Finger the water
2 in the H, 1 in the O

@chefreactions reacting to a @cedriklorenzen video is the comedy I needed today 🤣

We had reservations to go to Pizzeria Bianco in DTLA for my birthday last year, and I texted my cousin who also lives in Redondo and was like, “I don’t think I can make it. I had a stroke and I’m in the hospital.” 😅

We ate at the one in Phoenix when we were there for the inaugural Innings Fest, and were so stoked to hear that they were expanding to LA. We finally got to go and it was just as good as I remember it being 🍕 Now if only they’d open a Cornish Pasty Co in LA so we could get our PB&J pasty fix!

Since Pammie visited me in LA this weekend, I took her to this Harry Potter themed cafe nearby inside Del Amo mall in Torrance.

Pammie ordered Goblin Snot (an iced matcha with white chocolate cream) and I got Phoenix Tears (passionfruit and mango sparkling refresher with lemonade topped with edible gitter). Phoenix Tears have immense healing powers (according to Harry Potter Wiki) ✨

The cafe was cute, but my sister has better Harry Potter decor in her house 😆 They could definitely work on their marketing and branding. Our iced cups, for example, should have stickers with their logo on it. ‘Snot’ and ‘Tears’ were just scribbled on our cups with a sharpie 😅 My graphic designer eyes are very judgy 👀

LA has 2 MLB teams, 2 NBA teams, and 2 NFL teams, and I’m reaping all the bennies 😆

I went to lunch with Nori at Calif Chicken Cafe this afternoon in El Segundo, and it was right next to the Chargers Team Store and the Chargers Training Camp. I’m going to my first Rams game at SoFi Stadium this weekend, and I feel like a traitor, but I’m not trying to get murdered, so I’ll be wearing my Rams shirt 😅

I kept quiet so I could keep you

Frozen pierogies from the ‘Meals for One’ section at Target are my new guilty pleasure. Just kidding (they aren’t in the ‘Meals for One’ section. Just because I could eat all of them by myself in one sitting doesn’t mean it’s a single serving 😅).

If you thought I was gonna doordash Shake Shack for National Cheeseburger Day, you weren’t wrong 🍔

*Adds the Claim Jumper on Harbor to our list* 😆

I had a hypoglycemic event this morning.

I had just eaten my breakfast sandwich and was going to go on a walk to get my steps in and get some iced coffee. Pammie was gonna come with me, but she kept forgetting shit (her sunglasses, her keys) and the house is 4 floors, so I just waited downstairs while she kept going up and down for whatever she forgot. I wear a continuous glucose monitor, and it alerted me that my glucose levels were low. They’ve never actually been low when it has alerted me before, it usually happens when I put a new device in (every 10 days), and I just have to test my blood and recalibrate it and it’s fine. This time, though, I was sweating (even though the A/C was on in the house) and I felt off, so I tested my blood and my glucose levels were really low. Good thing I start getting ready for Halloween in July, so I had candy on hand 😆 I ate some and felt way better! I walked to Casa de Otay for iced coffee after and didn’t even break a sweat (I hardly ever sweat, so that also tipped me off that something was wrong earlier).

I have a continuous glucose monitor device that alerts me on my phone if my levels are too low or too high, but there are service dogs who are trained to also alert you. I ignore my phone notifs all the time, but I would never ignore a puppy 😆

Just a friendly reminder to listen to your body! 🙃

Just before my stroke, I was gifted an Our Place Perfect Pot. I forgot how nice it was to cook with quality nonstick pans. My sister has a fancy gourmet kitchen, complete with two KitchenAid ovens, a KitchenAid stove, KitchenAid dishwasher, KitchenAid fridge, KitchenAid wine cellar, and a huge quartz waterfall island (she bought the biggest model home), but, like our mother, she doesn’t cook 😆 Her husband cooks sometimes, but he either uses the gas grill on the rooftop, the pans he got for free from the casino LOL, or what’s left of the Calphalon cookware set we won nearly 15 years ago on Ellen DeGeneres’ 12 Days of Giveaways!

I’m like the jambalaya fairy, because I made extra for Nori & Sachi, Pammie & Dennis, Christine & Francis. Many have eaten my food, few have died. Just kidding. (Not that many people have eaten my food.)

I meal prepped so I don’t fall into old habits (doordashing breakfast and dinner everyday and spending a gazillion dollars on food 😅). I still go out to lunch with Nori during the week, though (a bunch of new restos opened in the south bay while I was gone, and I have to try them all).

(@ Lobster-Guys)

(@ Pita Café)

It was Nori’s dog Kona’s birthday over the weekend, so I brought her some toys. She loved them all, especially the piñata stuffie 🥰

Nori’s icon status at Nordstrom, so she invited me to join her for a complimentary dinner at Ruscello. We were treated like celebrities LOL!

We were able to find primo parking at South Coast Plaza with my handicap placard, and her mom and sister were like, ‘You’re invited to go out with us anytime!” 😆

Her mom gave me one of her long ass shoe horns when she saw me struggling to put on my shoes 😅 They make slipping on my Vans a breeze 👵🏻

I was gonna buy a new oven a few years ago, because the one in my apartment is tiny and electric. But since I was in the market for an air fryer, I got this Breville Air Fryer Toaster Oven combo. I have zero counter space, though (the kitchen in my studio is smaller than my bathroom at my sister’s house LOL), so I have to set it on top of my oven 😅

The first thing I made in it was a personal pizza.

The power turned off a few times in the 15 minutes it took to cook the pizza, and I had to flip the switch in the circuit breaker a couple times. It probably couldn’t handle the A/C and oven on at the same time, but I was like, ‘Come on… Don’t make me choose between A/C and pizza.’ 😅

Yes, that’s turkey pepperoni and yes, I know I need to calm down on the olives 😜

I doordashed breakfast from Urth Caffe this morning—an iced Spanish latte and a Sunrise Pizza. The poached egg that came on top of the breakfast pizza was way overcooked again (the yolk was cooked all the way through!). I went to Urth with Nori for lunch before, and I ordered the same thing. I was like, ‘Get this shot, Nori’ before I cut into my poached egg expecting a runny yolk, but the egg was cooked solid LOL.

I love a good breakfast pizza, and my favorite one is from Big Sur Bakery (I just saw it burned down a few months ago!). I still ate the pizza without the solid ass egg 😜

Another time, I was at brunch with Jessie and we both ordered chilaquiles, but I ordered my eggs ‘over easy’ while she ordered hers ‘over medium’. I was like, ‘WTF is over medium?’ She was like, ‘Where they flip the egg, but the yolk is still runny.’ I was like, ‘Isn’t that over easy?’ She was all, ‘Don’t they not flip it when it’s over easy?’ I was like, ‘Nah, that’s sunny side up.’ She was like, ‘Let’s see how they come out.’ We got our order and our eggs were cooked the same 😂 Apparently, they don’t know the difference between over easy and over medium at La Sabrosita, either!

Here are some helpful charts:

Update: Jessie studied abroad in Spain and is married to a Mexican guy, but she’s the whitest Asian we know 😆

While I was away, they opened a Salt & Straw in Manhattan Beach and a Magnolia Bakery ghost kitchen in Torrance, all within doordashable distance to my apartment. This does not bode well for my blood glucose levels. Or my waistline 😅

Last 2-in-1 Burrito from Lolita’s before I go back to LA tonight ✌🏻

Yes, I’ll be back in SD for a lash appointment next week, and yes, I will probably get Lolita’s again 😆

The last time I had sangria slushies was at Las Hadas downtown after a Padres game, and Christine was also with me and reminded me of some very bad decisions I made that night 😅 We also ran into Pammie’s brother-in-law that same night and he told her his now infamous line, ‘Tell your sister she was sloppy.’ Although some knee-dropping chismé came out during brunch, none of it had to do with me this time 😆 Ask me again in 10 years 😅

This brunch was way overdue. We were supposed to get together when I came back from Spain, but I caught Covid. Then we rescheduled, but Pammie caught Covid in Vegas. We’re all healthy now, but work has been stressing us all out while Shi’s over here starting a book club at her work 🤣

I suggested Flama Llama because I saw it on instagram. I love llamas, so liking these fuckers fucked up my algorithm 😆

Everything was so amazing and flavorful. I’ve had Peruvian food before, but this was exceptional. Just ask Shi (she ordered 4 entrees LOL).

Jambalaya is like everything I love in one dish: Shrimp? ✅ Sausage? ✅ Rice? ✅ Heat? ✅

I followed this recipe and added some Flatiron Pepper Co Four Pepper Blend for extra spice, and it was *chef’s kiss*. Not to be dramatic or anything, but it was only the best thing I’ve ever cooked. Someone make an honest woman out of me already 😆

My sister’s husband requested I make another batch before I go. I have a concert in LA with friends this Thursday, so I’ll be going back to my apartment in LA later this week. It’s been real ✌🏻

Spooky Nugs and tots for dinner. Dennis was like, ‘What are you, five?’ 😆

Um, would a 5-year-old illegally download a PG-13 M. Knight Shyamalan thriller and eat kettle corn out of a Mcdonald’s Boo Bucket??? (Don’t answer that).

I love Bobby Flay.

Even though I used to think he was an asshole ever since he jumped on the cutting board during an Iron Chef battle against Chef Morimoto in 2000 (I was more offended when he yelled, ‘Raise the roof, yo!’ tbh) and he’s since been thrice-divorced, but I kinda like assholes 🤪

I used to watch him on Throwdown, and now I watch him on Beat Bobby Flay, Bobby’s Triple Threat and BBQ Brawl. He’s still an asshole, but he’s an asshole who can cook 😜

I made Bobby Flay’s Creamed Green Chili Rice with Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs. It turned out amazing even though I had to consult my friend who cooks all the time 😅

Update: I got the stamp of approval from Pammie, Dennis, and my sister’s brother-in-law, Paul, who dropped by for dinner. They finished the rice! I’m finally redeemed from when Pammie and her husband said my adobo was too salty two years ago. Their hurtful comments still keep me up at night 😅

Pammie is back from Hawaii, and she brought me back my favorite s’mores cookie from The Cookie Corner 🍪

Leftover Chinese food? Put an egg on it.

Yes, I ate it with Datu Puti Spiced Vinegar, and yes, I’m Filipino as fuck.

Cinnamon rolls, furikake chex mix, and chocolate chip cookies, oh my 💛

It would’ve been my grandma’s 93rd birthday this weekend, so we had a potluck at the cemetery. She would’ve loved these treats I brought. She was diabetic and always sneaking sweets 😆

From the last birthday we celebrated in 2020 with grandma 💛

What, your family doesn’t celebrate dead people’s birthdays with food at the graveyard? 😜

My favorite video ever 🥹

Happy heavenly birthday, Queen! 🥳

Dear Shirley May,

Today I walked to Mcdonald’s to get my steps in and say hi to all my dog friends, made cookies for my grandma’s party tomorrow, drove by myself (for the first time since the stroke and didn’t kill anybody!) to Christine’s club pool, and went swimming with her, Francis and the kids. They brought beer and seltzers, and I was way too drunk to drive home, so Christine drove my car home while Francis followed, all the while Dylan was screaming in the backseat, ‘Thank you for the cookies, Auntie Mayan!!!’

So… a typical pre-stroke Saturday 😜

When I was trying to eat ‘healthy’ before, I’d order a wrap from Chick-Fil-A, but still get a side of waffle fries and wash it down with a large sweet tea 😅 Nowadays, I don’t drink drinks with calories (unless it’s alcohol or iced coffee, so no soda or juice).

Chick-Fil-A sells their Avocado Lime Dressing in stores, so I made the wrap at home in a Carb Balance Tortilla and it was sooo good 👌🏻

Brunch with the besties (@ La Sabrosita)

When Jessie suggested this restaurant, we thought it was at the mall across the street. I’ve been practicing driving, so Pammie had me drive to the mall, but it was closer than we thought. We could’ve walked there 😆

I should’ve walked because I ordered a mimosa flight thinking I would share it with the table, but Jessie and Pammie had cafe de olla and Christine drank all day yesterday and is done for the weekend (or possibly forever), so I had to polish off the mimosa flight by myself 😅

Poutine, but make it breakfast ✌🏻

Shi read that I was in a mood on my blog, so she offered to come down and walk around the neighborhood with me this morning! She never fails to lift my spirits 💛

I haven’t seen Shi in a couple months. We were all supposed to go to lunch when I came back from Spain, but I got Covid. We rescheduled to last weekend, but Pammie had Covid 😷 This was long overdue!

Of course she drove down at an ungodly hour while her kids were still sleeping so I was up earlier than I wake up for work 😅

Me: What in the death metal band is this shirt?
Shi: They’re Klingons 🖖🏻

Sometimes I forget how much of a Trekkie this b is 🤣 She got this shirt at a Star Trek pop-up at Comic-Con one year.

I can’t wake up this early on a Saturday and get my steps in without rewarding myself with an iced Mexican mocha (@ Casa de Otay)

Jack Karlson has died, and we’re having a succulent Chinese meal from Mandarin Beijing in his honor 😆

As it turns out, nobody wants holiday cookies in the middle of summer, so I made some regular chocolate chip cookies 😅 I followed this recipe and I can’t stop eating them. The sea salt and chocolate combo is *chef’s kiss* 🍪

Spaghetti squash casserole to counteract all the sugar and carbs I’ve been eating lately. Is that how it works?

It’s not the season for cranberry bliss, but it’s ant season, so Pammie made me clean out the cupboards because those little fuckers were getting into everything. I had all the accoutrements for the cranberry bliss cookies I never made last Christmas, and the craisins expire next month, so I made some holiday cookies in the height of summer 🎄☀️

It’s already August, which means it’s spooky season, but it’s also PSL season. Basic white girls love the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, but I’m just a basic Asian girl, so I’m more excited for the return of their pumpkin cream cheese muffins. I found a copycat recipe, and they turned out sooo good.

Next up, Starbucks’ Apple Croissant!

On power days, we eat chili cheese tots ✌🏼

I walked my ass to Mcdonald’s and got my steps in, got free fries, and the Padres won??? Win-win.

Sundays are for swimming and seltzers ✌🏻

My favorite breakfast burrito in SD is from this place by my old apartment in La Mesa called Super Oscar’s. I recently found out they closed down and turned into a Better Buzz Coffee, which I’m not mad about, because I love that place. I’ll take SD Mexican food over LA Mexican food any day. My favorite place by me in Redondo to get a breakfast burrito is Phanny’s. When I asked for hot sauce, though, they gave me a dang Tapatio packet. -1 star for their lack of homemade hot sauce, but 4/5 stars for this view, though 😍

Anyway, I recreated my favorite breakfast burrito from Super Oscar’s with tater tots, eggs, ham, cheddar, and turkey bacon, all wrapped in a carb balance tortilla. What has become of my life?

One of my absolute favorite breakfast sandwiches is the Farmhouse Egg Sandwich from Einstein Bros. Bagels, only second to the Bacon, Eggs -n- Cheese at Eggslut. I’m p serious about breakfast, I even bought a Bacon, Eggs -n- Cheese shirt in Bone Thugs -n- Harmony Old English the last time I ate there:

I only have it when I’m flying out of Terminal 1 at SD Airport, or when I pay the additional expanded range fee to have it doordashed to my sister’s house. I looked up the ingredients, and thought, ‘I could make that.’

Einstein’s sells some of their shmears in tubs, but not the kind that goes on this particular sando (country pepper). I sub’d Whipped Garlic & Herb Philadelphia Cream Cheese. I also used uncured turkey bacon instead of real bacon because that’s what I had on hand. I always get my Farmhouse on a jalapeño cheddar bagel instead of the default cheesy hash brown bagel, because I like a little spice in my life.

It turned out amazing, and I will def be making it again!

I once ordered ‘carne asada chips’ at the taco shop near my apartment in LA, and the cashier was like, ‘You mean, steak nachos?’ What in the gringo ass taco shop?

Another time at the same taco shop, I had called in my order for pick up. I went there and there was no parking. I waited 5 minutes for a space, and this guy swoops in and takes my spot. I was so hangry, I parked behind him and blocked his ass in and stormed inside. We were stuck in line together, and he apologized for taking my spot. I said I was just picking up an order and leaving, so he’d be able to leave later. I took my food, walked back to my car and released the breath I didn’t know I was holding in. People have been murdered for less in LA! Let alone carne asada chips 😅

Sometimes I have to remind myself, ‘You’re in your forties now. You need to calm the fuck down.’ After that incident, I started doordashing my carne asada chips, and now I’m making them at home! 😆

Leftover 4th of July sangria in a skeleton cup because Summerween.

Coincidentally, this is also how I prep for a BJ 🤣

I was watching DDD earlier and they featured Mrs. Potato. I had a sudden craving for chili cheese fries, which I used to doordash all the time in LA. ‘Where do they make good chili cheese fries down here?’ I asked Pammie, and she was like, ‘IDK… Wienerschnitzel?’ LOL. I’m not a food snob (JK, I totally am). I just instacarted all the accoutrements, and made it my damn self! (I also had a Power Day and did over 10K steps today. Get off me.)

Patrick Bertoletti won the mustard belt, but only because Joey Chestnut was banned from competing in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest this year.

I stand behind Joey 😆

Views and ‘cue ✌🏻

You can’t spell ‘sausage’ without ‘USA’ 🇺🇸

FYI I prefer white wine if I’m drinking it by itself, but I’ll drink red or white if it’s in sangria. Also, I’m strictly dickly 😅

Strawberry Lemonade White Sangria (from thegirlinspired)

• 2 – 750 ml bottles of sauvignon blanc
• 1 liter club soda
• 6 ounces frozen pink lemonade concentrate (½ can)
• ½ cup simple syrup (1:1 ratio sugar/water)
• 1 lemon washed and sliced for garnish
• 2 cups fresh strawberries sliced
• 1 pint fresh raspberries gently rinsed

Summertime, and the livin’s easy ✌🏻

My pops and I have exactly 3 things in common: our love for The Beatles, our nose, and our love for a good rooftop (@ Mister A’s)

Unlike my sister, who, when we visited the Philippines, my dad’s sister told her, ‘You look exactly like your dad… from all angles.’ 🤣

Happy Father’s Day to all who celebrate!

I made Christine’s family banana bread, partly because I had some black ass bananas, but mostly to soften the blow of her going up to LA for the JT show with us this weekend while her husband stays at home with the kids 😅

I had enough nanners to make 3 loaves, so I made some for Pammie and my parents, too. It smells so good up in this bitch right now 🤤

I watched the movie, Chef, on a train on my laptop with an audio splitter and a boy I don’t talk to anymore. All of my memories of this movie are tied to him, and now I have new memories.

They have a Chef food truck (inspired by Chef Roy Choi and Jon Favreau’s movie) inside Park MGM. We picked up breakfast here before heading to the airport to go home. It was *chef’s kiss*.

We ate at Roy Choi’s resto, Best Friend, inside Park MGM. It was sooo good. I’ve had Roy Choi’s short rib tacos before (he has a brick and mortar and food trucks in LA, plus he had a Kogi Taqueria inside the Whole Foods in El Segundo near my apartment).

If frosé’s on the menu, I’m ordering it.

The food was amazing, and Roy Choi himself even came out. He dapped my sister’s husband and said wassup to us because we obviously recognized him and I don’t think any of the other patrons did.

I had to get a Best Friends shirt, so I could rep him back in LA.

There’s an Eataly in LA, but this was my first time at this Vegas location. It was also inside the Park MGM. It’s like an Italian food hall. We had Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Hot Honey Soppressata pizza and gelato. Everything was so good and fresh. Andiamo!

We got our steps in and walked to The Cosmopolitan Hotel to eat at Eggslut. There are a few Eggsluts in LA, but I haven’t been to this location in Vegas since I stayed at the Cosmo for a work trip. Sabrina and I ate at Eggslut at two in the morning on a Tuesday, because we were over partying at the Marquee Nightclub (where our coworkers were) and just wanted some breakfast sandos 😅

I also bought a Bacon Eggs -N- Cheese shirt in Old English font a la Bone Thugs -N- Harmony, or as my cousin calls the couple who’s always fighting next door, ‘Bone Thugs -N- Disharmony’ 🤣

I hate when I fly out of this gate, because I was looking forward to having fries from The Counter for dinner. Instead, I had to get this stupid sandwich from Jetbox Market 😅

Just Selena ‘sausage-maker’ Gomez living the dream at Moo’s Craft Barbecue in LA on today’s episode of Selena + Restaurant.

I only did 200 steps yesterday LOL, so I was going to make up for it today by walking to the Farmer’s Market and to Christine’s house to drop off some pizza cupcakes I made for the kids earlier. But then Christine offered to pick me up, drive me to CVS to pick up my meds and to the Farmer’s Market to eat.

Christine saw so many people she knew at the Farmer’s Market, and she put on her sunglasses, and was like, ‘That’s why I hate fucking coming here.’ I was asking her if she’s ever ran into an ex at this thing when we saw my ex. I haven’t seen him in years, and unless he’s one of the three people who still reads this blog, he doesn’t know that I had a stroke last year and have been in SD since. He’s the type of guy who broadcasts everything on social media, while I’m more private (my sister’s husband is convinced I have a secret family in LA LOL). When I first moved to LA, my ex was also living in LA, and he and his then gf had recently broken up, and he asked if I needed a roommate 😳 I’m like, ‘Nah, I’m good.’ I’ll just keep renting this room in this 60-year-old man’s house, and keep declining his invites upstairs for wine until I find a new place 😅 Christine kinda looks like me (we get mistaken for sisters all the time), and she was like, ‘I hope he doesn’t see me and think I’m you.’ She was making me laugh, and she was like, ‘Shh, he might hear your laugh and come looking for you!’ LOL He was on his phone, so he didn’t see us. Jessie ran into him and his wife at Total Wine last week. Is this what we get for boozin’ it up and not getting our steps in? 😅 Pammie got off work early and met up with us and ran into him in the parking lot 😆 They chatted for a bit, and he was surprised to find out they lived so close to each other. Maybe I should stop walking everywhere 😅

I’ll just get my dang steps in tomorrow after I carbo-load on these mini donuts. Okay, and this bag of kettle corn, too.

Cinco de Drinko (@ Gaslamp Breakfast Company)

Pammie and D were supposed to go to a concert downtown and stay at a hotel tonight, but his friend had a birthday party, so they sold their concert tickets, but the hotel was non-refundable, so Pammie and I had a little staycation (@ Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina)

I had the biggest lobster roll I’ve ever had, watched the Padres murder the Diamondbacks, and got a free mule from the cute bartender (s/o to Giovanni!) because he thought I was sick (this is just how I sound now after the stroke) (@ Water Grill)

We went back to the hotel and watched The Idea of You. I loved it 🥰 I might have to go to Coachella next year so I can meet the love of my life…

FYI, I *love* staying in hotels. We went up to LA once for a doc appointment and were gonna stay in my apartment. My sister didn’t drive my car, so she left my house keys in SD (they were attached to my car keys). We had to stay in a hotel that night, and I didn’t mind one bit 😆

I walked to World Market this afternoon to kill some time and get some steps in while listening to my Justin Timberlake setlist playlist in preparation for his upcoming tour.

If I slowed down near the fire station, that’s nobody’s business but my own 😜

I’ve always wanted to have an astronaut picnic (where you can only eat and drink stuff they have in space—MREs, freeze-dried foods, Tang, etc.), and now I know where I can get all the accoutrements. Am I cooler than you thought I was? 😅 Boys, try not to fall in love with me.

Also, I found out that my friend’s husband loves the Deftones, too. She was like, ‘He totally did the whole ‘Couchella’ thing and streamed Coachella from home.’ I did the same! 👵🏻

Got my steps in bright and early and walked to Casa de Otay for my iced Mexican mocha. We ran into Bruce Wayne, my favorite frenchie ever, and he wanted all the cuddles this morning. I even saw Thierry Henry (my favorite German shep) and Lucille (my favorite doodle). It’s only 9am, and I’ve had a great morning so far 🤎

I saw this instagram video of jordan_the_stallion8 trying Little Caesars new Crazy Puffs, and I had to try recreating them at home.

I followed this recipe, but added hella olives 💁🏻‍♀️

They tasted like heaven 🍕

I’m back at my sister’s house, so I made some sinigang chicken wings tonight. My sister’s husband missed my cooking while I was away (I know, I was surprised, too! 😆), plus my sister doesn’t cook and I cook most of my own food and give them all my leftovers.

Sinigang is a sour soup and a staple in any Filipino household. When I saw this recipe on instagram, I knew I had to make it. It reminded me of these fish sauce wings I first had at Pok Pok in Portland. I also had it when they opened a location at the Cosmo in Vegas, and a few times when they opened a resto in LA. They’ve since closed all their locations (even the flagship in Portland), so I love that I can make these wings at home. It was so easy and sooo good. I’ll def be making it again!

If you thought I was gonna doordash a Sinful Cinnamon Pretzel on National Pretzel Day, you weren’t wrong.

I made this easy chicken apple sausage and brussels sprouts recipe I used to make all the time, except I omitted the bacon and used a homemade ranch vinaigrette since Tessemae’s still hasn’t gotten back to me about their dressing LOL.

I didn’t think I’d like crispy rice, because I thought it’d taste like hard, undercooked rice (which I’ve gotten the two times I’ve eaten at Tocaya Modern Mexican!).  But I had some crispy rice in Nashville of all places, and it was the best thing I ate all weekend. It’s more like toasted, cooked rice which is super yummy.

Plus, Bobby Flay always makes crispy rice no matter what the challenge is on Beat Bobby Flay:

My rice fell apart when I fried it (even though I froze it overnight!), so I made a bowl instead of individual portions. Still tasted good, though! I followed this recipe, but I added chives, chili garlic crisp, and sliced jalapeños because I’m extra ✨

Who needs Din Tai Fung reservations??? These shrimp noodle rolls were sooo good.

I instacarted the shrimp, and they got it fresh from the butcher, so it was wrapped in paper and I didn’t open it till today. Luckily, it was already deveined like I requested, but the shell was still on, so it was an extra step of prep. Also, I’ve never worked with rice paper before, and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Handling them after they were steamed was something akin to dealing with a used condom. IYKYK 😅

I also made some cucumber salad in case our meal wasn’t Asian enough.

Jessie’s husband is probably the closest I’ll come to having an actual husband (we have the same birthday, we both hate yellow mustard, and we joke that we’re gonna marry each other after Jessie’s untimely death LOL). He always gets stuff with my name in it, and even got me a 4-pack of sours from his favorite brewery. If he wasn’t already married to one of my dearest friends 😜

Congrats to Maneet Chauhan for winning Tournament of Champions for the second time! Her first belt was on display when we ate at her resto in Nashville, and now we have to go back there to see her second belt.

I have dreams about the chicken tandoori poutine I ate there 🤤

If you thought I was gonna doordash a Cali burrito for National Burrito Day, you weren’t wrong.

My sister’s husband sent me this IG reel of Coldstone’s new flavor – Going Bananas for JELL-O Pudding – because he knows I love, love, love banana pudding. We doordashed some, and it came with a free mix-in, so we added roasted almonds.

Me: Mmm, it’s good with nuts.
Pammie: See, even you like them.
Me: I only like nuts when they’re roasted. I don’t like it raw.
Pammie: Well, there goes your social life.

Nori still goes into the office, so she keeps me updated on the food spots we’d go to for lunch. I miss going to the mall just to get Cinnabon 😅 Or walking by some skanky outfit at Forever 21 and asking Nori if she’d wear it for $3 🤣

Does anyone want to go to a Dodgers game to eat garlic fries in a helmet, Shake Shack, a doyer dog, hot honey chicken tenders, korean short ribs, chili cheese tots and a churro sundae in a helmet see Shohei Ohtani play?

Donna was telling us how she had the famous turtle soup at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, and she told her friend (who loves turtles), and her husband was like, “Why would you tell her that?” and she was like, “Because the name of the dish is cute. Turtle soup.” And he was like, “You just told your friend who loves turtles that you just ate turtles.” She was like, “No, I didn’t. The description didn’t mention turtles. It said, ‘The authentic Louisiana favorite with veal fond, egg and crushed lemon. Finished tableside with a splash of aged sherry.’ I thought I was eating veal.” #1 I would never eat veal (I don’t eat baby animals LOL) and #2 it says ‘turtle’ in the name! She was like, “A lot of dishes have animals in the name, and doesn’t contain those animals.” I was like, “Name one dish.” And she couldn’t think of any 😂

Me: Ooh, Native makes girl scouts cookies scented deodorant!
Pammie: Ew. Who wants their pits to smell like peanut butter???

This cute coffee shop opened within walking distance to my sister’s house, so I got up, put on a bra, and worked for my iced Mexican mocha this morning.

I’m staying at my parents’ house right now, and as I’m eating my stupid oatmeal and working from home, my mom comes in and is like, “Can you doordash me and your dad some Mcdonald’s breakfast?” What a bunch of assholes 😆

I’m usually weary of places I travel to where I don’t see any other Asians, and even though I literally didn’t see a single Asian there (except the Koreans who worked at the Bowl & Roll at the Farmers’ Market LOL), everyone was so nice to us. I love that everyone said, “y’all,” and called me, “baby.”

Our airbnb was in East Nashville (or “East Nasty” as the locals call it LOL), and it was Dolly Parton-themed.

The SEC College Basketball Tournament was going on this weekend, so Broadway was packed. I didn’t know they called Nashville “Nash Vegas.” It was that lively, but much cleaner. Also, they have an open container policy like Vegas does (I saw a bunch of signs at the airport that guns weren’t allowed past the TSA checkpoint, so they must be open carry here, too). Someone spreading the word of the lord on a megaphone handed me a pamphlet on the street, but I was in a hurry on my way to Justin Timberlake’s restaurant LOL. Plus, I’m beyond being saved 😅

I heard you taste like cotton candy, baby, I’m just tryna see
I heard you wanna leave with me, if so, I do agree
You heard that I could get your body where it needs to be
Uh, look, you have no idea
But if you’re really curious

I promise that the real thing
It’s better than your imagination

JT’s new album came out this weekend, so it was only fitting we hit up his restaurant (@ The Twelve Thirty Club)

The food was amazing. The rooftop bar had bubble machines. The girl singing in the live band sounded like she could be a recording artist.

The drink I ordered was called the Basic AF Mule LOL.

If I were to ever move to Nashville, I’d live in the 12South neighborhood. It reminded me so much of North Park, where every craft house had a porch, and everyone had a dog.

We spent Saturday morning here. We had coffee and biscuits with chorizo sausage gravy at Frothy Monkey, donuts at Five Daughters Bakery, cookies at Christie Cookie Co (they supply the DoubleTree Hotel with all their chocolate chip cookies), and did our own walking tour of all the murals.

We did the Chef’s Choice menu and loved everything (@ Butcher & Bee)

My favorite dish of the weekend was the Avocado Crispy Rice, but everything they brought out was sooo good. This restaurant was also across the street from our airbnb, so we were able to walk there and roll ourselves home.

IDK if it’s because Asian don’t raisin, but I got carded everywhere I ordered a drink. This drunk girl at the table next to us was talking to us at dinner because she said she and her sister were the only ones drinking in their group and she thinks her friends were tired of them LOL. She was in her 20s and refused to believe we were in our 40s, so Donna showed her a picture of her 26-year-old son, who Donna had when we were in high school. That girl thought Donna’s son was cute (his dad is half white and half filipino and looks mexican, so his buddies call him, “Chino” 😆) and coincidentally lives in the same town her son lives in. She was like, “Tell him to go to Hawkers and I’ll take care of him!” Ha. Thanks for making me feel so young, Nashville 👧🏻

Self-care Saturday.

After dinner, our 42 and 43-year old asses were tired after being out all day (we woke up at 6am!), so we went back to the airbnb and did some Korean face masks and under eye patches.

A great way to show me you know nothing about me is to invite me to watch the sunrise at the butt crack of dawn 😆 There were two other couples at this lookout point watching the sunrise, and I was like, “Never once have I gotten up this early to watch the sunrise with a boy, let alone two married women.” LOL. They’re both super type A, and I’m really disorganized and not a morning person. My old coworker and dear friend is also type A, and we got along swimmingly. She never minded that I was so messy. She once told me, “You make concessions for the people you love.” 🥹 So I will get up at the butt crack of dawn for the people I love LOL. But I will not use packing cubes or fold my panties. That’s where I draw the line 😆

Donna loves Husk in South Carolina, so she said we had to try the one in Nashville, and it didn’t disappoint (@ Husk)

She also made all of our reservations, and everywhere we went, she told them we were celebrating my birthday 🥳

I’m just here for the kettle corn. And the baby goats. And the grumpy dwarf rabbit named Tito (@ Lucky Ladd Farms Tulip Festival)

I don’t usually like Indian food, but I couldn’t go to Nashville without trying one of Maneet Chauhan’s restos (@ Chauhan Ale and Masala House)

Maneet is a staple on Food Network, and she even won season 2 of Tournament of Champions (her TOC belt was at the resto!). I ordered the Tandoori Chicken Poutine which was life changing. Pammie’s favorite dish of the whole trip was here—Lamb Korma. As a rule, I don’t eat baby animals (just adult animals who have lived a full life LOL), so I didn’t try it, but it’s their most popular dish.

We spent our last night in a Dolly Parton-themed bar on top of the Graduate hotel (@ White Limozeen)

It probably wasn’t a good idea to do champagne jell-o shots when I had a 6am flight the next morning, but when in Nashville, darlin’ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Till next time, Nashville ✌🏼

Even though I ate everything I wanted to, I didn’t get a single high glucose alert on my phone. It’s because we did so much walking. My calves burn with the fire of a thousand suns, and I’ve been rubbing massage oil into my legs since we got back. My sister and mom get notifications when my blood sugar is too high, so having sore stems was worth not getting hassled about what I’m eating.

My sister’s husband picked us up from the airport, and he was like, “You look fatter. Not your body, just your face.” I’m like, “Uhh, thanks?” #1 How dare you? #2 I’m the skinniest person in this car #3 I will punch you where I stand and #4 I would never tell someone they looked fatter, even if they did. If anything, I would lie and say they looked skinnier, even if they didn’t! Excuse me while I go starve myself and cry into my green juice and drink my tears.

Nashville’s only two hours ahead, but I’m still jetlagged as fuck for some reason 😅

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…

(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.

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.” 😅

Jesus 😳

This rainy weather is domesticating the fuck out of me.

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.

(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.

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 🍻

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.

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 😅

(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.

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)

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)

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! 😅

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)

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! 😆

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 😏

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:

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

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 😂

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??? ❤️

My funny valentines ❤️

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

Yep, we’re eating our feelings today 😅

(via cedriklorenzen)

I’m craving pizza all of a sudden 😳🍕

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)_/¯

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

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.

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 😅).

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.

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.

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).

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!

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:

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.

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!

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.” 😅

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

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.

“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.

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.” 😂

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

My favorite place to fake an orgasm (@ 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!) 😜

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)

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

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*.

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).

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!

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…

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).

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!

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.

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 ❤️

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 😅

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.

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 👵🏻

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.

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.

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???

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!

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??? 😜

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 ♥️

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!

My chocolate bread pudding fixes things in the universe.

My charcuterie boards always have a theme 🎄

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 🎄

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

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 😂

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

Update: You guys, Hoobastank liked my Instagram story 💀

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!

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)_/¯

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!

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…” 🤪

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 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.

My banana bread fixes things in the universe.

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

Novo Amor and homemade chicken sotanghon on this rainy Wednesday 🌧️

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!

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.

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 😆

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)

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, but make it spooky 💀

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)

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

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 😅

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 🤣

Come and get it 🎃🍫🍬

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).

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 ♥️

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

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.

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.

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

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???”

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!

My Halloween snack game is to die for 💀

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

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:

• Maple Almonds
• Fig Spread
• Cracker Assortment
• Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

Decoration:

• Skeleton
• Acacia Serving Platter
• Autumn Flowers

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

And make s’mores.

And witch finger pretzel rods.

And use my plastic vampire teeth.

And my skull pan.

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