Muddy water: Sweet tea and lemonade If you don’t already know, I’m a tea aficionado. However, I haven’t had a chance to try out a muddy water drink until now. After locating a Black-owned restaurant from the L.A. Times list and ordering some food, I also added on a beverage.I really enjoyed this muddy water, which was described as a mix of sweet tea and lemonade. It wasn’t too sugary, which I appreciated, and just had a nice refreshing feel to it. Perfect for summertime. Any refreshing … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Stuffed Tomatoes
May 29, 2020 2 Comments
Stuffed tomatoes: tomato cups filled with savory bread mixture I love oven-roasted tomatoes—or fresh ones in my salad. To make a prettier version of baked tomatoes, though, I decided to stuff them. I think they look like cute edible tomato presents. Ingredients: ¼ cup bread crumbs ¼ cup Parmesan cheese 1 clove garlic, minced Olive oil Ground black pepper Salt Directions: Scoop out insides of tomatoes (I used Campari tomatoes, to make them more bite-sized).Heat … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Choc Coco Cookie
April 4, 2020 4 Comments
(Oops! I'm a day late. Staying at home makes me lose track of time.) Chocolate Coconut Cookie: thin wafer cookies made without eggs! Recipe adapted from "Chocolate Bliss Squares" in the Eat, Live, Thrive Diet book. I wanted to satisfy my sweet tooth without needing to go to the grocery store. Since I had these ingredients already in my pantry, I threw together these cookies. 1 c extra virgin coconut oil1/4 c maple syrup2 tsp vanilla extract1/4 tsp sea salt1 c dried shredded … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Bubble Milk Tea Cakes
January 31, 2020 Leave a Comment
Bubble milk tea cake: a cross between pineapple cake and boba One of the treats I got from my recent Taiwan trip was a box of bubble milk tea cakes. Essentially, they’re pineapple cakes—baked delicacies reminiscent of Fig Newtons, down to their square shape. Instead of a fig filling, though, they use pineapple paste in them. This bubble milk tea version swaps out the traditional flavor and uses boba inside the treats. When I first saw the combo, I was hesitant to try them, but the … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Omakase
November 15, 2019 Leave a Comment
Omakase: chef’s choice in Japanese cuisine I had my first ever omakase experience. Sushi chefs will pick the freshest variety of seafood and present them to you using different methods of cooking. My favorites had to be a tuna sashimi drizzled with homemade ponzu sauce. And although I don’t really like red snapper, the cut I ate was extremely fresh and tender. Buyer beware: you need to tell them to stop serving or else the dishes will keep on coming, each more exotic (and … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Shoyu Peanuts
November 8, 2019 Leave a Comment
Shoyu peanuts: soy sauce flavored nuts with a crunchy edible shell I wasn't quite sure what to think about these treats when a family friend brought them from Hawaii. Looking at the package, I noticed the label of "shoyu peanuts." Shoyu basically equates to soy sauce, so I was hesitant about the flavor choice. However, when I tried them, I really enjoyed these peanuts. They've got a satisfying savory taste. They actually remind me of Boston baked beans (the red sugar-coated … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Ube Soft Serve
July 19, 2019 2 Comments
Ube soft serve: purple yam ice cream When it gets hot during the summer, I turn to cool things. And what's cooler than an amazingly bright purple ice cream? Yep, it's ube soft serve. Ube is a type of root vegetable (chock-full of vitamin C, thank you very much). As expected, it tastes earthy, much like sweet potato and taro. The brilliant thing (I couldn't resist) about ube is its lovely color! The hue just makes you smile. A lot of Filipino desserts will incorporate ube in their … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Japanese Cheesecake
June 7, 2019 Leave a Comment
Japanese cheesecake: light, airy cake with a hint of sweetness I heard the hype surrounding Japanese cheesecake, so I dropped by a branch of Uncle Tetsu's (est. 1985) to try a slice. I must admit, it's an adorable cake (I mean, look at the cute chef stamped on it!). The cheesecake tastes more like a fluffy sponge cake, with intense cheese flavor that overpowers the slight sugar in the recipe. Sorry, Uncle Tetsu, but I just didn't enjoy it. Maybe because I was expecting the typical … [Read more...]
Navajo taco
May 3, 2019 Leave a Comment
Navajo taco: a taco on special bread If you recall, I went to the Grand Canyon for spring break. Such gorgeous scenery! On the way there, I swung by Cameron Trading Post, located at the edge of a Navajo Indian reservation. I had read about the delicious food served at their restaurant and had to try the Navajo taco. It has the usual fixings: ground beef, beans, green chile, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese. What makes it stand out is the superior springy frybread. It’s like a … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Taiwanese Hot Dog
March 22, 2019 4 Comments
Taiwanese Hot Dog: sausage in sticky rice bun This is a popular dish at food stands in Taiwan. It’s also known as small sausage in large sausage. I’ve had this before at night market, and it’s a fun treat. I love the way it’s char-grilled and so juicy. I recently had this in a more polite, use-your-forks way (see picture above). For some reason, I didn’t enjoy it as much the second time around. Perhaps it’s because you can’t really pick up the sticky rice portion. Or maybe the ratio of … [Read more...]
