose quotas mean they canāt take bathroom breaks baby!! (Also Amazon stole millions of dollars in driver tips ā true slimeball s**t, look it up!!) The āitās so convenientā argument is weak, youāre not that busy, player, go for a walk, bet you thereās a store in yr hood that sells that same s**t ā cop it there, even if it costs a few dollars more. If there *isnāt* a good store in yr hood, itās because Amazon helped kill it, making your neighborhood less VIBRANT, so f**k āem for doing that, donāt reward them with more $$... And if itās about wanting to watch movies and shows, pfffft get Criterion like a grown-up ; )
May 27, 2021
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This is an animal-rights group that, among other things, breaks into factory farms to document abuse and liberate suffering cuties. Whatever yr thoughts are about eating animals, if you have a soul you can agree that factory farming is deeply heinous nightmare evil s**t, and in fighting against it, these activists are doing tremendously hard, brave and lonely work ā so throw āem some bucks and / or help āem out in other ways!!
May 27, 2021
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Binoculars are a great technology for not looking at yr phone and instead looking with sustained attention at cool s**t that you otherwise might just let fly by you unnoticed ā birds, literally and most obviously, but also any other intriguing visual phenomenon, like for instance incredible lichen growing somewhere high up. If you are doing a picnic (see above), bring some binoculars and see whatās in the trees. If you donāt have any, get a pair at a local place or cop some secondhand online. I have a pair of simple Nikon Prostaff 7S 10x42s that I like; you could get those or something more compactā¦ check out standard-issue Nikons or Bushnells, or drop more $$ on some Fujinons or Leicas. Just be careful not to get anything so cheap & s**ty that itāll work badly and bum you outā¦
May 27, 2021