Luong Tan

Luong Tan, the creative and passionate founder of Bourbono, is a multi-talented individual with a deep love for the culinary arts. An accomplished food blogger, cookbook author, and former Ambassador of US cuisine in Vietnam (2015-2016), Luong has been on a mission to share his appreciation for food with the world.
290 Posts
How to Devein Prawns with Shell On (With or Without Fork) – A Step by Step Process
By Luong Tan
Food Guides,

How to Devein Prawns with Shell On (With or Without Fork) – A Step by Step Process

Deveining prawns may not be your strongest suit, but you know what? It’s not a lot of people’s either. As simple as this process may seem theoretical, putting it into practice requires a strict following of a steady step-by-step process.  We’re here to give you this step-by-step process on how to devein prawns with shell on.  All you need is a sprinkle of patience, your prawn, toothpick, scissors or knife, and a can-do spirit.  Now let’s get those veins out of your prawns! How to devein prawns with shell on – A step by step process You can devein prawns…
Read More
Why Does Yogurt Get Watery Before and After Opening?
By Luong Tan
Tips & Troubleshooting

Why Does Yogurt Get Watery Before and After Opening?

Have you ever bought yogurt and the first thing you noticed on opening the container was a thin liquid layer on top? Gross, right? You were probably thinking, “How in the world did this yogurt get watery when I just opened it?” “Or is it spoilt already?” You immediately examined the packaging material for the expiry or best before date only to find out that that’s not even the problem. While store-bought yogurt may be more convenient and easier to get, a few people prefer to make their yogurt at home. Home-made yogurts usually contain less sugar than store-bought ones…
Read More
Is Jello, Hair Gel, Honey, Toothpaste, And Pudding Solid or Liquid?
By Luong Tan
Baking Guides,

Is Jello, Hair Gel, Honey, Toothpaste, And Pudding Solid or Liquid?

Is jello, hair gel, honey, toothpaste, and pudding solid or liquid? Now that got you thinking hard, didn’t it? All things exist in different physical states, with the basic ones being; liquid, solid or, gaseous states. Some substances or mixtures have definite shapes while others are free-flowing either taking the shape of their containers or not. And without thinking too much, we tend to classify different materials that we come across as we go about our day-to-day activities, as liquid, solid, or gas. However, we often come across materials that are not so easy to classify under any of the…
Read More
Is Melted Plastic in Oven Dangerous?
By Luong Tan
Food Guides,

Is Melted Plastic in Oven Dangerous?

Having melted plastic in oven is one of the hazards that can accidentally occur in the kitchen since most of the packaging materials used for our foods are plastic. Unfortunately, some of us don’t know the danger of having melted plastic in oven; some people do not even take the time to remove any melted plastic residue from their ovens, they simply continue using their ovens for meal preparations. In this article, I’ll be discussing the dangers of having melted plastic in oven and what to do when plastic melts in your oven or food. Is Melted Plastic in Oven…
Read More
How to Thicken Gravy in A Crockpot [With or Without Flour]
By Luong Tan
Food Science,

How to Thicken Gravy in A Crockpot [With or Without Flour]

Perfect gravy sauce is easily one of the best ways to make your family look forward to dinnertime. However, getting the right consistency with a crockpot can be tricky. It is imperative to know just how to get that perfect consistency. Ruining your sauce would be a nightmare. To help you with this, we have put together a variety of step-by-step methods to thicken gravy in a crockpot. How to thicken gravy in a crockpot - step-by-step The surest way to thicken gravy is by making a roux. A roux is made by mixing equal parts of flour and animal…
Read More
What Is Gamey Meat? : Tips for Removing Gamey Taste from Meat
By Luong Tan
Taste Tests,

What Is Gamey Meat? : Tips for Removing Gamey Taste from Meat

Every true meat lover can tell there is a difference between gamey meat and the regular farm-raised meat most people are familiar with. But you might not be familiar with that difference, and that’s okay. You may be looking to try out some new recipes with gamey meat, and you are wondering what to expect. If so, then this article is for you. Even if you’ve never heard of gamey meat before, do stick around. Here, we cover some things you should know about gamey meats. We talk about the texture, taste, and how to get rid of the “gamey”…
Read More
Does Shrimp Smell Like Ammonia? What It Means
By Luong Tan
Seafood Guides,

Does Shrimp Smell Like Ammonia? What It Means

So, you have found some shrimp lying around in your fridge, and you are thinking of making your favorite shrimp recipe. But suddenly, you realize it smells like ammonia, and you have second thoughts. Or, perhaps you have begun cooking, and you are suddenly hit by a strong whiff of ammonia. Should you go on anyway? This scenario plays out more often than you would think. Is it safe to eat shrimp when it smells like ammonia? What might cause such a smell in seafood? Let us dive right in! Does shrimp smell like ammonia? No, it really doesn’t. Shrimp…
Read More
Is Yogurt, Ice Cream, Slime, And Jelly Solid or Liquid?
By Luong Tan
Food Science, , ,

Is Yogurt, Ice Cream, Slime, And Jelly Solid or Liquid?

I can’t say that I haven’t eaten some things and started to think pretty deep about them.  The nature of some things can seem so vague at times. When you think of things like yogurt, ice cream, slime, and jelly, you see that it is not very easy to point out if they’re solids or liquids. Is yogurt a solid or liquid? How do we even begin to classify slime? Where do I place jelly on the solid-liquid spectrum? Which is it for ice cream, solid or liquid?  These are the questions… Read on to see how we cater to…
Read More
How to Use A Pizza Stone for The First Time – A Beginner’s Guide to Pizza Stones
By Luong Tan
Tools & Gadgets,

How to Use A Pizza Stone for The First Time – A Beginner’s Guide to Pizza Stones

Many pizza lovers can recognize a good pizza, not only by its delicious taste but by its brown, bubbly crust that is crisp on the outside but moist and chewy on the inside. How do pizzerias get their pizza to be so perfectly done and taste so good? One vital key to making a perfect pizza is a super-hot oven, which an average home cook may not have. Another is the right cooking surface for the pizza. This is where a pizza stone comes in. A pizza stone is arguably the most important piece of equipment a pizza maker should…
Read More
Is Veal Red Meat? Should You Eat it?
By Luong Tan
Food Science,

Is Veal Red Meat? Should You Eat it?

Veal is highly nutritious meat that is obtained from the male offspring of dairy cows. It is a delicacy highly prized in the cuisines of many countries. However, Americans hardly eat much veal compared to some countries in Europe. Why is it that some people avoid eating veal? Animal rights activists have attached so much guilt to the consumption of veal because they consider separating newborn calves from their mothers and slaughtering them for meat, animal cruelty. Life, for male calves born into the dairy industry (usually slaughtered for veal), is seen as an endless cycle of exploitation and anguish.…
Read More
How Long to Bake Chicken Pieces At 350F, 375F, and 400F
By Luong Tan
Chicken Guides,

How Long to Bake Chicken Pieces At 350F, 375F, and 400F

Cooking isn’t easy. If it was, you wouldn’t be here looking for how long to bake chicken pieces. Chicken can be especially hard to cook. Chefs might have it easier, but we regular folk don’t. From seasoning to baking/cooking temperature to cutting and serving – it’s a rollercoaster. You can’t underbake or overbake it – you must have the right temperature for your recipe or risk ruining it entirely. Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Keep reading to find out how long to bake chicken pieces at 350, 375 and 400 degrees F. We will also talk about better ways to bake/cook chicken…
Read More
Is Shrimp Considered A Meat or Fish?
By Luong Tan
Seafood Guides, ,

Is Shrimp Considered A Meat or Fish?

Not only is shrimp versatile across a range of recipes and dishes, but it is also a widely popular and very healthy addition to your diet. We all know what it looks like and how it tastes, but have you ever stopped to wonder if shrimp is considered a meat or fish? Knowing the correct answer to this is very important, especially for those that have allergies or major preferences. We might all have our opinions, but which is actually correct? Keep reading as we explore the food group that shrimp falls under. We will also discuss the health benefits…
Read More