Why roasted? Because they taste better. Freshly roasting your own is the tastiest, but commercially roasted seeds can be quite good. Also, you can lightly toast them again to bring out the flavor.

Anonymous, a good source for sesame seeds is an east or south Asian market with finicky customers and lots of turnover. Sesame seeds have the hull removed for appearance, mildness of flavor, and better storage properties, but I prefer seeds with the hull on. A little bitterness is fine with me.

If it tastes lousy, it’s rancid. You can sometimes smell if it’s off, but you can’t beat a taste test.

White sesame seeds with hulls aren’t particularly brown, more beige.

Hi, Gabrielle. I find it’s really easy to burn the aromatics, and if you add them at the end, you minimize their contact with the hot pan. Yes, traditionally it’s done the other way. I don’t know what the trick is. (If any readers know, please divulge!)

Best,
Matthew

Brian, you’re not going to believe this, but I have exchanged email with the hand-hammered wok guy. Major (wok-)brush with greatness.

anonymous, a stainless steel wok is problematic at best. It won’t season up into a natural nonstick coating, so some foods will always stick, especially to the sides. I’d consider a cheap carbon steel wok or a cast iron skillet.

Adam, it’s great to see you writing for Culinate. I still make your milkshakes all the time. Even in winter. Possibly this afternoon.

One other thing I mentioned during the chat is that my favorite Japanese tea supplier, o-cha.com, is in Fukushima prefecture. The owner is fine and his office wasn’t badly damaged, and he’s working hard to get his business back online. I have no relationship with this company other than as a satisfied customer, but I’d like to see their business survive, because the product is phenomenal. If you like green tea, I hope you’ll join me in ordering from them once they’re back (follow @bestgreentea on Twitter).

If you’re not sure what to buy, I recommend the Kagoshima Sencha Sae Midori.

Best,
Matthew

Hooray for lard!

One note: boxed lard is partially hydrogenated and contains trans fats, but it’s still mostly monounsaturated fat. Also, it doesn’t have much flavor. Still, though, it makes a pretty good pie crust.

It’s this one:

http://canada.lkk.com/commonCA/Consumer/ConsumerProductDetail.aspx?Catalog=LKK&OID=2&MaterialCode=7

Enjoy!

Matthew