by Ken Tsui | In the kitchen at Kitsilano’s Maenam, chef Angus An and his team are putting together their greatest hits for tonight’s staff meal. Jen Chiang is wok frying duck for lettuce wraps, Jay Huang drops a batch of Korean fried chicken into the fryer while Daly Giles is hard at work on an arugula salad amped up with bison sausage, fresh mozzarella, puffed wild rice, crispy chicharron and nam prik dressing. An is working on his own dish, lobster sticky rice, a specialty reserved for special occasions. In the dining room, Aimee Corno is behind the bar shaking up a refreshing kaffir lime spritzer.
As he waits for his chicken to fry, Jay pulls out a tupperware of kimchi, eliciting smiles in the kitchen. “Jay’s mom made the kimchi,” Angus says, “she won’t give him the recipe because she’s worried he’ll stop coming home to visit her.” The kitchen crew chuckles. Jay isn’t the only one hitting up their families for the goods, Angus’ lobster was supplied by a seafood shop in Chinatown owned by Jen’s parents.
As the Maenam team gathers around the table, Angus brings the lobster rice to the table. He lifts the lid of the steamer, which releases a burst of aromatic steam around the table. He takes a moment to enjoy the savoury fragrance and nods with satisfaction before everyone digs in…
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Lobsters take a quick dunk in the fryer -
Chef An assembles his lobster sticky rice
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Jay’s mise en place for Korean fried chicken -
Jay seasons his flour
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Jen’s mise en place for her lettuce wraps
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Jay and Angus batter the chicken
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Jen puts the finishing touches to her dish
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Mrs. Huang’s contribution to the meal
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Daly sprinkles on the puffed wild rice
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Chicken in the fryer
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Daly crumbles crispy chicharron
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Jay tosses his chicken in sauce
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Korean fried chicken
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A burst of aromatic steam from the lobster sticky rice
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Jay helps out
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Get crackin'
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Sharing some of Mrs. Huang’s kimchi
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Loading up a plate
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Daly's salad is passed around...
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Angus tucks into the kimchi
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A good time, pre-shift
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Aimee’s kaffir lime spritzer
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The team can’t help but take a photo of the rice
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It's a big spread
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Rice action
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Lobster sticky rice
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The team dines family-style
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Jen drizzles hoisin sauce on her wrap
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Duck lettuce wrap
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