Ode to a Pork Bun

The pork bun is the perfect social gathering appetizer. You can hold it in one hand, ideally with a napkin, (careful with that new dress you just bought, I bet you kept the tags on because you might still want to return it.. cough cough).

But most importantly, it's a flavor explosion in your mouth. Not your typical catering food item!

Gua Bao or usually just Bao, has origins in China but have recently been popularized by Japanese Ramen noodle shops. They usually consist of some kind of braised meat, heavily sauced with an Asian based bbq sauce, and veggies such as cabbage and scallions for crunch. The bun itself is pillowy, fluffy and light with just the right amount of chew to hold up to the meat and veggies. We have made a lot of buns in our day, mainly through one of our restaurants, Tampopo Ramen, which serves bao with options of braised chicken, braised pork or marinated Shiitake Mushrooms. We also finish it with the bbq sauce and a small hit of Japanese Kewpie Mayo. Heaven in a few bites, and makes a great app for a cocktail hour especially if you want something substantial but not overly filling.