Mix Mix

Remember this dish from the highlights of my last trip to LA? Well, you be the judge: did I get close with my homemade version?

J and I are pretty happy with our rendition of what Chinese restaurants call "jiao huo jiao huo." Roughly translated, this means "mix mix" and involves various combinations of cold meats and vegetables. Our version included pressed tofu, tripe, pigs' ears, seaweed, boiled eggs, green onions, and cilantro. The ingredients are sliced thin and tossed in soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil and Szechuan peppercorn oil. A sprinkling of Korean chili flakes and Szechuan peppercorn complete the dish, which is pleasingly numb and a panoply of textures and colors.