In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

🔥 Daily Quote

🧭 Discovering the Unique Flavors of Chinese-Tahitian Fusion Cuisine

✈️FAA Probes Boeing Jets for Counterfeit Titanium

🧭 Rediscovering Bolivia: A Culinary Journey Through Tradition and Innovation

😋 Savoring the Best of Cary: 3 Must-Try Chinese Cuisine Restaurants

😋Tasty Trend: Crockpot Barbecue Ribs 😋

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

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Discovering the Unique Flavors of Chinese-Tahitian Fusion Cuisine

French Polynesia’s culinary scene is enriched by a unique fusion of Chinese and local flavors, a legacy of Chinese immigrants who settled in the region since 1865.

These early settlers adapted their traditional recipes to available local ingredients, leading to the creation of distinctive dishes like poisson cru à la chinoise and Ma’a Tinito. Over time, the Chinese community grew to become the second-largest ethnic group in the territory, deeply influencing the local cuisine and creating a harmonious blend of Chinese and Polynesian flavors.

Today, Chinese-Tahitian cuisine is celebrated through food tours and various restaurants, highlighting the innovative blend of Chinese techniques and Polynesian ingredients.

From the historic Restaurant Le Dahlia in Tahiti to the cutting-edge Bamboo at St. Regis Bora Bora, these establishments offer dishes that honor this culinary legacy while continuing to evolve.

This fusion not only reflects the history of Chinese settlement in French Polynesia but also continues to delight both locals and visitors with its unique and flavorful offerings. Read Full Article

FAA Probes Boeing Jets for Counterfeit Titanium

Boeing reported a voluntary disclosure to the FAA about a material procurement issue involving a distributor suspected of providing falsified records. In response, the FAA is assessing the scope and impact on the industry, with a particular concern for safety. The investigation has prompted both the FAA and airlines to examine where the suspect titanium might have been used and the risks associated with it.

Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier for Boeing and Airbus, is also investigating, having quarantined and removed suspect parts from production. The company has conducted over 1,000 tests to confirm the material's mechanical and metallurgical properties. Airbus acknowledged the issue and performed numerous tests on affected parts, confirming that the airworthiness of their A220 aircraft remains intact.

While Boeing stated that the issue affects a small number of parts and reassured that the in-service fleet can continue to operate safely, this incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing's manufacturing quality and safety practices. The company has been under increased oversight following a fuselage panel blowout on one of its jetliners in January. Read more

Rediscovering Bolivia: A Culinary Journey Through Tradition and Innovation

Bolivia, once an overlooked destination for food enthusiasts, is now making its mark in the culinary world. The transformation began about a decade ago, driven by chefs who embraced "zero-kilometer cuisine," focusing on locally sourced ingredients. Leading this movement is La Paz, home to acclaimed restaurants like Gustu, Ancestral, and Phayawi, which have earned places among Latin America's top 100 eateries.

Gustu's fusion of Bolivian and Nordic techniques, Ancestral's open fire cooking, and Manq’a's casual dining all showcase the innovative use of local ingredients. Bolivia's diverse ecosystems provide an array of unique produce, such as potatoes and quinoa, integral to both traditional and modern dishes.

Beyond La Paz, Sucre's El Solar and Tika in the Uyuni Salt Flats continue to advance Bolivian cuisine with creative menus that honor indigenous foodways. Despite the modern culinary revolution, traditional Andean practices persist, particularly on Isla del Sol, where ancient Inca meals are still served. Bolivia's culinary evolution offers a rich, flavorful experience for food lovers worldwide. Read Full Story

Savoring the Best of Cary: 3 Must-Try Chinese Cuisine Restaurants

If you're craving Chinese cuisine in Cary, North Carolina, you're in for a treat. Here are three highly recommended Chinese cuisine restaurants in Cary, NC, known for their authentic dishes:

1. Super Wok: Known for its authentic Szechuan and Cantonese dishes, Super Wok offers a variety of flavorful and spicy options. Popular dishes include Szechuan beef and General Tso's chicken.

2. Taipei 101: Taipei 101 specializes in Taiwanese cuisine and offers a variety of traditional dishes such as beef noodle soup and pork belly buns. The restaurant is praised for its authentic flavors and cozy atmosphere.

3. Shanghai Alley: Shanghai Alley offers a range of authentic Shanghainese dishes, focusing on traditional flavors and recipes. Signature dishes include xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and braised pork belly.

These restaurants offer a variety of authentic Chinese dishes that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences, making them must-visit spots in Cary, NC.

Crockpot Barbecue Ribs 😋

Becky Hardin of Cookie Rookie has mastered an easy crockpot recipe for pork ribs that are perfect for any gathering, ensuring they are both delicious and effortlessly tender. This slow cooker ribs recipe is so simple! You can cook these crock pot BBQ ribs stress-free, and they'll come out super tender and flavorful.

📋 Ingredients List:

• 6 pounds St. Louis-style pork spareribs or baby back ribs

• 3 tablespoons smoked paprika or regular paprika

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• 24 ounces BBQ sauce store-bought or homemade (1 jar) – Blue's Hog original recommended

• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (if the barbecue sauce is on the sweet side)

📝 Instructions:

1. Set the slow cooker to low and spray with nonstick cooking spray. (I always spray the underside of the lid to help with cleanup.)

2. Remove the silver membrane from the back of the ribs. Here's a video with instructions. (You might have bought ribs with the membrane removed, and if so, skip this step.) 6 pounds St. Louis-style pork spareribs.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Rub the dry-rub mix evenly over the ribs.

   3 tablespoons smoked paprika,3 tablespoons brown sugar,1 tablespoon kosher salt,1 tablespoon ground black pepper,½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

4. Brush both sides of the rib with barbecue sauce and set the ribs in the slow cooker standing upright with the meaty side against the inside wall, of the slow cooker. 24 ounces BBQ sauce

5. Pour the remaining barbecue sauce over the ribs. If using a sweet sauce, pour the cider vinegar over the ribs. ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

6. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or until the meat is fork-tender.

7. Serve with additional store-bought barbecue sauce or strain the juices, from the pan, through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer 15-20 minutes or until the mixture has reduced to 2 cups.

8. To serve, slice the meat between the bones and serve with barbecue sauce.

Notes 💡:

• Whichever ribs you choose (spare rib or baby-back), you can’t go wrong. Both are equally as delicious.

• You will need to cut the ribs a bit to make them fit in the slow cooker. It’s easy to just eyeball it as you work them into the cooker.

• Make sure you remove the silver membrane before cooking!

• When done cooking, simply slice between the bones and serve with extra BBQ sauce!

• This recipe calls for the ribs to be cooked to a higher temperature to make sure they’re super tender. We want them closer to 195°F.

• Storage: Store crock pot ribs tightly wrapped in aluminum foil in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 5 hours 15 minutes | Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes

Print Recipe

Give it a try and let us know what you think.