Sticky Fingers, Happy Hearts: A Ribs Recipe That Stops Time

Why Ribs Cooked Low and Slow Make for the Most Tender Memories

Warning: You May Never Go Back to Takeout Again

If you’ve ever licked a spoon clean, burned your tongue because you just couldn’t wait, or taken a bite of something that made the world go quiet for a moment—then you’ll understand the magic of Yumo Yuan’s sweet and sour ribs.

This isn’t just a recipe. It’s an edible love letter.

Tucked into the February 2025 Stroll Ballantyne issue like a well-aged bottle of Shaoxing wine, Yumo’s submission hits all the right notes: tangy black vinegar, unctuous pork, and just enough sugar to make your eyes widen with childlike delight. And it’s not show-offy food—it’s comfort food, with the kind of complexity that comes from wisdom, not wizardry.

First, you brown the ribs in caramelized rock sugar. (Yes, caramelized sugar—we’re already swooning.) Then you ladle in a trio of soy sauces, ginger, and black vinegar, letting everything simmer like a jazz band warming up. The result? A glossy, sticky, sweet-savory lacquer that clings to each bite like it knows you needed a little something good today.

Yumo’s tip? Eat it with warm steamed rice, and for the love of flavor, don’t skip the sesame seeds on top.

These ribs aren’t a weeknight meal—they’re a ritual. A quiet nod to family kitchens and Sunday afternoons. They are the kind of thing that makes you want to call your mother, your old roommate, or that neighbor who waved at you last week.

Charlotte, we’re a food town now. Pass the chopsticks and keep the rice coming.

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☕ Nell Thomas

Senior Writer for The Charlotte Mercury & Strolling Ballantyne

Currently deciding whether to make Yumo’s ribs or just frame the recipe and hang it in my kitchen. Powered by dark roast coffee, dog hair, and mild delusion.

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You’ll also find my work at The Charlotte Mercury, where the espresso is strong and the opinions stronger: cltmercury.com