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Haili Kitchen

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This page contains English explanations of the videos (in Chinese) I posted on my video channel on bilibili.com

I had always dreamed of being a food blogger/video creator. This channel was a dream come true.

"Haili" is Mandarin pinyin for "sea otter" (at least what I intended, since I later discovered it might have been for another creature). It comes from my Harry Potter patronus, which is also an otter (I know, computer algorithm quizzes are useless but well.)

How is this page designed?

1. Dessert/food name + video thumbnail (name is usually direct translation of what is on the thumbnail)

2. What's on the menu: a description of the food I made for the video

3. Science: the science/myth I tackled in the video

4. A collection of animations I drew using Procreate (an iPad drawing app) to aid explanation, remember to scroll for more!

5. A direct link to the video.

Click here to check out my channel on Bilibili!

Click here for behind the scenes photos

*Might have to scroll down a little

STRAWBERRY PANNA COTTA

What's on the menu: panna cotta topped with fresh strawberries, a layer of strawberry jam, and transparent jelly

Science? How gelatin works in setting the panna cotta and jelly; enzyme denaturing

I started planning this video 8 months before and filmed it half a year before I posted it on my channel. I discussed the science behind the food we eat using animations.

Video link

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

What's on the menu: just plain old chocolate chip cookies (but with cinnamon, vanilla, and brown butter)

Science? The Maillard reaction

Video link

MINI MADELEINES

What's on the menu: plain, matcha (green tea), and chocolate flavored mini madeleines

Science? The role of baking soda, baking powder, and leavening agents. How madeleines rise, different types of flour, why freezing?

Video link

PANCAKES

What's on the menu: PANCAKES!

Science? The role of baking soda, baking powder, and leavening agents.

Video link

NO-OVEN CHEESECAKE

What's on the menu: no-bake cheesecake with eyes...

Science? Production of cheese and its nutrition

Video link

FLOWER CUPCAKES

What's on the menu: chiffon cupcakes with fresh cream and edible flowers

Science? Egg white meringue

Video link

TIRAMISU

What's on the menu: classic Italian tiramisu cake

Science? Coffee: origins, process, types, global impact

Video link

CUSTARD TARTS IN 1 MIN

What's on the menu: egg custard tarts the Macao style.

Science? No science for this one!

FLAVORED CUSTARD TARTS

What's on the menu: egg custard tarts with toppings (honey, oreos, chocolate, gummy bears, matcha, fruits)

Science? How puff pastries work

Video link

CHOUX PASTRY WITH CUSTARD FILLING

What's on the menu: choux pastry with egg custard filling and fresh strawberries

Science? The science of choux pastries

Video link

"SNOWFLAKE" CRISPIES

What's on the menu: cookies, dried fruits, and nuts mixed together in a mix of marshmallow and powdered milk, coated in a layer of powdered milk.

Science? Types of sugars

JAPANESE CURRY RICE

What's on the menu: Japanese curry rice

Science? Color in food: chlorophyll, betaines, anthocyanins, carotenes... the difference between colored meats (red meat for pork and beef but white meat for chicken--why is that?)

MATCHA PUDDING--FT. MONET'S PAINTING

What's on the menu: matcha pudding with grapes and flowers (again)

No science for this one but I didn't initially succeed on this. I was working on something else while I left the "failed" pudding on the side. Then it cracked open when I wasn't looking and boom! It looked like the painting! A very serendipitious moment!

MYTH DEBUNK: CAN PINEAPPLES REALLY EAT YOUR TONGUE?

MYTH DEBUNK: THE TRUTH BEHIND BOBA TEA