First Course From My #SxSEFeast Tonight: Beef Chorizo Xiaolongbao () "steamed Empanadas". Served In A

First course from my #SxSEFeast tonight: Beef chorizo xiaolongbao (小籠包) "steamed empanadas". Served in a traditional bamboo steamer basket. I am part Shanghainese (on my mother's side), so this one pays homage to that side of my family. #ChefApprenticeLife #yyc #yycfood #ChefApprenticesFeast (at charbar)

The end: Durian cake (ขนมหม้อแกง) with banana ice cream (ไอศครีมกล้วย) and coconut cream (กะทิ) topped with fried shallots. Now you're probably saying, "shallots, bananas, coconut AND durian? Are you mad, man?" -- hear me out. I'm a fan of durian (story to follow in comments), but this together works. I truly tip my hat to Chef @erichendry for pulling it off. I also poured the sweet peanuts in, too. Double happiness! Plus it still allowed me stomach room to eat another round of satay. Triple happiness! #ChefApprenticeLife #ChefApprenticesDayOff #yycfood #yyc #ThaiFood #Thai (at Model Citizen)

Chef Jessica doing a demo of all our new menu items launching tomorrow @charbar_yyc. Some amazing stuff coming down the pipes, including calamari frutti fugazza. Yes, calamari fritti fugazza. I made one. I've seen it. It exists. And it is amazing. Will have more pics when I get to make each item. Stay tuned. #ChefApprenticeLife #yycfood #MasterInAction #yycliving #yyc (at charbar)

Grilled snow crab resting on top of sourdough & heirloom tomato panzanella salad. First course from tonight's @charbar_yyc asador feast. This ain't your mama's crab salad! Extra proud of this one since I kinda was put on the spot to come up with something for first course tonight, and that we sold out of it. This one's for you, @pinodicerbo. #ChefApprenticeLife #yycfood #yyc #crab #salad #Italian #CucinaToscana (at charbar)

Crispy cascabel chili flour breaded calamari + Green chimichurri + Provolone + Garlic milk on @sidewalkcitizen 3-day fugazza dough. Forget the El Burgadito Supreme, how can you say no to Calamari Pizza?! I can't. #ChefApprenticeLife #yycfood #yyc (at charbar)

Third course: coconut chicken soup, or Tom kha gai (วิธีทำ ต้มข่าไก่). I was cautioned by the server to *NOT* eat the salt under the coconut bowl when the dish arrived. Fair warning, y'all. Flavour wise, nice and creamy. Crack the chili in half and let it steep for a minute for extra heat. #ChefApprenticeLife #chefapprenticesdayoff #yycfood #yyc #ThaiFood #Thai (at Model Citizen)