Ever wonder where wasabi comes from? It seems like the bright green blob squeezed out of a tube was just always like that, a course paste. But was it? And where does it actually come from?

Wasabi is a plant of the  Brassicaceae family, which also includes horseradish and mustard. This makes sense because it has that very intense, up front flavor right as it enters your mouth. The plant that is comes from looks very odd. It has leaves and a very large looking root. But that root is actually the stem to the leaves of the plant and where the wasabi comes from. Yeah, I know that it doesn’t seem like that large, coarse root could contain a bright green paste but it does you just have to know how to get it. When making wasabi you have to use a special metal grater called a oroshigane. This grinds the stem very finely creating the course, green paste that you know as wasabi.

Traditionally it comes from Japan and is known for being used alongside sushi, though there are other ways to use it. At Windchimes our chief has used this spicy paste to kick up the flavors of some food such as tuna and shrimp. The Wasabi Shrimp dish starts off very flavorful and you don’t taste the wasabi right away. Then like a cat stalking a mouse it slowly creeps up on and then pounces on your taste buds. Wasabi provides a fun food experience giving your mouth a different sensation of flavors and spice. Who knew that this stem could pack such a punch and give our food a flavor we didn’t know we needed.

Winter is a time for us all to get hunkered down in the comfort and warmth of our home. We tend to eat dishes that warm us up and make us feel full and happy. With spring just around the corner lets celebrate the dishes that will energize and excite us for the upcoming weeks of spring.

The edamame bean is a immature soybean that comes from a pod, much like peas but are a bit different. The name itself literally means "steam bean" in Japanese. It's most commonly found in East Asia cuisines and is usually boiled or steamed and severed with salt. The earliest documentation of the bean dates back to 1275 in Japan where a monk wrote about the small treat. Next in 1406 during the Ming dynasty in China, edamame were eaten during the outbreaks of famine and were part of the survival. Not only is it a tasty treat but it also contains energy, protein, and fiber along with various amino acids. The bean also helps promote a healthy digestion system which connects to it being a great source of fiber. Edamame can not only help promote a healthy diet but it’s also a good source of Vietnams and iron.

It's a light, refreshing appetizer that is a great way to start off your meal at any restaurant. So, if you are looking to get your body in tune with nature and ready to spring forward why not start your meal at Windchimes with some yummy edamame!

We love Fridays at the Windchimes but we may love lunchtime even more!  The middle of the day is such an important part of the day, because it is at this special time, that we get to choose how the rest of our day is going to be.  Are we going to love it?  Are we going to hate it?  Are we going to ignore it?  At the Windchimes we like to go the loving route and have created a great an atmosphere for friends and families to come together and enjoy this special part of the day.  We nourish the soul and the body through great food.  Our suggestion for today is the MANGO Chicken.  This is a delightful dish that consists of perfectly battered fried chicken interspersed with fresh mango on a bed of rice.  A simple side salad with a miso dressing compliments this dish perfectly.  mmmmm. YUMMY YUM YUM  Lunch is served from 11-4

It's that time of the season when we yearn for warm comforting food that not only fills our bellies but is also healthy and nutritious.  The House Sizzling Noodle is a fantastic cold weather dish and an amazing show of sizzle, crackles, and steam as it is brought out in a piping hot, cast iron skillet where the vegetables and meats finish cooking right in front of you.  The House Sizzling noodle is a medley of vegetables and chicken, beef, and shrimp laid over a bed of fried rice noodles.  The brown sauce is a a perfect blend of spices to create a balanced, delicious, and comforting food.   It's not only appetizing but an experience.  I suggest trying the House Sizzling Noodle on your next visit to Windchimes and experience this tasty dish. 

Bok Choy is an amazing vegetable not only is it tasty but it is packed with vitamins and anti-cancer properties.

Bok Choy is a cruciferous vegetable along with kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage, turnips and collard greens.  Bok Choy has potassium, Vitamin A, calcium, Vitamin b-6, magnesium, iron, and vitamin C. Cruciferous vegetables have glucosinolates. This Glucosinolate is a sulfer containing compound and benefits humans in a variety of ways.These are sulfur-containing compounds that have been found to benefit human health in a variety of ways.

The glucosinolates found in cruciferous vegetables gets converted to isothiocyanates in the body which fights cancer. The Folate found in Bok Choy helps with cell synthesis and repair and the Selenium helps with the liver enzyme function to help detoxify the body from Cancer compounds. Bok Choy also is a major player in bone heath. Phosphorus and calcium are both important in Bone structure and vitamin k helps the body absorb calcium. Bok Choy lowers blood pressure and maintains a healthy heart. It also helps to heal the skin and protect the skin from harmful radiation. -MedicalNewsToday

Why am I not eating Bok Choy everyday? in fact why am I not eating Windchimes everyday??!  Come into Windchimes and feast on one of our Szechuan dishes which are served with your choice of protein and Bok Choy.  And look at that... It's Lunch time already!

Oh Yes! How we LOVE Yellow Curry

If you are a curry lover than this Yellow Curry dish is a perfect lunch or dinner choice to quench that exotic palate.  Yellow curry has a base of all those yummy spices of turmeric, cumin, coriander, garlic, salt, bay, and fenugreek.  These spices, mixed with a coconut based sauce, creates a medley of flavors that are out of this world. Fresh vegetables and your choice of protein add the texture and energy to this dish.  So come on in and delve into the World of Curry by experiencing the Yellow Curry! 

The Chopstick: Mango Chicken

The Mango Chicken is a delightful dish that blends perfectly fried chicken with Fresh Mango in a creamy sauce. The textures of this dish are superb as well as the balance of sweet with savory. The Mango Chicken comes with a side salad. Indulge on great flavors! #DublinChinese, #ColumbusChinese, #AsianFusion