Edible Indispensability

So the CC is going to make a (partial) list of things he finds indispensable around the house.

Paranoia reigns so these are staples chez le CC (running out of these makes the CC very upset.)

The CC is not talking about staples like salt, pepper, and olive oil. Nor is he talking about dried stuff like lentils. These are semi-fresh/perishables that must be maintained in continuous supply.

And we're talking ingredients that invoke pure desperation (a.k.a. panic attack,) not something that you can easily live without.

Garlic (There have only been two days in the last 10 years minus garlic in the house. Those two days were the worst of the CC's cooking life. Never again!)

Homemade tomato-paste.

Dried porcini mushrooms.

Rices: (basmati, and arborio.)

Frozen grated coconut, frozen peas, frozen corn.

ginger, green chillies, fresh curry leaves.

So gentle readers, is there anything you find indispensable?

C'mon folks! It's feedback time.

Sichuan Food

Last night, the CC had dinner at the most amazing Sichuan restaurant. They were told not to dumb down the food for the foreigner (the CC was the only non-Chinese person at the restaurant) but they did a slight dumbdown anyway. Oh well!

Vegetarians definitely need not apply here (or in general, for traditional Chinese food.)

For cold appetizers (traditional), we had seaweed, jellyfish and pig skin (three dishes.)

For the main course, we had carp.