blah blah Boston (day 1)

To me going to Boston is like going to a bridal shower. It's not like bridal showers are that much fun, you just go for the bride. The 3 times I’ve been to Boston, it was to check out a college with my sister, visit a friend at BU, and this past time for a good friend’s wedding.

Growing up in ny, I’ve seen my share of angry, but Boston takes the cake when it comes to down right rude. And I’m not just talking about their fans. In our short weekend there my friend got pushed into a stroller by a homeless lady, I got yelled in a crowded store for picking up something that someone else dropped, among other outburst of rage from random drivers. Well despite their ppl and awful accent, I enjoyed Boston this time around and especially liked seeing all my college friends again.

Hei La Moon: TL- Hubby's favorite "furry hamsters", TR- Har gow, BL- Cheung fun, Shumai, Tofu

The bride and groom brought us here for rehearsal brunch. Honestly I was so tired from waking up for our 6am flight, I can't remember the details about the food, but I don't believe I had any complaints.

88 Beach St, Boston, MA • 617.338.8813 • www.heilamoon.com


After brunch and some rest at the hotel we decided to explore Boston a bit. We followed the red brick road along the freedom trail and I visited Quincy Market for the first time. I'm a sucker for markets and fairs so +1 for Boston.

Ice cream break!

Quincy's Place: Pistachio Ice Cream

Pistachio ice cream always reminds me of my cousin mikey. We used to walk to carvel all the time and I never understood why he never got any other flavor, ever. haha these days i'm quite fond of pistachio. Ice cream here was good, but too many pistachios for me. I know it doesn't look like it from the picture but there was a lot!

254 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA • 617.723.3635

For lunch we got to choose from an overwhelming selection in the indoor market. After some samples we landed at Boston Chowder.

Boston Chowda Co: lobster roll & cream of corn soup

mmm mmm good! big chunky lobster pieces on a sweet roll. A little more mayo than I prefer but I was able to overlook that.

Faneuil Hall Market Place, Boston, MA • 617.742.4441 • http://www.bostonchowda.com

On our way home we were too tired for walking. Look! The platform is flush to the rails. I was very amused.

LA eating fun (part 2)

Eating day #2 was great. I found another favorite to add to my piqqy collection! Check out Porto's bakery if you're ever by Burbank (also in Glendale and Downey). Thanks nuba for a fun and very full 1.5 days.

Porto's Bakery: Cheese Rolls

my friend brought some back to share after his LA trip, and i had to check it out myself. As expected, it was even better fresh.

Porto's Bakery: potato balls

fried mashed potato balls with seasoned ground beef, fantastic.

3614 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, CA‎ • 818.846.9100 • www.portosbakery.com

Jelly Bean Factory: dark chocolate covered strawberry jelly bellys!

we sampled a bunch of dark chocolate covered jelly beans, and we all liked strawberry the best. i greedily brought me back a few bag fulls. i wonder when they'll start selling it in regular stores.

927 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA‎ • 818.848.4806

Santouka: Spicy Miso Ramen combo

my friend used to live by a Mitsuwa in Jersey and i loved going there whenever we visited, so I got rather excited seeing Mitsuwa in LA. If I lived near one I would go all the time.

3760 Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066 • 310.398.2113 • www.mitsuwa.com

Ice Pan: imaginary ice cream

natural ice cream made in an ice pan right in front of you? i was SO ready. too bad it shut down. haha.

7100 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA • 323.883.0267 • www.icepanusa.com

LA eating fun (part 1)

While I was in cali, I got to swing by and visit a really good friend in LA. we only had 1.5 days, but it was enough time to squeeze in 6 meals. :) horaay for good eating buddies (and husbands who try to keep up).

Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles: #2 SCOE's 1/4 Chix smothered with gravy & onions, and 2 waffles

I ordered the southern style cuz I'm not big on gravy, but my friend gave me a piece of her chicken and I was jealous. I liked how the skin was still crispy even with all that gravy on top. yum.

Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles: #1 SCOE's 1/4 Chix prepared southern style, and 2 waffles

waffles were pretty plain. chicken was a little dry. i'd stick with the gravy chicken.

1518 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA • 323.466.7453 • www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com

Moishe's Gyro

my friend loves the gyro here, but i didn't like how i could taste the gameyness in the lamb.
oh but i do love how it's in this market that's tucked away behind the Grove outdoor shopping center.
A very cute place to shop, eat, and play!

6333 W. 3rd St. Farmers Market, Stall 336, Los Angeles, CA • 323.936.4998 • www.farmersmarketla.com

King Taco: Carne Asada and Carnitas Taco

I can't remember which one I liked better, but it was really about that green sauce anyway.

multiple locations, Los Angeles, CA • 1.800.King.Taco • www.kingtaco.com

Pepe's Tacos: Pepe's Burrito (pork, rice, cheese, salsa, lettuce, onion tomato, guacamole, no beans, no cheese & sour cream on the side please)

this burrito was massive and good. It made me wish I left more room in my stomach so I could eat it all.

4582 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA • 310.391.8667 • www.pepestacosla.com

Tartine Bakery

A week of good food and quality time with family and i'm finally warming up to sf. this was also the first time it didn't rain the whole time. i'm still not thrilled about 60s all the time weather. i say bring on the summer heat!

Our last day in sf we visited Tartine Bakery at 7am before our flight. There was already a line out the door so it had to be good right? let's just say it was a sweet way to say bye bye and see you again sf.

good Morning Bun

it was like a cinnamon bun but so much better (i don't like cinnamon buns). i loved the crispy sugar icing. A bit too heavy for me to eat a whole one in one sitting but special enough to come back for more.

bye little nephew!

what a cutie.

600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA • 415.487.2600 • www.tartinebakery.com

Sushirrito,

I want to put you in my pocket and bring you home.  I like your glorified hand rolls, simple menu, and unique flavors.  I will visit you again next time I'm in sf. 
  

Latin Ninja (salmon, mango, avocado, asparagus, radish, meyer lemon, pickled red onion, cilantro, green onion)

It was fun biting into all that sushi.  I can eat one right now.

Three Amigos (tuna, salmon, hamachi, tobiko, avacado, asparagus, cucumber, radish, green onion)

still good, but not special. i wish they gave wasabi and soy sauce.

59 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA • 415.495.7655 • www.sushirrito.com

Little Star Pizza

It was pizza day and we found little star on our walk around hilly sf.  I regretted our choice the moment we walked into a spacious yet empty restaurant, but we stuck with it and had an enjoyable lunch.

Caprese Salad

very fresh and perfectly seasoned.

Large Deep Dish Pizza (half vegetarian, half little star)

the toppings were really fresh, and the crust was crispy with a pleasant texture from the cornmeal.

Little Star Pizza (spinach blended with ricotta and feta, mushrooms, onions, garlic)

all 3 of us liked the little star pizza more. the vegetarian was kind of blah.

400 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA • 415.551.7827 • www.littlestarpizza.com

Hog Island Oyster Farm

hello again San Francisco! It was fun visiting family and friends again. My brother inlaw drove us about an hour and a half to Hog Island Oyster Farm. They brought us there years ago before I fully appreciated raw oysters. We did the whole bring your own picnic, relax, shuck your own oysters, it was great. Recently I started enjoying oysters a lot more, so I requested a revisit to Hog Island Oyster Farm. Luckily we made it there just in time for 4 of us to slurp up 2 dozen atlantic oysters. definitely not enough, so 50 more to go please. :)

 Tip: if you decide to bring home unshucked oysters, a shucker would be just dandy.

Medium Atlantic Oysters

$1 fresh oysters.  awesome! 

no shucker = hammer + screw driver + wood chisel + blisters = still worth it

20215 Highway, Marshall, CA • 415.663.9218 • www.hogislandoysters.com