As Chef Mina explains, “The booming flavors of this dish are bold without a doubt. The complex combination has it all. It’s spicy, sweet, sour, and the creaminess from the hollandaise binds it together. All the elements unite in a balanced whole to provide a pleasant jolt to the palette. The undercurrent of chilies brings on a lingering heat that tantalizes and perks up the taste buds. This appetizer is served at Arcadia and Restaurant Michael Mina and is commonly enjoyed as a bar snack and makes a substantial first course. I love the texture of cooked cucumber, because it’s tender yet still remains crisp. When you think about it, basically a cucumber is a pickle, and here you’re quickly pickling it in the vinegar sauce. Creamy hollandaise on crab is a decadent pairing; it’s kind of my ode to Japanese Dynamite Crab. The zesty hot and sour sauce is extremely versatile; try it on Asian greens or as a dipping sauce for steamed lobster or shrimp.”