mayanrocks.com » food and drink
Hot Meat.
Thursday, March 14, 2024

hattie b's

When in Nashville (@ JW Marriott)

I doordashed some hot chicken, because Pammie’s at a work event and Donna’s flight doesn’t come in till later tonight. Hot meat in a hotel room? I’ll take it…

BBQ & Corgi Butts.
Sunday, March 10, 2024

(via @grubwithgreg)

A few people sent me this reel of this new BBQ spot in OC. It looks so good, but I haven’t had BBQ since it made me sick in NYC my birthday weekend 😅 I wanted to check Peg Leg Porker off my BBQ Bucket List in Nashville next weekend, but I don’t want to ruin the trip by getting sick again…

A few people also sent me this reel of this Corgi Cafe in the Philippines. Do my friends know me or what??? Also, I need that corgi butt bread.

True Story.
Friday, March 8, 2024

mimosa bar

mimosa cheers

charcuterie board - salami rose

This tracks. I used to drive down from LA to SD, and every time I’d fill up at the gas station before heading down, I’d pick up a Ham and Swiss Lunchable (plus a bag of Hot Fries and an Arizona Green Tea. And if I had any cash on me, a Powerball lottery ticket). I hate pumping gas (I always wait till the fuel gauge hits “0 miles” before filling up), but I love gas station food LOL. We stopped at the gas station to fill up before going to my sister’s house from my parents’ house, and I was like, “Do we need snacks?” and she was like, “This ain’t a road trip! It’s a 10-minute drive.” 😅

Turbo.
Sunday, March 3, 2024

cedrik lorenzen

Jesus 😳

Domestic.
Sunday, March 3, 2024

rain

This rainy weather is domesticating the fuck out of me.

chicken sotanghon

banana bread

I made some chicken soup, banana nut bread, and even walked on the treadmill while watching the Game Show Network. I don’t even know who I am right now. My mother? Yikes 😬 Someone get me this Rifle Paper Co. x Hedley & Bennett Apron from Anthro to complete the look.

Boarding.
Saturday, March 2, 2024

(via @tinydicebuddies)

I’ve tried snowboarding thrice now and each time I somehow did worse than the last 😅 And this was before the stroke, so my balance is way worse now. I’ll just stick to charcuterie boarding, thank yew.

Common Theory.
Friday, March 1, 2024

common theory

They’re opening a Common Theory within walking distance to my sister’s house. I was wondering what they were gonna put in this space, because we saw them wheeling in commercial stainless steel tanks one day on our walk. It’s right next to David’s condo (David is this asshole dog that barks at me whenever I walk by his balcony. IDK his real name, but I call him “David” after David Bogdanov, a convicted murderer I watched a docu of on ID who fled to Ukraine after he killed someone (the dog’s pawrents had a Ukrainian flag on their balcony LOL). Anyway, now I can get my steps in before drinking my weight in beer 🍻

chat

Update: My sister walked by Common Theory to see if it was open and David was on his balcony wearing a pink ass collar. He might be a she! My whole life is a lie.

Thoughtful.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

pizza

I doordashed a pizza for dinner, and I got it with no mushrooms (even though I love mushrooms), because it flares up my sister’s husband’s gout and I’m thoughtful as fuck.

I’m reminded of the time one of my ex’s and I broke up, but we still had mutual friends and he was dating someone new. We were at dinner and he was sitting across from me with his new girlfriend, and as if it wasn’t awkward enough, he proceeded to eat mushrooms off of my plate without even asking while his new girlfriend and I looked on in horror. They’re both married now (to other people!), but I still think about that mushroom moment every now and again. He wasn’t thoughtful as fuck like I am 😅

Dash.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

(via @heyshantaq)

My friend dm’d me this today, and this is me as fuck. The effort it takes to put on a bra, walk down four flights of stairs to the garage, and then wait half an hour in the drive-thru line is well worth the additional $84.61.

Foodie.
Sunday, February 25, 2024

valentine

valentine

I forgot that I put this place on my list because the pastry chef at this restaurant was recently nominated for a James Beard Award, and I ended up ordering a mimosa and steak and eggs 😅 (@ Valentine)

a flour shop

a flour shop

I dropped this oatmeal whoopie pie and I had to keep explaining that the stains all over my leggings were whoopie pie cream and not some other white stuff 😅 (@ A Flour Shop)

pierogi

Holy pierogi (@ All Pierogi Kitchen)

I’ve had Polish sausage before (I’ve also had kielbasa LOL), but I’ve never had any other Polish food. It was sooo good! I highly recommend the cheddar and jalapeño pierogi. I thought it was gonna be “white people spicy,” but it actually had some heat! 😅

ike's

This Ike’s was within walking distance to our hotel. There’s an Ike’s up the street from my apartment in LA, and one in SD, but their “Going Home for Thanksgiving” sandwich on dutch crunch bread will change your life (@ Ike’s Love & Sandwiches)

Hashbrown Spamwich.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

breakfast sandwich

I saw this video on instagram and had to try it with my plant-based spam. It was sooo good and a healthier alternative to my favorite Sausage Mcmuffin with Egg from Mcdonald’s. Even my sister’s husband (who loves spam and SMEs) thought it was good! The highest of compliments! 😆

Meal Prep Monday.
Monday, February 19, 2024

meal prep

I made some spaghetti squash casserole and roasted vegetables to try to eat healthy this week in preparation for all the bad decisions I’m gonna be making in Phoenix this weekend. And Nashville next month. And Spain soon after that 😏

Superbloom.
Sunday, February 18, 2024

superbloom

superbloom coffee

Rise and grind (@ Mission Bay Beach Club)

Shi just wanted to go hiking and have some kid-free QT for her birthday. I would only get up this buttcrack early on a Sunday and exercise for this girl ❤️

Actual footage of me waking up before the sun this morning:

morning people vs me dogs waking up in car gif

And me in the car while Christine drove my sleepy ass:

sleeping in car gif

Thanks to Shi for picking a relatively easy hike that was mostly flat and paved and being so mindful of my fall risk status 😅 I actually loved this little walk around the bay, and we all have birthdays in the winter, so I wouldn’t mind doing this again during the cooler months! They also do yoga on Sundays, so I’ll have to try that one of these weekends.

Sidenote: This girl ran past me on the trail and she was like, “Behind!” I moved over and wanted to say, “Yes, chef,” but I didn’t think she’d get the reference 😂

Tradesies.
Friday, February 16, 2024

nothing bundt cakes

I doordashed Korean short ribs to grill from H Mart on Super Bowl Sunday, but the dasher accidentally got me bulgogi instead. Doordash refunded me $90 for the incorrect item, and I got to keep 6 pounds of bulgogi for free! Usually I love free meat LOL, but I’ve been eating bulgogi tacos (Kogi-style) on carb balance tortillas for days now, and dis tew much 😅 I gave Christine 4 pounds of bulgogi and she just dropped off Nothing Bundt Cakes. My sister’s husband looked in the bag and was like, “These aren’t beef ‘n’ cheddars.” 😆 I love this little food exchange we’ve got going on. So far, we’ve traded sinigang, zuppa toscana, fusilli alla vodka, Greek pearl couscous salad, Dunkin’ Donuts, Arby’s and now bulgogi and Nothing Bundt Cakes! Have I mentioned how much I love living so close to the Lansangs??? ❤️

Love.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

lansang kids

My funny valentines ❤️

dinner

Love, love, love that the Lansangs live close enough to bring me a beer and beef ‘n’ cheddar for dinner!

Heart-Shaped Box.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

heart-shaped pizza

Yep, we’re eating our feelings today 😅

Craving.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

(via cedriklorenzen)

I’m craving pizza all of a sudden 😳🍕

Celebratory.
Thursday, February 8, 2024

mcdonald's breakfast

mcdonald's manhattan beach

I used to doordash Mcdonald’s for breakfast every morning, even though they’re literally across the street from my apartment. Now, I only treat myself to this meal every few months after some routine blood tests 😅 Or when I’m happy to pay $300 to get my car out of a tow yard because I initially thought someone stole it (a Mcdonald’s breakfast is celebratory. Fight me).

P.S. I’m so excited to see Phantogram at Innings Fest, even though I’ve seen them live a million times since I first saw them at Outside Lands in 2011. I’ve actually already seen a lot of the bands that will be there (Young the Giant, Hozier, Jimmy Eat World, Red Hot Chili Peppers). What can I say, I’m a repeat offender ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Monte Cristo.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

monte cristo

I was craving a Monte Cristo and couldn’t find a good one to doordash, so I made it myself 😋

Completion.
Monday, January 22, 2024

rice cooker

sinigang

My sister has a fancy ass rice cooker, and Christine sent us home yesterday with some homemade sinigang that was perfect for this rainy day.

I’ve never made rice in this cooker before, and I was like, “How do you know when it’s done?” She was like, “It plays a little song.” I was like, “I’ve been in my bedroom for the past half hour. IDK if it played the song yet.” I open it and it’s still a little wet on the bottom. I wasn’t sure if it wasn’t done yet, or if I put too much water (my rice always ends up notoriously mushy, which is why I hardly ever make it). But then I closed the lid, and it said “3 MINUTES TILL COMPLETION,” and I’ve been laughing for a million years because I’m a child.

Surcharge.
Sunday, January 21, 2024

crab hut chamango

Chamangos and chisme (@ Crab Hut)

The girls were supposed to come over today, and I was going to smoke my first brisket, but I’m still scared to eat BBQ, so we just hit up good ol’ Crab Hut. I used to go here so much, they had my picture on the wall. I was the Duchess of Crab Hut on Yelp and the Mayor of Crab Hut on Foursquare LOL. Not much has changed about this place, but they now tack on an automatic 18% service fee no matter how small your party is. I hate when restaurants do that. I’m already a good tipper, but I don’t like to be forced to tip. Also, I’m not gonna add an additional tip if I’m already paying an extra 18%. Does my waiter even get this service fee or does it line the owner’s pockets??? I also hate it when restaurants charge an automatic “health surcharge” on top of your bill to pay for their employees’ healthcare. I’ve only seen it done in LA. Like, I love you, République, but I’m pretty sure I’m already overpaying for this kouign amann without your additional 3% health surcharge. Don’t even get me started on alimony (I don’t believe spousal support should exist if you’re no longer spouses. All of my girlfriends who are married make more than their husbands. All of them. Separate from child support, they shouldn’t have to pay them a single dime if they ever get divorced. Ok that’s the end of my rant 😅).

Middle-Aged.
Friday, January 19, 2024

steel cut oats

My sister’s husband was like, “What you making for breakfast?” and I was like, “Steel cut oats with bananas.” He was like, “That’s some middle-aged shit.”

I sprinkled some cinnamon on top because it’s naturally anti-inflammatory for some added sweetness.

This is 42, y’all.

Petite Céréale.
Thursday, January 18, 2024

croissant cereal in staub bowl

I’ve been on a juice cleanse for the past few days in preparation for my bloodwork this morning, so I celebrated eating solid foods again with this $50 cereal we picked up in Brooklyn last weekend.

Cleanse.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

pressed juicery cleanse

Doing a little preemptive juice cleanse before my doctor’s appointment. The holidays and my special relationship with BBQ does not bode well for my upcoming blood tests this week 😅 (Yes, I know your A1C levels go back 3 months. Just let me).

Empire State of Mind.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

I usually like to let my birthday pass without much fanfare (one year, Shi was like, “Am I just supposed to sit across from you at dinner and not acknowledge it’s your birthday?!”). I spent my last birthday in the hospital, so I decided to celebrate this trip around the sun.

A lot of iconic NYC eateries have since opened in LA (Roberta’s, Levain Bakery, Halal Guys, Langer’s Deli, Shake Shack, and Magnolia Bakery among others), but there’s still lots of places to try over here!

let's watch horror movies shirt

I have TSA pre-check because of my global entry enrollment, but my boots set off the metal detectors, so I had to take off my shoes and run them through the x-ray. I was wearing my Let’s Watch Horror Movies shirt, and I was like, “Are you sure it wasn’t the chainsaw on my shirt that set it off?” but no one was amused by my joke 😅

We took the red eye to NYC and got there at five in the morning. We flew JetBlue Mint so we could comfortably get some shut-eye on our overnight flight.

Actual footage of us in first class:

wonka premium economy gif

Sidenote: IDK why it bothers me so much that Timotheé Chalamet is dating Kylie Jenner. That’s a straight up lie, I know exactly why it bothers me. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever seen Timotheé Chalamet in, and I can’t stand the Kardashians/Jenners. Plus, I was so annoyed at the Golden Globes, Kieran Culkin (who won best actor in a drama series for Succession) didn’t even have seats with his wife, while Kylie was sitting front and center at Timotheé’s table. Like who even are you? I’m such a hater 😅

While I was laying flat, I heard something fall and didn’t think anything of it till we were deboarding the plane, when I was looking for my phone and couldn’t find it. I had already put the seat back up and my phone was stuck between the seat and the mechanism that makes the seat fold into a bed. Needless to say, my screen was shattered when I was able to get it out 😅 That’s what I get for talking shit about Kylie Jenner LOL.

night cap

We ordered some night caps before snoozing on the plane. I got their signature cocktail (Mint Condition), while Pammie got a chamomile tea and a virgin bloody mary LOL. I’ve never had a bloody mary with no vodka before!

plaza hotel nyc

Home for the weekend (The Plaza)

Partly because we got 40,000 Southwest points for booking this hotel, but mostly because Macauley Culkin stayed here in Home Alone 2.

Me: How much for the Kevin McCallister suite?
Internet: Nearly five grand a night.
Me: I’ll just book the cheapest room they have available, thank yew.

This is like the first time I went to NYC twenty years ago and went to Supreme to get something for Julz, and was like, “How much for this Nike necklace?” (it was just a dunk on a silver ball chain) and the guy was like, “two fifty,” and I was like, “$2.50? I’ll take two!” and the guy was like, “two hundred fifty,” and I was like, “Oh, I’ll take none then.” 😅

grimace crocs

I brought my Grimace Crocs I got for Christmas in case this hotel was too fancy 😅

ess-a-bagel

Bagels for breakfast (@ Ess-A-Bagel)

We went here last time we were in NYC, and the bagels were sooo good. I also grabbed a bagel and iced coffee at Skyline Deli and Grill in Brooklyn, and it was just as good! New York really knows their shit when it comes to bagels.

tarot cards

“You brought your tarot cards, but you didn’t bring any winter clothes???”

I run hot, so I packed pretty light. I just brought 4 pairs of warm leggings, socks, a nice tank top blouse for Moulin Rouge, 3 days of t-shirts, a pair of boots, my winter coat with the faux-fur lined hood, a beanie and some gloves. It’s a good thing I packed light, because Pammie had to put some of her Harry Potter haul in my luggage going home.

GLACE HOT CHOCOLATE

This s’mores hot chocolate was everything the internet promised it would be (@ Glace)

We got there before all the kids got out of school, so there wasn’t much of a line yet. While we were waiting for a taxi, this kid walking by asks her dad, “Daddy, what are all these people waiting for?” and he was like, “They’re just a bunch of TikTokers waiting for hot chocolate.” 😂

all'antico nyc

La Summer (@ All’Antico Vinaio)

We invited our cousin from LA because she mentioned wanting to go to NY the last time she visited. This was the one place she wanted to go to, and they had a location right by our hotel. They had a pop-up at Mozza2Go in LA last year,  but sold out before she could get any. I’ve eaten at one of Nancy Silverton’s other restaurants, Pizzeria Mozza, and anything good enough for her is good enough for me! This italian sandwich shop def didn’t disappoint.

the rink at rockefeller center

Toe pick ⛸️ (@ The Rink at Rockefeller Center)

The last couple times I’ve been in New York was during the summer and this rink closes in April. I’ve always wanted to go ice skating here! I was so scared to go ice skating because my balance has been off since the strokes. Apparently, your iPhone measures your walking steadiness now, and I recently got this notification that I’m a fall risk 😅 I held on to the wall the entire time, but I’m glad I went!

Grand Central Terminal

luke's lobster

We hit up Grand Central Terminal, because there’s a food hall inside of it. I had a lobster roll and a mule from Luke’s Lobster. The lobster tastes so much more fresh when they don’t have to fly it to the west coast!

I wasn’t planning on going to Magnolia since I’ve been to the one in LA, but they had a location inside the food hall, so I had to get some banana pudding.

moulin rouge musical

moulin rouge musical

Spectacular, spectacular (@ Al Hirschfield Theatre)

Moulin Rouge is one of my favorite movies, and the Broadway musical was amazing! It easily tops Waitress as my favorite musical ever. When we were getting snacks before the show, we asked the guy at concessions if they had any real food because we hadn’t eaten yet, and he was like, “Sorry, we don’t. The hibachi’s getting installed tomorrow.” LOL.

harry potter ny

If you need me, I’ll be at the Butterbeer Bar (@ Harry Potter NY)

Pammie was in heaven and spent hours at the Harry Potter store, while my cousin (who’s never seen a Harry Potter movie) and I drank butterbeer and ate butterbeer soft serve.

katz's deli

My favorite place to fake an orgasm (@ Katz’s Deli)

katz's deli

We had to go here after recently watching When Harry Met Sally in the theater. The pastrami sandwich was def orgasm-inducing, and so was the guy who helped us (S/O to Julian!) 😜

nyc starbucks roastery

My sister fell in love with espresso martinis at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery we went to in Chicago (even though she doesn’t usually like coffee or vodka!), so when we found out there was a roastery in NYC, we had to go here (@ Starbucks Reserve Roastery)

nyc desserts

We couldn’t go to NY without getting a quintessential black and white cookie and cheesecake from Junior’s.

starbucks roastery nyc

When my sister’s husband found out we were going to NYC, he showed me this video where they try the world’s most expensive cereal from this bakery in Brooklyn.

They only make a limited amount of boxes and they sell out every morning, so we went there at an unholy hour and were the first people in line. I once stood in line in LA for 2 hours for Howlin’ Rays Hot Chicken the morning after I got absolutely trashed at a music festival, so this was nothing compared to that 😅 We got a box each, so it was worth it. I also got a raspberry almond croissant here that was *chef’s kiss*.

nathan's

Coney Island closes the boardwalk and rides during the winter, but Nathan’s is still open! I had the best hot dog ever (although I was bummed I took that packet of relish out of my purse from the last time I ate a Costco hot dog LOL). I’ll def have to come back here during the summer to watch the hot dog eating contest live (I watch it on TV with bated breath every 4th of July).

hometown bar-b-que

Checked another one off my BBQ Bucket List (@ Hometown Bar-B-Que)

When planning my trip, I looked up BBQ in NYC and went to add this place in Brooklyn to my BBQ Bucket List and saw it was already on there!

nyc snow

It started snowing while we were there. BBQ and snow??? It doesn’t get more magical than that.

When I got off the plane when we arrived, I felt hot and nauseous so I sat down. I ended up having to run to the bathroom and blowing chunks all over the first stall. I’m sorry to the pissed cleaner that had to clean it all up 😅 Last night when I was in bed around midnight, I felt hot and nauseous again. The heat was cranked up in our hotel room because it was so cold outside, so I was sleeping in my underwear. I ran to the bathroom with no pants on and threw up all the BBQ I ate earlier. The only common denominator when I threw up Friday morning and Sunday night was that I had BBQ both days. Can I not eat BBQ anymore??? I was gonna smoke my first brisket next weekend for when the girls come over for my birthday, but now I’m scared to eat BBQ. Usually, if I get sick after eating something, I never eat it again (this is why I don’t eat strawberry ice cream or chicken fried steak LOL), but it’s BBQ! I can’t give that up…

aura photographs

We couldn’t go to NYC without getting updated photos of our auras taken in Chinatown.

I once went to a festival in LA where they were charging triple the price to photograph your aura. Another vendor at the same festival gave me a paper boba straw when I ordered a drink! Fucking LA 😅 I used to keep a box of plastic straws in the trunk of my car for when Nori and I would go to Starbucks on our lunch break because plastic is banned in Manhattan Beach. I can’t with the paper straws! (Calm down, I recycle. Get off me).

artichoke basille's pizza

Last meal in NYC (@ Artichoke Basille’s Pizza)

I would eat pizza every day if I could, and my favorite style is New York (I love a thin crust, none of that Chicago deep-dish bullshit). I love that there’s pizzerias on every corner and they all taste good!

jetblue mint

The last time we flew home from NYC, Pammie watched Harry Potter, while I watched Homicide for the Holidays. This time, she watched another Harry Potter movie while I watched true crime on the ID channel. We haven’t changed.

christmas tree

I saw so many Christmas trees dumped on the side of the street. The holidays and my birthday are officially over, and they were spectacular ❤️

Smoke All Day.
Saturday, January 6, 2024

smoked. wings

Smoked wings, anyone???

I smoked them and then air-fried them so they were extra crispy. It smells like BBQ up in this bitch. This is what I imagine heaven smells like. I’ll request BBQ for my last meal in case I’m not headed there 😅

123123.
Sunday, December 31, 2023

gingerbread crinkle cookies

Last bake of 2023 ✌🏼 I hate actual ginger, but I love gingerbread anything. I’ve been known to eat a whole sleeve of ginger snaps in bed. If there were any gingerbread crinkle cookies left, I would’ve taken them to bed with me.

pf chang's copycat lettuce wraps

My relatives requested that I make my copycat lettuce wraps from P.F. Chang’s in case this party wasn’t Asian enough.

We left the party early because we were tired by 9:30. My aunt was like, “You’re going already? You’re leaving the lettuce wraps, right?” 😆

I’m not gonna make it to midnight, guys. Happy new year from this old broad 👵🏻

In Pie We Crust.
Saturday, December 30, 2023

My cousin who lives by me in LA is down here for a country music festival this weekend LOL, so we treated her to a proper burrito at Lolita’s, followed by some sweets at Pop Pie, a showing of one of my favorite movies, When Harry Met Sally, at Angelika, and some homemade pizza.

pop pie

ninja outdoor grill

roberta's bee sting pizza

One of my favorite pies is the Bee Sting from Roberta’s in Brooklyn. It’s topped with spicy soppressata, and my cousin doesn’t eat pork, so I had this baby all to myself.

when harry met sally gif

At the end of the movie, the guy sitting behind us was like, “I genuinely enjoyed watching you guys enjoy the movie!” We couldn’t stop laughing during the part where Billy Crystal sleeps with Meg Ryan and he’s laying there afterwards. He was in the same position my cousin’s waxer told her to get in during her last Brazilian with one leg hanging off the bed, and she had just told us this story LOL.

She’s my concert buddy in LA, always down to see whoever I want (I took her to her first Tame Impala, Beyoncé, Sylvan Esso, and Hozier concerts, among others) and she loves my chicken adobo (my sister and her husband said it was too salty, and it still keeps me up at night). We had reservations to go to Pizzeria Bianco in DTLA for my birthday earlier this year, and I texted her and was like, “I don’t think I can make it. I had a stroke and I’m in the hospital.” 😅 She’s also my ice skating partner, and we usually skate outside the Staples Center Crypto.com when they set up the rink for the holidays. Ahh, I miss LA. I never thought we’d be close when we were kids. We used to live on the same street, but then her mom (my dad’s little sister) died when she and her siblings were still young, and they moved to LA where their dad lived. Who knew I’d end up in LA???

Pammie’s Pizza Party.
Thursday, December 28, 2023

I got my sister’s husband a Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 Outdoor Oven for Christmas, partly because it gets hot enough to make pizzas, but mostly because it’s also a smoker and I love me some smoked meats.

For Pammie’s birthday, the girls got together for a pizza party on her rooftop. The oven works sooo well and fast. It cooked the pizzas faster than we could make them!

fig jam pizza

spicy sopressata pizza

big chazz chips

Chel brought us dick chips! They were salty and meaty with a vinegar backnote 😆

What should we make next? These smoked wings I once had at Alpine Beer Company that I still have dreams about? An entire smoked brisket??? 😜

Morning Buns.
Wednesday, December 27, 2023

tiktok cinnamon rolls

As I was frosting my cinnamon rolls this morning, I could hear my sister on her 9am zoom call. I don’t remember the last time I had a zoom call or meeting. As long as I turn in my work on time, my boss doesn’t bother me. My coworkers will message me on slack till no end, but usually just to ask if I have a font or what I’m doing for my birthday LOL. I love working from home ♥️

How I Holiday.
Sunday, December 24, 2023

mini chicken and waffles

I think miniature versions of things are the cutest, so I made these adorable mini chicken and waffles. I just bought some Eggo Minis, a tray of Chick-Fil-A Nuggets, these cocktail picks, and served it with some quality maple syrup. So cute!

bread pudding

My chocolate bread pudding fixes things in the universe.

charcuterie board holiday wreath

My charcuterie boards always have a theme 🎄

banana nut bread

I made my banana nut bread last Thanksgiving and was asked multiple times where I bought it! Now I have to make it for every family party.

Is it even an Asian party if you don’t play games for money??? I learned that my cousin’s husband moves really slow after eating edibles and I suck at flip cup when I’m completely sober 😅

I was too busy taking pictures of my food to take any pictures of myself, but I wore this cute ass Christmas light strand sequin sweater dress that was festive as fuck 🎄

Hot Cocoa Bar.
Thursday, December 21, 2023

diy hot chocolate bar

I’m officially off of work till New Year’s, so I’ll just be here till then ✌🏼

Crawling in the Dark.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Reliving my youth (@ The Echo)

I started off my morning by doordashing a spanish latte and sunrise pizza from Urth Caffé. I went to my doctor’s appointment and Dr. Joshi had nothing but good things to say about me (the first time I saw him earlier this year, he said I was “hanging on by a thread” 😅). I went through 4 months worth of mail and had over $700 in checks from overpaying for my health bennies during my medical leave. The Echo’s up the street from Guisados on Sunset, so we ate some delicious tacos before watching Hoobastank at The Echo. Not to be dramatic or anything, but yesterday was the best day of my life.

I haven’t seen Hoobastank live since they opened for Linkin Park on their Meteora tour in 2004! Fun fact: Hoobastank went to high school with Linkin Park members (Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon and Brad Delson). I felt like a kid again watching them. Like, is it 2003? Am I about to get a charlie horse after watching them at Canes??? 😆 I was reminded that I’m not, in fact, a kid anymore when we walked back to the car and we didn’t have to pay for metered street parking because of my handicap placard, and when I was falling asleep on the drive home before midnight 😅

Shoutout to the guy standing in front of me wearing a Yellowcard hoodie 😂

yellowcard hoodie

Only two things about LA still warm this heart—the food and live music.

hoobastank

hoobastank

Update: You guys, Hoobastank liked my Instagram story 💀

Ratatata.
Monday, December 4, 2023

Deane sent me this vid and I couldn’t stop laughing, because it reminded me of the time we went to Boyle Heights for tacos. We heard gunshots as we exited the 5, and we were like, “This must be the place!” 😂

We knew of this truck, because we went to a taco festival (we’re v serious about our tacos), and we picked the vendor with the longest line because we figured they had the best tacos.

You know the tacos are good when you hear gunshots! 😅 Ratatata!

Affordable.
Monday, December 4, 2023

I will never be too poor for concert tickets or Crumbl cookies 😆

I once got pulled over for expired tags in LA the first day they expired, yet I’ve seen so many cars driving around SD with tags that expired years ago ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Zuppa Toscana.
Sunday, December 3, 2023

zuppa toscana

Homemade Zuppa Toscana on this cold ass day. The last time I had Olive Garden was my last lunch with Nori before she took me to the hospital 😅 Our waiter held the parm grater over my dish and asked if I wanted a fifth cheese on my four cheese ziti and I’m still laughing about it 😂

People think I’m a food snob and too good for chains, but I love me some Olive Garden!

Selena + Chef.
Thursday, November 30, 2023

selena gomez gravy boat gif

selena gomez gravy boat gif

She was, in fact, that girl. Stars—they’re just like us!

I used to watch Selena Gomez on Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel, and now I’m watching her cook with Chef Alex Guarneschelli on the Food Network. How fast they grow up 🥹

I usually have Food Network on in the background while I’m working, and I’ve never heard so many people mispronounce espresso (ex-pres-so), mascarpone (mars-car-pown), chipotle (chee-poll-tay) and jalapeño (ha-la-pee-no). I don’t expect a Green Bay fan white dude in the midwest to be able to roll their R’s and say birria, but how about you learn how to pronounce it first if you’re gonna make it on national television? I was plugging away at my catalog, and I was like, “If this guy says ‘beer-ya’ one more time…” 🤪

dwight screaming gif

Feast Mode.
Thursday, November 23, 2023

It’s leg day, y’all! 🍗

I had to get this tiny cornucopia, partly because it’s Thanksgiving, but mostly because it reminded me of The Hunger Games.

My mom’s deep fryer decided to stop working after we already dry rubbed four cornish game hens, so my uncle just deep fried them on the stove in a big ass pot of peanut oil. They turned out great! They were so small, they looked like baby birds, but I was assured these weren’t babies LOL. One time, I was watching an episode of Chopped, and one of the secret basket ingredients was a suckling goat and I burst into tears and changed the channel when I saw it. As a rule, I don’t eat any baby animals. Only fully grown animals that have had a good life 😆

Update 11/24/2023: Pammie told me that cornish game hens are slaughtered when they reach 4 WEEKS of age, so I won’t be eating them anymore 😅

king crab legs

King crab legs were on sale for $199 for 10 pounds at Costco! I’ve seen it upwards of $400, so this was a steal. Plus, we were near the Costco Business Center, so we went to that one and there were no lines on a Saturday!

Pumpkin pie hack: I bought a big ass pumpkin pie from Costco, used a biscuit cutter to cut out individual servings, and topped them with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Adorable!

The Costco Business Center doesn’t have a bakery (or food court), so we went to the Grossmont Costco and it was CRAZY. There is a hell, and it’s the Costco in La Mesa the weekend before Thanksgiving.

banana bread

My banana bread fixes things in the universe.

mahjong

If your family doesn’t gamble at holiday parties, are you even Asian???

Rainy Day Shit.
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

rain gif

chicken sotanghon

Novo Amor and homemade chicken sotanghon on this rainy Wednesday 🌧️

Lettuce Wraps.
Sunday, November 12, 2023

lettuce wraps

My mom loves the lettuce wraps at P.F. Chang’s and wants me to make them for Thanksgiving LOL. We hardly ever have traditional Thanksgiving food. I think we’re deep frying some cornish game hens this year because no one ever eats the turkey. I also accidentally bought 5 bags of turkey bone broth instead of chicken when I was doing a cleanse once, and the smell of turkey elicits my gag reflex now.

Since I’ve never made the lettuce wraps before, I found this copycat recipe and did a trial run, so I wouldn’t embarrass myself in front of all my relatives 😅 I omitted the ginger (because I hate ginger) and the sriracha (because not all of my relatives have my spice tolerance).They also serve them with iceberg at the restaurant, but I got butter lettuce instead because it was less watery and messy.

Remember that episode of Punky Brewster where the girls all wanted Butter Lettuce Babies? I think Cabbage Patch Kids was copyrighted LOL. If you don’t know who Punky Brewster is, then you are too young and I am too old. Anyway, the lettuce wraps turned out great and I’ll def be making them for Thanksgiving!

PTO.
Saturday, November 11, 2023

nori snack box

My work bestie is taking PTO, so I sent her a care package with her favorite popcorn from Chicago, these cookies from NYC that she showed me on instagram, and some homemade furikake chex mix to snack on, plus a USB full of illegally downloaded movies so she can fully enjoy her well-deserved staycation.

Free Sausage.
Thursday, November 9, 2023

instacart

I instacarted 1 pack of sausage and the guy accidentally bought me 5 packs! I think he got confused because I also ordered 5 Lean Cuisines LOL. This is like the time I ordered 2 boxes of protein bars and Amazon accidentally delivered 2 cases (12 boxes!). I’m still trying to get through those protein bars 8 months later, but I’ll probably go through this free sausage pretty quickly 😆

65.
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

mom 65th birthday

It’s my mama’s 65th birthday, and all she wanted was a new iPad to watch her K-dramas and some lettuce wraps (@ P.F. Chang’s)

Bliss.
Monday, November 6, 2023

cranberry bliss bar

I love living so close to the Lansangs because sometimes I wake up to Christine dropping off some Cranberry Bliss! ‘Tis the season, y’all!

Taco Tuesday.
Tuesday, October 31, 2023

taco tuesday

Taco Tuesday, but make it spooky 💀

How I Halloween.
Tuesday, October 31, 2023

spooky sangria

As I was pouring the bottle of wine into the Skull Drink Dispenser last night, Pammie was like, “Are we having a party tomorrow?” and I was like, “No, this is just for us.” 💁🏻‍♀️

Spooky Sangria:

  • 2 – 250 ml bottles merlot
  • 12 oz Fireball Whiskey
  • 16 oz orange juice
  • 16 oz pomegranate syrup
  • 1 – 20 oz can pineapple tidbits
  • 2 sliced limes
  • 2 sliced oranges
  • Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

boo bark

chocolate cake skulls

Happy Halloween, y’all! Same time next year???

Meals for One.
Thursday, October 26, 2023

smart ones

I’m really looking forward to not having to cook later and microwaving this frozen dinner. What has become of my life??? I got it in the Meals for One section at Target 😅

Boo Bucket.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

mcdonald's boo bucket

Partly because I wanted a Boo Bucket to put the candy in for the delivery guys, but mostly because I wanted Mcdonald’s. How cute is this tiny fry box?!

The Boo Bucket is smaller than I remember, but I was a lot smaller in the 80s, too 🤣

front door

Come and get it 🎃🍫🍬

Paint & Sip & Slurp.
Sunday, October 22, 2023

chel birthday

chel birthday

All Chel wanted for her birthday was to paint some pumpkins, sip some cocktails and slurp some ramen (and a sexy chef to make us dinner, but I couldn’t provide that).

chel birthday

I refilled the punch-a-bunch for Darien and the twins who also coincidentally love Halloween, BBQ and being naked.

I accidentally dropped my still-wet pumpkin towards the end of the night, so not only did I ruin Chel’s warm palette vibe, I also ruined her patio table and area rug underneath it with neon green paint! She says she was getting rid of the table and rug anyway 😅

My cup is so full. Love these girls ♥️

Buzzed.
Thursday, October 19, 2023

life's better buzzed

My sister had to go into the office, so she brought me back a Best Drink Ever® (@ Better Buzz)

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023

pumpkin spice chex mix

I made some pumpkin spice snack mix for Chel’s birthday party this weekend, and my sister’s husband says it tastes better than my furikake chex mix! He’ll be selling it at the Otay Ranch Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays 😂

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix (adapted from Princess Pinky Girl)

Ingredients:

  • 1 – 12 oz box Honey Nut Chex cereal
  • 1 – 12.5 oz box Cinnamon Chex cereal
  • 2 – 6 oz bags Caramel Bugles
  • 1 – 7.44 oz bag Campfire S’mores M&Ms
  • 1 – 9.9 oz bag Reese’s Pieces
  • 1 – 20 oz bag Brach’s Autumn Mix Candy
  • 1 – 16 oz bag Pretzels
  • 2 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • ½ cup Brown Sugar
  • ½ cup Butter

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275°.
  2. In a large foil steamer pan, mix the cereal, pretzels and Bugles.
  3. Melt butter in a glass measuring cup, and stir together melted butter with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla. Pour over the dry mix. Stir to coat.
  4. Bake at 275° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
  5. Cool and then add the candy pieces.
  6. Store in an airtight container.
Pop Pie & Chisme.
Saturday, October 14, 2023

pop pie

I love when my sister gets her hair done, partly because her hairdresser always has new chisme, but mostly because her salon is near University Heights and she brings me home something from Pop Pie.

Friday the 13th.
Friday, October 13, 2023

friday the 13th

What better day to carve pumpkins than Friday the 13th? 🎃

beetlejuice pumpkin

I’m the ghost with the most, babe 🖤

What, you don’t like Beetlejuice??? It’s OK, the flame will keep me warm at night. JK there’s a fake candle in there. You almost burn down your apartment once (OK, twice) and people don’t let you forget it. Alicia gave me a Dole Whip Candle from Disneyland and I was like, “I’m not allowed to have an open flame.” 😅

Thanks to Jessie for helping me carve my pumpkin. AKA she carved most of it while I ate s’mores and watched 😂 It was her first time carving a pumpkin, and she loved it! She was like, “Did I just learn a new trade???”

friday the 13th

Jessie fell to the ground laughing after Christine asked if we were carving Albert Einstein 🤣 It was like when we were watching America Says and the board was “Famous Mustaches” and one of the answers was Groucho Marx and Pammie was like, “Who the hell is Groucho Marx? Richard Marx‘s brother???” LMAO she was serious! I was eating and spit my food everywhere!

friday the 13th

My Halloween snack game is to die for 💀

friday the 13th

My favorite Spicy Vodka Pasta from Jon and Vinny’s, but make it spooky 🦇🎃

friday the 13th

I’ll pretty much find any excuse to make a charbooterie board.

Meat:

  • Salame di Parma
  • Spicy Sopressa

Cheese:

  • Sharp Cheddar (cut with a pumpkin cookie cutter)
  • Roquefort
  • Brie
  • Cranberry Chèvre
  • Creamy Toscano Cheese Soaked in Syrah

Fruit:

  • Blackberries
  • Oranges
  • Cornichons
  • Blueberries
  • Dried Apricots
  • Raspberries
  • Pomegranate Seeds

Extras:

Decoration:

friday the 13th

friday the 13th

And make a punch-a-bunch for the kids.

friday the 13th

And make s’mores.

friday the 13th

And witch finger pretzel rods.

friday the 13th

And use my plastic vampire teeth.

friday the 13th

And my skull pan.

Love, love, love Halloween and these girls so much 🖤

Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos.
Monday, October 9, 2023

air fried shrimp tacos

If I can’t cook it in an air fryer, I don’t want it.

Fogo.
Sunday, October 8, 2023

Happy 70th birthday to my pops! (@ Fogo de Chão)

I’ve never been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, but it was everything The Mindy Project promised it would be 🤣

Nails.
Saturday, October 7, 2023

witch nails

Pammie: What are you doing?
Me: Painting these blanched almonds for my witch fingers. What does it look like I’m doing???

Raggedy Ho.
Thursday, October 5, 2023

I used to go to the Popeye’s near my apartment, and I didn’t think I went there too frequently (maybe once or twice a month), but I’d always order the same thing—a popcorn shrimp combo. One day, I was standing in line minding my own business, and the dude who always helps me sees me standing there and shouts over the people ahead of me, “Popcorn shrimp combo???” Embarrassing! 😳 Like, first of all, lower your voice, and second of all, yes, of course I’d like a popcorn shrimp combo 🤣

I was getting my hair cut in Manhattan Beach, and the new receptionist and I were trying to figure out where we knew each other from, and she was like, “I used to work at Popeye’s! Is that where I’ve seen you???” I guess I went there more frequently than I thought 😅

Another time, I ordered Thai from a nearby restaurant and went to pick it up at the wrong place. They were like, “Are you sure you ordered from here???” and I checked my online order again, and I was, in fact, at the wrong restaurant. I haven’t been back there since. I already can’t go to this other Thai restaurant near my apartment, because the last time I ate there, they tried to kill me 😅 My pad thai was extra spicy (I asked for 5/10 heat and it was more like a gazillion/10). I had to keep asking for more water during my meal and the waiters seemed to enjoy my pain.

This is why I pay extra to doordash and do contactless delivery… partly so I can suffer in the comfort of my own home, but mostly because I don’t have to put a bra on to get my food 😅

Good thing there’s hella Starbucks nearby because now I have to try this apple croissant.

Air Fried.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

I saw this video and bought some oven-baked cheese, air fried it and ate it with marinara sauce. It was like eating pizza without the dough! I almost grabbed some black olives and turkey pep.

What else can I air fry???

Sweet Potato Avocado Toast.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

sweet potato toast

I picked up some Roots Farm Fresh Sweet Potato Toast to go low-carb, because I had Taco Bell three times this week 😅 I was devastated when they took my beloved shredded chicken burrito off their menu, and they now have shredded chicken rolled tacos! And brought back nacho fries. So I had to get both three days in a row, obviously.

Update 10/7/2023: My sister made the mistake of asking me what I wanted for lunch, and I was like, “TACO BELL!” When we went through the drive-thru, the guy told us the shredded chicken rolled tacos were limited edition only and they no longer have them *cries in Spanish*

Air Fried Chicken Wings.
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

I was gifted an air fryer by someone who replaced theirs with one of those 3-in-1 kitchen appliances that’s a microwave, air fryer and convection oven in one. I air fried these chicken wings for lunch and they were sooo good and crispy. Who needs Buffalo Wild Wings??? Or as Jay calls them, BBW 🤣

Wonder.
Monday, September 25, 2023

Shi and I used to hang out all the time at my old apartment in SD and eat so bad. She’s seen me eat a whole pizza by myself (in my defense, it was thin crust! LOL), and I’ve seen her eat an entire pound cake in one sitting (multiple times!). We were also in our 20s, and our metabolism was much faster back then 😅 We used to make these sinful cheesecake-stuffed strawberries, and I kept seeing these Wonder Monday ads on all my socials for low-carb, low-sugar cheesecakes, so I ordered some, whipped up a few in my stand mixer, piped them into fresh strawberries and dipped them in heart-healthy dark chocolate! They tasted like heaven.

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