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"Travels"
Seriously…one of the best burgers I have ever had was at Umami Burger in Santa Monica. The patty is made to order and you decide how well you like it cooked. I went with the classic Umami Burger: Shiitake mushroom, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, parmesan crisp and Umami ketchup. So many great flavors and a juicy patty between a toasted bun. So very delicious. A definitely must try for all burger lovers.
The delicious truffle skinny fries completed the meal.
And who can forget dessert? : snickerdoodle cookie & pistachio ice-cream sandwich
During my recent trip to Hong Kong I stumbled upon an unique Starbucks tucked away in the Central Financial District. It is designed like an old fashioned Hong Kong coffeehouse with antique arrangements and style. I was pleasantly surprised by the close resemblance.
They even serve traditional Hong Kong goodies. Brings back good childhood memories.
Definitely a great place to check out if you are in the Central area.
Address: M2 Baskerville House – 13 Duddell Street, Central
It was my first experience having high tea in Hong Kong. My dad and I shared an afternoon tea set for two @ $318 (HkD).
There was a wide selection of teas and a nice blend of savories and sweets. The servers were also very tentative and refilled our pots very frequently. The only disappointment was the scones. Scones are usually my favorite, however these ones were hard and dry. Definitely not made in-house or fresh. The grilled ham & cheese and the prawn polenta cakes was definitely the high light.
Going for brunch is one of my ultimate favorite things on the weekends and while traveling. There were lots of recommendations for Hash House a Go Go, so it was at the top of my list. There was a huge line up when we first arrived but it moved quickly and they served free coffee while you waited.
There were so many options and the portions were so large that I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. I finally decided on a meat loaf special and a chorizo sausage hash special.
This was my meat loaf special: mashed potatoes topped with avocado, tomatoes, meatloaf, 3 scrambled eggs, gray and a large biscuit. I loved the combination of it all. Everything that would want in a hearty breakfast!
The chorizo hash was delicious as well. Just the right amount of chorizo and flavor. It came with eggs and an over-sized biscuit.
The portions here are very large and I love how all the ingredients were very fresh. From the farm to the table. This place is definitely a-must-go if you are in the San Diego area. Next time, I will for sure go for the fried chicken and biscuit as I saw the orders and it looked so so so good.
Took such a quick trip to San Diego…feels like a dream. We brought the rain with us and it lasted for the first two days. We only got a small peak of the sun but just seeing the palm trees and feeling the ocean breeze was good enough for me. We also ate lots..lots and lots. A little bit too much.
Our first stop after we got off the plane was to Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista. Seriously the best tacos I have ever had. It is so authentic and all the fillings had great flavours. I highly recommend the Beef Head, Beef Tongue and definitely ask for the grilled green onions! Oh, did I mention the price?? Most of the tacos are only $2! The only thing to look out for is that the ordering system was a bit tricky. You must order your tacos from a particular counter that serves it, however it’s all in Spanish so it can be confusing. Once you have your tacos you then walk back to the front and pay. This place is a must if you like tacos!
Seoul - Night
Two years ago I decided to take a teaching position and moved to Korea on my own. As hard as it was for me at the time (which you can see here), it was one of those priceless, eye-opening experiences that I wouldn’t change. I still remember the day that my Visa application was approved and I was purchasing my one-way plane ticket. I remember thinking “wow, am I really doing this?” And everyone around me asked “why? why would you leave everything behind?”
The first night there was the hardest. With no ID, cellphone, left alone in a dirty apartment with no language capabilities and not knowing anyone. I really felt alone that evening. For the first time, I was really experiencing loneliness. I told myself…you can enjoy this moment because you did so much to get here or you can just ruin this whole experience for yourself.
That evening I made my first purchase (which was a huge one) – I bought a vacuum. And that was the start to my temporary life there…. As time went by I met so many great people and accomplished so much on my own with the little Korean that I knew (see here).
Although I didn’t stay the whole contract period, I manage to really reflect and reassured myself. I always knew that I was independent but this really confirmed it for me. Ironically, at a time when I was stripped from my family, friends, that special someone and a stable career….I still had a great sense of me.
Two years have passed – and lots have changed. Now when I look back at the photos all I do is laugh and smile to myself because it was such a great experience and I really wouldn’t change a thing.
Oh..how I miss the street food……
A fellow food blogger recommended House of Nanking for dinner with great reviews. We decided to visit on our last night which was a Thursday evening. We got there at approximately 9pm to a line up of people outside. For a Chinese restaurant, I didn’t see many Chinese patrons which made me wonder. But with so many people lining up on a late Thursday evening I knew I had to try.
It was an indecisive battle with so many choices so the owner came by and said “I will make my favorites for you.” With only three of us she explained that three dishes would be enough since the portions are large.
Goji Berry Tea
As soon as we sat down we were served with Goji Berry Tea. It was a nice blend with a hint of sweetness. I also saw many others order the Blossom Tea (a tea flower that blossoms in the cup as it steeps)
Popular tilapia fish soup
This was my favourite of the night. It isn’t on the regular menu but if you ask they will have it. They deep fry a tilapia fish and then boiled it for the white soup base and then add noodles, mushrooms and wonton to complete the soup. I loved the flavour. There were hints of basil and the stock had a rich fish taste. It came with a whole fish so it was definitely hard to finish.
Popular Beef Tenderloin Stir-fry
The beef was very tender and had a sweet and salty flavour. Goes so well with steaming hot white rice.
Chinese Veggie Stir-fry with black bean fish
This dish was a bit oily but the overall taste was great. They stir-fried the veggies with black bean fish so there was lots flavours and texture.
The restaurant is quick and inexpensive with great portions. If I had another night I would have gone back for dinner again and tried the tiger prawns with mushrooms. All the dishes were flavourful and consistent. Definitely worth the wait if you want traditional Chinese with a hint of fusion.
I can’t believe it’s been a month since I took off for a quick 4 day trip to San Francisco with my family. Days were filled with sunshine, good eats, sightseeing and lots of wind. It was a much-needed time away after weeks and weeks of planning and coordinating last-minute details for my big day. [...]
I can’t believe it’s been a month since I took off for a quick 4 day trip to San Francisco with my family. Days were filled with sunshine, good eats, sightseeing and lots of wind. It was a much-needed time away after weeks and weeks of planning and coordinating last-minute details for my big day. Felt so good to leave everything behind and just enjoy ourselves exploring another city.
Famous Salt n Pepper Crab from R&G Lounge in Chinatown
Clam Chowder Bowl from Boudin Bakery
Japanese Style Katsu Rice in Japan Town
Happy Socks!
