#my local wing place has hot lemon pepper wings

[gigglepuffpixie]

why would i get a basic sandwich when i could go across the street and get a dozen lemon pepper wings and a drink for less?

[lindoig7]

Thursday-Saturday, 20-22 August

Thursday

It was a wild old night, with the wind rocking the caravan and rattling our awning all night.  It rained consistently almost all night and the rocking of the caravan and the pitter-pattering (and occasional hammering) on the roof made our warm comfy bed the very best and snuggliest place to be.  Even when the awning crashed and banged and woke us up, the rain soon invoked the Sandman and we went straight back to sleep again.

We were awake a little earlier than usual, but enjoyed a lazy half-hour or so snoozing before our cuppa and puzzles in bed.  Of course, by 7:30am, the Council workers were out in the rain, mowing the grass across the rampaging creek immediately behind the van.  The whole area is virtually under water so how they avoided getting bogged is a complete mystery to us.  The need to mow the area is just as mysterious because all they were doing was cutting the tops off the grass well away from the paths.  It wasn’t as if the grass was encroaching on the paths or hiding any varmints that might leap out to devour any of the early morning walkers.

We did some supermarket shopping after breakfast, mainly for a few extra things we need to make some tomato relish and peach chilli chutney.  We are getting low on our fancy home-made condiments so decided to make some more.  But as usual, walking past the fridges at Woolworths is a risk.  I spied a few likely-looking seafood bargains so now we need to find room for even more exotic delicacies!

We didn’t have much rain during the day, despite constant heavy black clouds but it was cold, bleak and windy all day and not at all nice outside.  As a consequence, we spent almost all day inside doing odd jobs, more cryptic crosswords, kenkens, sudokus and other pleasurable time-fillers before we fired up the stove and got back into cooking even more wonderful concoctions.

We made a wonderful pasta dish based on the vongoles and prawns we picked up as bargains in the morning – an elaboration on something we have done a couple of times before – vongoles, prawns, bacon, oil, garlic, parsley, smoked paprika, white wine, lemon, salt and pepper – man, what a feast and we never managed to eat it all so I suspect a seafood omelette is in the immediate offing. Even as bloated as we were, the potential for a meal from the leftovers left our mouths watering!

Friday

There was plenty more heavy rain overnight, and wild, wild winds, but we woke to a weak wintry sun and enjoyed a great hot breakfast.  (There seems to be a lot in my blog about food.  Maybe because we eat extraordinarily well and just want to keep experimenting.  We often (sometimes?) start with a recipe, but once the ‘start’ is dispensed with, the creative possibilities are endless and we try to make the most of any variations our imaginations evoke.)

We checked the weather over breakfast, expecting there to be rain everywhere as per the overnight forecast, but found that the Sale forecast looked surprisingly promising.  We had planned another day of cooking, but in light of the forecast, we abandoned (deferred) that and set sail for Sale.  Heather needed more yarn and some better scissors to we stopped at Spotlight on the way through Traralgon and stocked up there.

We wanted to explore the southern part of the Sale Common Wetland.  We had walked around the middle section a week or two ago, but wanted to explore other parts of this very large wetland.  Easier said than done!  We parked near the Swing Bridge (that isn’t like any swing bridge I have seen before – more like an opening or lift bridge) and set off on the soggiest of soggy tracks. We noted that cars – obviously high clearance 4WDs – had used the track, but had bottomed out and some had become bogged.  Multiple wheel-tracks ran in all directions in an attempt to avoid the worst of the deep ruts, but there is no way anything less than an amphibian would have gone through that day.  The track was even a challenge for walkers.  We had to pick our way through deep puddles and quagmires of mud, often abandoning the track for the waterlogged scrub to pass some of the worst sections.  We walked half a kilometre or so but it was becoming increasingly difficult so we returned to the car and set off for other access routes.  Sale was quite sunny, but still quite cool and very windy, but we returned to the walk we had done a week or two earlier and tried to get into the area from the north after our access from the south had been thwarted. We managed to get about 2.5 kilometres, partly along our previous route, before being confronted by water too deep to cross.  We had already traversed a few shallow puddles, but it was just not feasible to go any further without our water-wings!

My diabetes(???) had given me the shakes before we got back to the car so we ate our lunch there and recovered my sugar balance.  We still wanted to explore the northern area so went up to the much more populous and touristy lakes near the town. One of the lakes is Lake Guyatt and we had walked around that last time but the bigger Lake Guthridge was still to be conquered.  We needed to find a toilet and the signs said there was one 5 minutes away in the Botanic Gardens or 15 minutes away where we had just come from.  We opted for the Gardens – alas, NO TOILETS (of course!). Two kilometres later, we had almost circumnavigated the lake when we came upon the toilets advertised to be 15 minutes from our parking spot!  Have I ever mentioned the obvious attempts by all State and local authorities in Gippsland to confuse the public with fake signage?  I have got to the stage where I simply don’t believe any official signs anywhere in the area.

I had thought that it might be nice to circumnavigate the whole wetland area so we tried to do that, only to find that it was virtually impossible.  I reckon it would take a drive of about 250 Km to do it given that we would have had to drive all the way to the coast, then east to find another way north, then all the way back to Sale.  In our explorations, we found another huge contiguous part of the wetland on the other side of the road – presumably unprotected because it is not marked as such on the Council maps even though the main road is the only thing preventing the entire area being a single wetland.  There are at least 2 rivers and 3 bridges linking the water on both sides of the road so it is virtually impossible to separate the RAMSAR area from the apparently unprotected section.

We found an alternative route back to Rosedale, avoiding a trip back into Sale – and thence home in time for a shower before Happy Hour.  Topped up with fuel at Traralgon again on the way but we were still home again by about 5pm.

I had cooked a turmeric and fish meal on Tuesday/Wednesday – a little unusual given that the fish was marinated in the spices overnight, then only lightly cooked, but with additional veges and herbs added after the heat was removed just prior to serving.  Just add rice.  Very tasty and easy as anything to prepare.

Saturday

The Antarctic Blob is exerting its influence very strongly here today.  Lots of wind and rain overnight, some quite heavy, but consistent all night.  And today has been pretty wild too.  The rain had come and gone, but has been a deluge at times with heaps of hail – literally heaps, with it covering everything and piling up against anything blocking its passage.  It was banked up against the shrubbery outside the van for several hours before it finally melted – 6 degrees maximum here so it was very slow to melt.

It has felt really exciting at times in the van with so much wild weather outside and us safe and warm inside and enjoying the experience.  We cooked our tomato relish in the morning and our peach and chile chutney in the afternoon. We had to do a quick supermarket run to buy some extra spices early in the afternoon and I dropped Heather off and drove around the block a couple of times and picked her up at the door again. This was to avoid her getting too wet in the rain, but the hail absolutely pelted down while I was driving around the block – the racket inside the car was horrendous – exciting, but a little scary too.

We had a fairly unsatisfactory Zoom session in the afternoon – the bandwidth here is a real problem, but at least we spent half an hour or so in contact with some of the kids.

[lovemesomesurveys]

..:::A:::.. What's your current Age? 30. What's your favorite type of Animal? Dogs and giraffes. Would you ever join the Army? No. I can’t anyway. Are you Available? I’m single, but not looking to mingle. What's your favorite kind of Apple? The brand. ha. Are you any good at Art? Nope. I really enjoy coloring, though.

..:::B:::.. Did you ever watch Barney as a kid? Yes. I was obSESSED with Barney. Do you know anyone named Bob? Nope. Can you blow a Bubble? Yeah. Which fast food restaurant has the best Burgers? I'm not a fan of burgers. What's your favorite Band? You already know I don’t have just one favorite. ..:::C:::.. What's your favorite kind of Cookie? Sugar cookie. Do you have a Cat? Nope. Do you like Country music? Yeah. Are you a Caffeine addict? Coffee runs through my veins. Do you think Clowns are at all scary? Yeah. I like Pennywise, though. ..:::D:::.. What's your favorite breed of Dog? I’m obviously biased, but I really love Labs and German Shepherds. What do you usually get at Dunkin Donuts? Some donuts and a coffee. I haven’t been to a Dunkin in quite awhile, though. What was your last Dream about? I don’t remember. Something weird and random as usual. Have you ever been on a Diet? When I was in middle school I started dealing with self-esteem issues and worried about my weight even though I was thin. I actually had a food diary and kept track of everything and felt like shit when I ate too much. :X I really had no reason to even be worried about that. I’ve also been on diets to gain weight. Well, try to anyway. I can lose it, but gaining is another story.  What's your favorite Dessert? Donuts, muffins, cheesecake, brownies, and cupcakes. ..:::E:::.. Have you ever ridden an Elephant? No. Eeyore, Piglet or Pooh? Aww, I love Winnie the Pooh and the gang. I relate to each of those. Pooh Bear is always thinking about food, Piglet is always anxious, and Eeyore is depressed. Do you always give Exact change at a restaurant? Yeah, cause I always pay with card. ..:::F:::.. Have you ever been on a Ferry? No. Do you like Ferris wheels? Nooo. Who's your best Friend? My mom. ..:::G:::.. Do you care about your Grades? I’m not in school anymore, but yes my grades were very important to me. Do you prefer Green or red grapes? I don’t care. I don’t eat them enough to have a preference. I honestly couldn’t even tell you the last time I had grapes. Do you wear Glasses? Yep. ..:::H:::.. Who, in your opinion, is the Hottest celebrity? Alexander Skarsgard, duh. Are you Hungry right now? No. Why were you last at the Hospital? For myself it was because I had surgery and was there for 2 weeks after for recovery.  ..:::I:::.. What's your favorite flavor of Ice cream? Strawberry, cake batter, and mint chocolate chip.  Could you survive without the Internet? Yeah, but it would definitely suck. I wouldn’t enjoy it haha. What three things would you want to have while stranded on an Island? A helicopter, a licensed pilot, and some booze for the trip home. <--Hahah, yes! <<< Swap the booze for food or water. ..:::J:::.. Did you ever own a Jack-in-the-box? Probably. Do you like Jell-o? No. Do you have a Job? No. ..:::K:::.. Have you ever been Kayaking? No. Who was your first Kiss? My boyfriend at the time, Derek, when I was 16. Do you like Kentucky Fried Chicken? No. ..:::L:::.. Do you prefer Lemons or Limes? Not into either one. Except for lemon pepper wings if that counts, ha. Is your computer a laptop or desktop? Laptop. Do you do your own Laundry? I need help with that, so my mom does it. Do you think Losing someone's the worst feeling in the world? It's definitely one of them. If it’s someone you love and really care about that is. ..:::M:::.. What's your favorite store in the Mall? Hot Topic, BoxLunch, and Bath & Body Works. What Month were you born in? July. How much Money do you have in the bank? I’m not sharing that. ..:::N:::.. Have you ever had Nilla Wafers? Yessss. Those are so good. Do you like Nectarines? No. Do you bite your Nails? I pick at them constantly and use nail clippers in place of my teeth. ..:::O:::.. Do you like Onions? In the form of onion rings. What Occupations are you interested in? I don’t know. :/ Do you know where Ontario is located? Oh, Canadaaaa. ..:::P:::.. Do you like the Peanuts? Yeah. The nut and the comics, ha. Would you ever Parachute off of a plane? That’s a HELL no.  How old are your Parents? Mid and late 50s. ..:::Q:::.. Do you know what a Quail is? Yes. If you could ask any celebrity any Question, what would it be? Oooh. I’d think about something interesting to ask Alexander Skarsgard. Something he’d enjoy and want to engage in. ..:::R:::.. Do you like the Rain? Love it. Do you know anyone named Rachel? Yes. Do you like to Read? I love to read. What School do or did you go to? Local ones. ..:::T:::.. Do you like Tennis? Nope. I don’t play any sports. Have you ever had Surgery on your teeth? Yes. ..:::U:::.. What color are your Underwear? Blue and green. When was the last time you were really Upset? Blah. ..:::V:::.. Who was your Valentine this year? No one. Do you own a Vest? Nope. ..:::W:::.. If you could have one wish, what would it be? Good mental and physical health. Do you like the Water? I love looking out at the ocean and watching the waves crash in and out. I love being near it and feeling the cool ocean breeze and smell the salty air. ..:::X:::.. Have you ever seen a Xylophone? Yeah. We used to play it in music class in elementary school. Have you ever had an X-ray? I’ve had countless X-rays throughout my life. ..:::Y:::.. Do you like the color Yellow? Yep, it’s one of my favorite colors. What did you do Yesterday? Not a damn thing. Can you Yo-yo? I haven’t played with one since I was a kid. I never could get the hang of any of the tricks. ..:::Z:::.. Do a Zebra's stripes go vertical or horizontal? Both. What's your Zodiac sign? Leo.

[purplesurveys]

526

Where did your last kiss take place? My car. I was dropping my girlfriend off at her place. Who is someone you look up to? My friends who’ve been in rough patches more than once but still manage to keep on keeping on. I’m just grateful that we’re all still here. The police just called your house. What is the reason why? It would most likely be because something happened to either my sister or my grandma (mom’s mom).  Look to the left. What catches your eye first? A gray pillow, a part of the wall, and a window slightly covered by a curtain. What was the last thing you ordered at Mcdonalds? I got iced coffee and curly fries last week.

Are you thinking about someone right now? Nah not really, I’m mostly thinking about the slew of emails I have to answer lmao ADULTHOOD  How many fingers do you have? 10. Why is Myspace copying Facebook? I barely caught Myspace so I wouldn’t know. Current smell? I can just...smell what our house smells like. Homey. Current taste? I had adobo for dinner but the taste isn’t lingering in my mouth anymore. Who are you talking to right now? Just this survey. Are you dating anyone? If so, how long have you been together? Yes, three years. But if we count the on-and-off-ness, it would be five years in 2019 hahahaaaaaaa What is your ringtone? I have an iPhone so I have the default ding sound for everyone, but Gab has the Marimba tone so that I’d know if a text came from her in particular. Everyone also gets the default ringtone for calls, but I changed Gab’s to the Alarm tone for the same purpose. How old will you be in 5 months? I’d still be 21, just a little older. Where is your Mum right now? She’s watching TV upstairs with my dad. What do you like to drink in the morning? Collllld water. But if I’m a little sleepy, I like to rely on coffee. Name of your pet? Kimi. Would you rather be attacked by a bear or a swarm of wasps? I’d rather like not be outside tnx. Make a shout-out to somebody: To Gabie’s former schoolmate: I never met you nor did you ever know me, but I hope life on the other side is treating you well. What piercing/tattoos do you have? Just my earlobes have piercings. I don’t have any other, nor do I have tattoos. I’d probably get a tat of my dog’s paw, but I don’t know when that would be. Last television show you watched was called? Breaking fucking Bad. What colour is your hair? It’s black. Is it naturally that colour? Yep, never dyed it before. How was your summer? It was pretty awesome. I interned at a PR company for a month, which was super eye-opening and fulfilling and basically secured my desire to be in PR instead of journalism. It exhausted me though so I spent the entire next month just bumming at home, which I didn’t regret at all – I deserved that break haha.  Did you go away on Holiday? Yeah. There was a long weekend recently because one of the Mondays was a local holiday, so we went out of town for that. Do you believe there is life on other planets? Why or why not? Yes. The universe is unimaginably huge and there’s no way we’re the only ones who managed to fully develop out here.

You have to make a sandwich. What do you put in it? I Google banh mi and just take the ingredients from that. What is a word that rhymes with “Umbrella”? Tarantula? What were you doing at 10:30 PM last night? I think I was taking the last survey I took before this. Who was the last person you talked to on the telephone? Gabie, this morning. I wanted company for a bit while driving. Would you rather have a pet shark or a pet snake? Idk if keeping them is good for either animal, but I’m *KIND OF* not opposed to having a snake. Name the illegal drugs you have taken in the past 4 months: None. What kind of shampoo do you use? Just normal, good ol’ shampoo. If I say “Lemons” what would you say? Stream Lemonade on Spotify. Hot tea or iced tea? Iced. You are at Starbucks, what are you about to order? If I didn’t have to worry about budget? A grande iced caramel macchiato and a Monte Cristo sandwich. Who is the most beautiful person you know? Audrey Hepburn. Does pepper make you sneeze? Haha yeah, but only when I breathe or sniff directly into the shaker. Otherwise it’s fine. Do you miss anyone right now? I miss my girlfriend, my original friend group from my org (most have graduated and there’s like, 4 of us left still enrolled), and people from high school. Is there something blue within 10 feet of you? I’m wearing a navy blue hoodie at the moment. What colour is your bedroom painted? Do you want to re-paint it? White. I wish it were a very light pastel pink. What is in your pocket? Nothing. My ID was in it today but I’ve since taken it out. Arent you excited for the new Alice In Wonderland film to come out in 2010? I wasn’t. I didn’t see it. Hottest actor in your opinion? Kristen Stewart. You are making a film about your life. Who is starring as you? ^ Her, plz. Current song you are playing: Unconditional Love by Against Me! What was the last thing you put into your mouth? Coffee that’s gone cold. Where will you be within the next hour? I think I’ll be upstairs in my room by then. Ever wanted to tell someone something, but couldnt? Yes. I dunno if I’ll ever have the courage to tell Gabie I keep a Tumblr where I answer thousands of questions just about myself hahaha. I don’t know if she’ll get it, but I’ve been itching to tell her for a while now. Name 5 things you look for in a relationship: I’m a demi, so it really varies. I just have to have a close bond with the person, and the qualities would follow suit. What size is your shirt? Extra small. Extra extra small, if possible.  Is anyone getting on your nerves right now? LOL for a while now. Someone from the org who has never contributed to any of the projects we work on.  Who was the last person you held hands with? Gab. What did you eat for dinner? My dad made adobo wings for dinner. He was supposed to make like WINGS wings, but my mom suddenly texted him to pick her up, so he had to make something else on short notice. Adobo’s the easiest dish to make, so he whipped that at the last minute instead. What time is it currently? 9:32 PM. Do you know how to use chopsticks? Nah. Whenever I do, I 100% fake it. Trust me. When was the last time you went to the dentist? Couple of years ago, I think. If an ex said they hate you, what would you say? I don’t have any. Can you honestly say you would die for someone? With no hesitation. One wish: A big house.

[abiteofnat]

MY CURRENT EXISTENCE: SCROLLING THROUGH DOORDASH MENUS FOR FUN

It’s true! And weirdly addicting?? I just want to know what all my favorite restaurants are still serving up amidst this pandemic and what they deem the “best sellers” that have to stay on the menu, because tooooo often, the favored plates do not make the cut for me. It could be because I’m vegetarian and people love the meats, or just because if something seems too involved and not like it’s going to taste up to the hype, I’m hesitant to try it. Hence why I read delivery apps for sheer pleasure- it feels like a little bit of normal. Before trying a new restaurant with friends, I memorize the menu and create a plan to strategically order to try what feel like the clear-cut slam-dunk dishes on the menu and it’s the most fun ever to me. Without the option to physically go to new restaurants, it’s addicting to just scroll and scroll through delivery apps and drool over all the incredible food right at my fingertips, and decide what will be the golden goose for the evening. I am by no means a picky eater, however I’m picky in the way I eat- I want every meal to be an EXPERIENCE. A FLAVOR EXPLOSION. A TASTEBUD FIESTA. And yet, now isn’t a time to be so selective over what I eat. I’ve reunited with PopTarts, and discovered I make a really great garlic & lemon pasta sauce, so we’re pretty good about cooking and dining a la pantry. However, there have been a few times in the past weeks I’ve felt really down about the world, to the point of tearing up when trying to decide what lack-luster meal I’m going to prepare for dinner because it seems so pointless to make something that’s not going to fill me up, let alone feed my soul, so in order to create some excitement, stay positive, and support local business, we’ve ordered out and had some glorious, GLORIOUS meals. I love supporting restaurants in any way I can since they are my homes away from home- here are some spots I highly suggest ordering delivery from if you find yourself on the brink of a breakdown that only comfort food can fix: 

1. Velvet Taco

This was such a treat!!! My dad and I are longtime fans of Velvet Taco, however my boyfriend has never tried it (I know.) so for a Friday night feast it seemed like the perfect choice. I got two Nashville Hot Tofu tacos filled with fried hot tofu, claw, and a ranch crema on top, a Fish & Chips taco that is exactly how it sounds, and a side of elotes and their new Queso Blanco. The Nashville Hot Tofu tacos are the type of vegetarian food that I feel all vegetarian food should aspire to be- full of flavor, ACTUALLY filling, and not just vegetables stirred up with some spices. I get mad as fuck when I go to get tacos and the only vegetarian option they have is limp peppers and onions in a tortilla. Nah man. Nah. 

The Chicago Velvet Taco is in Gold Coast, so if you live downtown treat yourself to tacos!!

2. The Chicago Diner

Another gold mine for comfort food. I have to admit I’ve never actually tried the entrees from here, as I know my favorite dishes and stick to them religiously, however as far as I’m concerned you can’t go wrong. They make vegan food taste sinful and naughty, and if you don’t put thought into questioning how they can make so many obviously non-vegan foods vegan it’s a dream come true (like vegan sour cream?!?). We got the Thai Chili Wings which are thick seitan slabs with a finger-licking sauce and ranch dipping sauce, Nachos with vegan chorizo, and their Poutine with vegan gravy. Yeah, we did that. 

They have locations in Lakeview and Logan Square! 

3. Happy Camper

This place can do not wrong. While I was pissed they did NOT have Chips N’ Guac on their delivery menu, their pizza is always a 10/10 and makes a pizza party feel a lil more gourmet than ordering Domino’s. I love you, Happy Camper. 

Y’all better know where Happy Camper + it’s siblings are. If not... where have you gone every weekend during the summer? 

Alright it’s a short list, but we really aren’t ordering too much and it’s a tough time to be blowing dolla dolla bills on meals every night! I hope you all are sticking in there, staying inside, and most importantly staying safe. It’s important to listen to what you need right now and if what you need is a whole bunch of food you did not make yourself, I support that wholeheartedly. 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie 

[danganronpa-imagines]

Ouma, Amami, Tenko, Kirumi and their S/O trying to cook something new and unfamiliar

How fun! Thank you so much for the request! I had a little trouble with this one, mostly because I had rewritten it a total of 7 times without feeling satisfied with my end product, haha. I want to make sure that I only give my best for you all!

Kirumi Tojo

- As the Ultimate Maid, there exists nothing that she has never cooked or prepared before. No recipe that she hasn’t carried out and no dish or confectionery or baked good that she has not made with her own hands and proudly served. Nothing leaves the kitchen unless it meets her standards, after all. 

- So when you suggest that the two of you prepare something unfamiliar, Kirumi was dumbfounded as to what to say or do. That was just impossible. You pondered your request for a little longer. After some thought, you propose making something spontaneous and ridiculous, and, although it did not exactly suit Kirumi’s dignified tastes, she agreed to it to please you. 

- So the both of you head to the nearest supermarket, with Kirumi behind the wheel as always since she enjoyed driving. As refined and patient as she is, she would occasionally experience a little road rage and would have to take deep breaths. Because the two of you have been together for such an impressive amount of time, Kirumi has seemed to loosen up around you because you insisted. You wished for a loving partner, not a maid. So since then she has tried her best to be less of a servant and more of an expressive lover to you. 

- While at the supermarket, any time that it appeared that Kirumi was picking up ingredients for one particular dish, you would randomly pick up something unconventional and toss it into the shopping cart, flustering her. After some pleading, she gave her consent for you to push her around in the shopping cart, and vice versa. You both had fun, and came home with an assorted bunch of ingredients. Nothing leaned toward a specific recipe, but the two of you decided that both of you would make dishes out of some of the ingredients and occasionally add in something unorthodox, or even combine them with other dishes.

- In the end, the two of you ended up with:

Miso and butternut squash soup

Fried bacon slabs covered with peanut butter (Kirumi does not particularly enjoy fried foods so this was your idea)

Macaroni and cheese (but with quinoa and some chopped almonds instead of macaroni pasta)

Cauliflower disguised to be chicken wings dressed with Kirumi’s newly curated hot sauce (made with mangoes and apples)

Salty cotton candy with hints of lemon/lime (Kirumi has a cotton candy machine stowed away somewhere she was sure of it and you used salt instead of sugar?)

Chocolate avocado ganache cake

- Needless to say, the food combinations were really strange, but the two of you had a great time, and that’s all that really mattered. Also, Kirumi does not see herself doing this again and insists that you leave the cooking to her.

Tenko Chabashira

- You and Tenko mostly dined out, as you both shared a taste for healthier meals but can’t seem to prepare them well yourselves (a bunch of iceberg lettuce dressed with excessive amounts of dressing just wasn’t the same as ‘that one salad with that one dressing’ you had at a restaurant). The two of you were clueless when it came to the names of salads and dressings, despite enjoying them so often. In addition, you both never took too long to eat, and were in and out of cafes and such fairly quickly. 

- One day, she suggested that the two of you come up with your own salad dressings! It was going to be so much fun! You could even keep it in those fancy jars that everyone seems to have and everything! 

- It was a sudden and unexpected proposal, but you agreed to it. You two could experiment and have fun for a day or two and take a break from your Neo-Aikido training (she was teaching you and you would always jokingly call her your sensei). To the supermarket you go!

- While you were there, you really had no idea what you were doing or planned to do. You just bought a lot of random ingredients (mostly liquids) that you THINK would be good in salad dressing. You left the store with red wine vinegar, cherry wine, garlic, white wine vinegar, almonds, peanuts, sesame seeds, chia seeds (Tenko insisted on chia seeds because they looked like sesame seeds so why not), olive oil, salt and pepper, dijon mustard, honey, all the seasonings, red onions, rice vinegar, lemons and limes.

- Here were your end results (Tenko labeled the jars with what was inside):

Red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, olive oil, chia seeds.

Paprika, sesame seeds, dijon mustard, honey, a little salt and pepper.

Rice vinegar, red onions, lemon, salt and pepper, sesame seeds.

Olive oil, white wine vinegar, chopped thyme, lime zest, salt and pepper.

Garlic, peanuts, rice wine vinegar, honey.

- There were some hits and misses, but overall, you and Tenko felt a little more accomplished since you two invented new things!

Kokichi Ouma (this was arguably the most difficult, since I felt his was boring)

- It was around 10 PM. You and Ouma were nestled comfortably on your couch, complete with plenty of pillows and blankets since that’s how he liked it best. Even when it becomes rather humid, he insists on gathering the usual amount of pillows and blankets on the couch. It has been quite a while since he has been this calm. You were running your hand through his hair, and he purred with each stroke. That was, until, an advertisement for a soda making machine appeared on the television.

- His ears seemed to perk up just like a small animal’s, and he turned his face to the screen. Everyone and their mothers knew of Ouma’s love for Panta, a grape flavored soft drink. It was unhealthy, and you always tried to supervise his Panta consumption, much to his dismay (miraculously, he never obtained any cavities. If he did, it would be gross for you to receive a kiss from him, nishishishi~). 

- So when he discovered the existence of a machine that could produce his favorite thing in the world (aside from you, of course), at at home too, he HAD to have it. You were quite content with your position on the couch beside him, but during the advertisement, Ouma pounced off the couch and scurried over to glue his eyes to the television screen. Once it ended, he turned his head to look back at you sadly and almost pleadingly, and before you knew it, both of you were in the car and on your way to the nearest store. 

- You returned with the carbonator, some soda flavoring packets, and two large water bottles. The most difficult part wasn’t the actual making of the soda, but rather the assembly of the machine. Neither of you possessed any knowledge on how to assemble things, but somehow you both managed, and all you had to do was place a large water bottle beneath the dispenser and put in the soda packet.

- Ouma was practically vibrating as he saw the soda being made, and once it was finally done, he quickly grabbed the water bottle. But strangely, he did not put it to his lips right away. Instead, he stared at it for a little bit before handing it to you. He was looking downward, so it was difficult to hear him when he shyly said thank you, and told you how much he appreciates you for always going through so much trouble to make him happy.

Rantarou Amami 

- After finishing a movie, Amami felt inspired to cook its main dish: ratatouille. He had never heard or seen such a unique dish, and was drawn in by how colorful it was. He asked that the two of you pay a visit to the supermarket immediately, as he did not want the inspiration to slip away. You agreed wholeheartedly, as seeing him Amami this way always brought a smile to your face. His carefree and ‘go-with-the-flow’ attitude prompts him to do things spontaneously and on a whim, but they were usually enjoyable and productive things. 

- He insisted that there was no need to replay the clip, as he memorized everything that he saw, and with his basic knowledge regarding cooking matters, he also knew what was fundamentally needed. So the two of you walked to the local supermarket, picked up what you needed, and arrived home.

- Cooking sessions with Amami were always wholehearted and warm. He was always extremely compassionate and enjoyed taking the cooking process slowly, often taking the time to wrap his arms around you if you are working on something and he finished what he was doing, pointing at something and taking some food while you looked away, and planting kisses on your forehead every now and then. You had accidentally cut your hand while slicing the squash, and he immediately went to disinfect it and place a band-aid over it and kissed it. 

- For some strange reason, whenever the two of you used the oven, the smell of the food in there seemed to be strong, and whenever you would bring that up, he would always reply with, “Maybe it’s because we prepared it with so much love?”

- Once the ratatouille was finished, he brings it over to the dining table and you two enjoy it together with some laughs and some wine, and discuss how grateful the both of you are for the other.

[luckylagerlegacy]

Action Bronson “BLUE CHIPS 7000″ Album Commentary

    Action Bronson has been putting on for chubby white guys who hate Michael Jordan for the better part of a decade now, I guess that's why I've always had a special place in my heart for his music.  The Queens, New York born Crook-turned-Cook-turned-Rapper-turned-TV personality has an uncommon bag of references and a flair for showmanship that is highly polarizing; you're either gonna be a big fan of a guy who talks French cuisine and Italian handbags on almost every track, or you're gonna sleep on him on your way to defending XXXtentacion in yet another online argument. His listening audience has been waiting for this project since the psychedelic, experimental Mr. Wonderful dropped back in March of 2015. Let's dive right in and see what Bronson and his bevy of hit making, sampling  expert producers have for us:

 1)      Wolf Pack:

               This track opens with an audio clip of Action Bronson having a conversation with (who I am assuming is) his very, very stoned mother in a car. It's a jarring way to start an album; you can hear a dog whimper and another woman laugh from somewhere inside the car, it's strange- but then, a musical jumpcut puts us in the passenger seat of a 74' Coup De Ville on our way to collect some money we're owed while Bronson shouts "PUERTO RICAN AIRFORCE ONES AT THE WEDDING" which is the perfect opening to this album. This beat is perfect, Bronson rides the pocket expertly, only stepping out of the sweet spot to say inflammatory shit like "YOU SMOKE LITTLE BLUNTS LIKE KEVIN HART'S ARMS" or "I SHOT DOPE BEFORE I WROTE THIS - SNORT DOPE AND DO AEROBICS BY THE OCEAN" it's an excellent leadoff.

4/5

2)      La Luna:

               Of course this is going to be an album full of skits, Bronson loves that type of theatre. The conceit of this track is Action's homie calling "La Luna Luxury car rentals" and being put on hold, and that hold music just happens to be the funkiest beat of all time- so Action raps over it from across the room until the beat fades all the way in. From there it's the average Bronson song. A lot of really cool, quotable bars that evoke 80's coke dream vibes.

3/5  

3)      Chairman's Intent:

               Right back to it, this beat sounds like the score to a 70's blacksploitation flick and Action is even more swaggering than usual in his delivery and lyrics. Halfway through the track the beat cuts out, and a beautiful string section hints at the song ending... right before the beat slams back on and Action shouts "TWO PUMPS FROM THE INHALER GOT ME FEELING LIKE LAWRENCE TAYLOR" and all of the sudden I am in a silk bathrobe dancing around my living room like a fucking fool. Don't listen to this song unless you're trying to build the courage to do an armed robbery or else you're gonna derail your whole life by accident. This is home invasion music. It's a musical Tarantino flick, but like, less N Words dropped.

4/5

4)      Hot Pepper (feat. Mayhem Lauren and Jah Tiger):

Thank god we get to hear from Mayhem Laurenovich on this album. This duo is one of the best tag teams in all of rap music, together here rapping over a hook provided by Jamaica's own Jah Tiger (first seen on an episode of "Fuck That's Delicious".) Bronson's verse is a lot of fun (saying shit like "I'M QUALIFIED TO SPEAK FOR MY ATTORNIES, ADRESS THE JURY IN A SHAQ  JERSEY"), buy Mayhem steals the show on the song. He comes in, off beat as hell and overpowers the whole shit. He's flexing about some amazing shit here, "YOU THE TYPE TO COMPLIMENT A ROLLIE AT THE URINAL - I'M THE TYPE TO RESEARCH CONTINENTS AND THEN EXPLORE A FEW" that's fucking hilarious.

4/5

5)      Bonzai:

               This track is fucking amazing. This is the exact Action Bronson I first became a fan of- more measured both in production and in his lyrics here. "DADDY BACK WITH HIS LONG WHITE CADDILLAC, NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE A NAPPY-NAP" your favourite could never sound like a king pin while saying "Nappy-Nap" b I guarantee it. The more conversational, less action movie star Bronson is a welcome surprise on this album that has so far been an audio reimagining of every movie that his namesake Charles Bronson ever starred in. The crackhead audio at the end is also pretty, pretty good.

5/5

6)      Let It Rain:

               This song starts with the sounds of a chick moaning (weird) and a really crazy Merengue instrumental serving as the beat (fire). I'm about to don my dance shoes and show you turkeys how to box step like a 5 time ballroom champ. Once you get past the super awkward audio of the woman cumming the song is actually pretty sick, as soon as I'm rich enough to steal a boat I will be piloting it out into a quiet, sunny bay and listening to this while I search the entire cabin for the liquor cabinet before accidentally capsizing the vessel.  The last bar on the track is Action exclaiming "THESE DUDES TRASH LIKE MICHAEL JORDAN JEANS" which means a whole lot to me.

4/5

7)      My Right Lung:

               This track opens with the silkiest jazz you've ever heard, but it's got this bite to it that makes you think Gil Scott Heron is about to hop into the breach and tell us that white people are the devil, before this Albanian Devil leans in with- "I'D GIVE MY RIGHT LUNG IF I COULD DUNK A BASKETBALL ONE TIME" -Fuck okay Bronson, me too. This might be my favorite track on this whole album. I demand to know who this sample is- if it is a sample at all. I'm impressed with how much he lets the beat breathe on this, it creates an atmosphere that makes his last, more frenetic verse pay off a ton harder. "FUCK A CRITIC, I'LL HAVE MY LIL SPANISH HOMIE HIT YOU WITH THE CIVIC - SPEND A MOTHERFUCKER SPINNIN"

5/5

8)      TANK (featuring Big Body Bes):

       This beat is fucking crazy. The flip on the sample is insane. Bronson is spitting really fun, carefree shit here like "SOMEHOW WE GOT JEEPS IN JAIL, TELL THE JUDGE IT'S ALL GOOD, GO HEAD AND KEEP THAT BAIL" and "DADDY SWERVE THE COUP WITH CONVICTION, GUNS UNDER THE PILLOW LIKE MY TOOTH MISSING, EVERYBODY KNOW IT'S ME CUS THE ROOF MISSING." Then Big Body Bes steps in and screams the dumbest, coolest sounding shit ever like only he is capable of. "ONLY GOD COULD BENCH US - YOU WAS IN THE DAYROOM DOING SPLITS - I TOLD YOU STOP BLOCKING THE TV - I'M TRYING TO WATCH MAURY - AND HANG THAT FUCKING PHONE UP" Holy fuck I'm 5 years old again watching WWE for the first time.

5/5

9)      Let Me Breathe:

       Harry Fraud and Action Bronson should get married n make music together every damn day. They are a power couple, and have maybe never made a bad song together? This was the leadoff single from this album, and also probably my least favourite song on it- but it's still very good. It's a little cute for my likes, but I say that as I nod my head in a top-to-bottom Ralph Lauren outfit that I didn't have on before this song started playing.

3/5

10)   9-24-7000 (feat Rick Ross):

       This shit is crazy. It opens with Action comparing himself with Sting, and moves on to a whole myriad of blowjobs, fast cars and fine dining - before he dives off the back of a boat and let's Rick Ross take a turn on the mic. NOW, i should preface this off the bat- Rick Ross could not have written this verse- it's too good. Same shit happened with his verse on Devil In A New Dress.. Anything too impressive coming out of Ross' corner, I just assume it was 8 struggle rappers turned ghost writers and a whole lot of coffee in some shitty office building near Burbank- ANYWAY- This verse is good as hell, it makes the song slap in the way only Rick Ross lending a verse can. I want some goddamn lemon pepper wings now. You can hear J. Cole's woke rant at the end of this track too, which is sad but fun.

5/5

11)   The Choreographer:

       I'll take the time to say it now- if not the best album of the year - this has so far been the most fun to listen to. I have been transported to a lot of foreign locales and into the back seat of a lot of vintage luxury automobiles just by throwing in headphones and pressing play on this shit. A standing ovation can be heard at the top of this track, and it's honestly really deserved. I want to roller-skate with a single mother to this shit, not even in a roller rink either. He's out here doing his best Dru Hill impression (literally) on this track. Give it up to Bronson. This shit is great.

4.5/5

12)   Chop Chop Chop:

       Back to the psychedelia that made so many cameos on Action Bronson's last project. A smoky choir backs up drugged out guitar riffs and shaky drums behind Bronson's "THE WHEELS ON THE RANGE GO CHOP CHOP" chorus, and the standout bar on this shit, "THE BLUNT LASTS LONGER THAN A WHOLE BADHU CONCERT" that's hilarious. For all the work he put in on the first half of this album, these last few tracks just feel like a victory lap.

3.5/5

13)   Durag vs. Headband (feat Big Body Bes):

               Victory lap complete. This whole album went fucking hammers, and this song is the perfect button on it. He's just stunting on us, it's fantastic. "I'M IN THE CLUB WITH A CONDOM ON - ALL UNDERARMOR ON" then Bes' chorus, and him fucking everything up again with more angry spouting off that simultaneously makes me giggle like a kid and want to commit felonies. This shit is good as hell.

 4/5

   OVERALL SCORE: 8.3/10

 This album is everything I want from a Bronson project. It's got dope beats, ridiculous lyrics, + attitude and brevity in equal parts. The best track, IMO, has got to be "TANK".

[afterourhearts]

food i’ll miss the most in RVA

Hi guys! This is almost more of a post for myself to think back and remember all the delicious cuisine in Richmond that I won’t be able to readily access anymore. As my last month here creeps up on me, I’ve been thinking more and more about how much I’ve grown to love this little “river” city. It’s only apt that I’m taking an archaeology class about Richmond in my last semester as it only reminds me yet again about how rich in culture this place is. Of course, I’m still thrilled to head back to Ohio (or maybe Philly if the interviews went well?), but I think I’ll always be willing to visit Richmond in the future and show my future friends around this adorable place :) ok, but on to the food (not ranked in order of best or anything just places I absolutely adore):

1) Huynh’s now turned Vietnam One Vermicelli with Tofu & Spring Roll - ok so most people have tried this popular Viet dish but I’ve tried at least like 10 of these from diff. places and nothing beats the dish at Vietnam One here. It’s the TOFU. It’s seasoned and cooked to perfection; crispy on outside and soft on the inside and bursting with flavor (as opposed to a lot of other places that have pretty bland fried tofu). Honestly I could just eat the tofu and be pleased. So many memories and probably 50+ trips to this place with my apt., definitely forever going to be in our hearts.

2) Jack Brown’s BBQ chips with mac n cheese burger - only like $6, 5 minutes from my school, juiciest homemade patty, amazing pairing of creamy mac n cheese with crispy chip pieces, and all served with the most refreshing pickle. UGH I WANT IT NOW.

3) Frank West’s Pizzeria Cheese Pizza - omgomgomg so everyone here likes Christian’s which is a NY style thin crust heavy cheese pizza and also fairly good but Frank West’s is even better though less known! A local here showed it to me and I’ve been in love ever since. Crust is on a thinner side but not crazy thin, generous amounts of sauce which I love, and the cheese is speckled with some kind of seasoning that is perfection.

4) Peter Chang’s Dry Fried Eggplant - so there isn’t much Chinese food here to rave about due to the heavily viet but low chinese population in rva but they at least boast one authentic szechuan place (though hong kong house in cbus is def better) STILL they have this standout eggplant dish here that I’ve never seen elsewhere. It’s fried eggplant “fries” seasoned in szechuan flavors/cilantro and it isn’t greasy b/c it is dry fried rather than deep fried. AMAZING alternative to fries!

5) Sugar Shack Donuts esp. lemon poppyseed and strawberry lemon - ok so RVA is KNOWN for donuts and for good reason. Sugar shack has been ranked in national magazines/food blogs all the time and it has literally the yummiest donuts I’ve ever had. Coming from cbus where donuts is just Krispy Kreme, I truly can say I’ve never known anything better existed. Sugar shack is like a bigger, better krispy kreme. It doesn’t melt away in your mouth in seconds like krispy kreme but it is still so fluffy and airy inside like lightweight bakery bread almost. Planning on bringing a dozen of these home after graduation!

6) Bombolini Pasta - a little place in Carytown that has really authentic pasta and delicious sauces, as well as a bunch of homemade frozen ravioli you can buy and cook later at home. I love that the noodles here are never overcooked, like true pasta should be served :) 

7) Honey Truffle Fries and Salt n Pepper Fries with Garlic Aioli at Postbellum - this place has a cute little rooftop bar and the most amazing thin fries!!! honey + truffle oil topped with shaved parmesan - could there be a better combo?! The only fries I like better than here are the crispy BonChon ones but BonChon can be found outside of RVA too!

8) Social 52 Crab Dip with Pita - I’ve never had better crab dip, or maybe I was just really drunk xD this bar does have a ton of tasty fusion style apps though!

9) Toast Sweet Potato Tater Tots - a gastropub right beside my school that often rotates out some really unique fusion style dishes (kimchi aiolis and shiz like that) but we always come back to their staple side dish, the sweet potato tots. MMMMMM mmm mm! People make sweet potato fries all the time, but tots? wowzaa

10) Gelati Celesti Chocolate Decadence - hands down the creamiest, thickest, chocolateyest cold creamy gelato goodness you’ll ever try! 

11) Noorani’s Gobi Manchurian, Chicken 65, Egg biryani, and Seekh Kabab - omg I could go on and on about this place forever. Yes your stomach will rebel against you the following day but it is worth the later pain hahaha. I just LOVE their gobi manchurian (fried cauliflower tossed in an indo-chinese sauce), they have the most well-spiced chicken 65 ever, biryani is on the wetter side which I LOVE, and mmm the seekh kabob is served in the most amazing sauce with sliced ginger and it’s just like pakistani heaven!!! It breaks my heart thinking about how much I’ll miss this place :’( even though service is crap, food is always delicious.

12) Zzzaaaam bibimbap bowls - this place is like a korean chipotle but it has every topping you’d ever want in your bibimbap at extremely reasonable prices, with a variety of super tasty sauce combos and topped with sesame oil drizzle. I always feel fairly healthy eating here too which is a bonus :) 

13) New Grand Market Cafe’s Jajungmyeon with Tangsooyuk = ehrmygawd this is the most amazing combination ever created!! Tasty hot noodles in black bean seafood sauce paired with crispy sweet & sour pork & bell peppers/onions = heaven on earth; place is also a supermarket so you can stock up on asian snacks while you’re here!

14) Chadar Thai’s Drunken Noodles and Curry Fried Rice - the best Thai place in this city. Ignore the overpriced and underwhelming Carytown places (thai diner, mom’s siam, ginger thai, thai top ten, elephant thai, thai palace, etc) and come here! Definitely the BEST and most flavorful thai place around!! Their drunken noodles are UNBEATABLE and yes I’ve tried like 7 other places so I would know lololol

15) Shyndigz Fruit Cake and Key Lime Pie - this place is the cutest little date dessert spot!! they have christmas lights everywhere indoor and outdoors and just the cutest little southern belle/rustic theme; grab a slice of their super moist and fresh fruitcake or absolutely perfectly tart key lime pie with the tastiest crust with your girls or a boo thang and enjoy it under the christmas light warm glow!! you’ll 100% have a night to remember :) 

16) Plaza Azteca burritos/enchiladas - so I’m not a huge fan of Mexican because I find a lot of the dishes bland but this place is diff. and they believe in heavy use of sauces/queso which I LOVEEEE. the free nachos/salsa they give are amazing (super thin crispy nachos and the smoothest/freshest salsa), made to order guac is perfect!!, and any of their burritos/enchiladas are bound to be completely covered in sauce and other drizzles and also laying in like a literal pool of more sauce so ohmygoodness yes I’m a big fan

17) Burger Bach New Zealand Burgers - def on the costlier side but comes with a side of fancy salad w like arugula and shiz not just iceberg lettuce and a bunch of creative dips for your fries; burger is also bigger and more flavorful than at Jack Brown’s but Jack beats this place based on price and bun and size and convenience and that freaking pickle ... lol burger bach to jack browns is like shake shack to in-n-out ... one is obvs more expensive and better in quality but the other is unique in taste and affordable sooooooo ya just love BOTH!

18) Mama J’s Southern Kitchen - if you want real soul food this is where its at; here is the only place I like collard greens and they have the sweetest yams and amazing catfish (only place better was in new orleans!) and these freaking awesome wings you must ask for tossed in something called Edy’s sauce. not even sure wtf is in that sauce but it’s bliss

19) Addis Kitchen’s Injera - have you tried ethiopian bread before?? liz and I came across this place when we went to a lackluster italian festival and still needed more food and tried injera for the first time. it was delicious!! it’s a sour, spongey bread that isn’t heavy at all you could literally eat it for ages and just paired amazingly with their veggie/meat dishes which remind me of indian curries a bit. def an experience i’d recommend!

20) Foo Dog’s Fried Tofu and Malaysian Ramen - ok so this place is no fukuryu but the coconut based lemongrass soup is really tasty (noodles need work) and their fried tofu app is deliciously stuffed with a bunch of flavorful veggies and sauces and if you want some bao sandwiches/asian street food combos this is def a good place!

21) Continental Westhampton’s Poutine Fries - omggg this plate of fries is not only covered in gravy but also scallions and an EGG and cheese and if this isn’t your idea of dream loaded fries idk what is

22) Galaxy Diner Malt Shakes and Pickle Chips - so this diner serves breakfast all day and is perfect for post drinking food binges that will do major damage to your waistline but all the greasy foods are just okay in my opnion; really not a standout place except for the funky atmosphere/lighting and one particularly spectacular drink: their malt shakes!!!!!! enough said

23) Don’t Look Back Fish Tacos (traditional style) and Chorizo tacos (gringo style) - it’s not quite LA street taco quality but it’s about as good as it gets around here!

24) Cookout banana shake, chili cheese dogs, chicken nugs, cheese fries, and onion rings - a late night drive through that has everything you’d ever want at 2am in the morning at dollar prices. how perf is this? 

There’s probably places I’m forgetting (as you can tell I’ve eaten out a LOT in college hahahhaa) so I’ll try to keep updating this but for now, these are the places that will always have a special place in my heart and that I highly recommend you trying if you’re ever heading to VA beach and feel compelled to stop by adorably historic and tasty Richmond!

[reeltoreal-cl]

Loving Memphis: A List of Bright Places to Enjoy and Meet People

Memphis, TN is a city known for four things that people typically know of before making any travel plans there: BBQ, blues, Elvis, and crime. I was raised in Memphis, and returned for two years after college graduation. I quickly realized how much easier it was to enjoy the city as a 21-year-old with a car than anyone under the age of 18. I have since maintained a list of the best and brightest places to visit based on my own experiences:

Restaurants:

Huey’s - This is hands-down my favorite place. Known for their burgers. I always get the World Famous Huey’s Burger and Tennessee Tea.

Osaka - A nice sushi and hibachi gem in Poplar Plaza. I recommend the Big Daddy sushi roll.

Bluff City Coffee - The cutest little coffee shop downtown! They get their pastries from a local baker, and offer homemade dog treats for your furry friends. The chai tea latte and all of the sandwiches are faithfully good.

The Green Beetle - Downtown on Main Street, this seems like a dive, but has food that’s rich in flavor. The Philly cheese steak, patty melt, hot wings, and fries are to die for!

Jim ‘n Nicks - BBQ win!

Central BBQ - Another BBQ win, but the dry rub especially!

Jerry’s Sno Cones - Crack in a cone in the depths of North Memphis.

Scoops - A black-owned gelato and crepe bar downtown. Red Wine Sorbet is my flavor of choice.

Onix - A black-owned soul food restaurant that features live bands. The sweet tea is everything, but the lemon pepper wings are good, too.

DeJa Vu - A black-owned New Orleans-style restaurant in downtown Memphis. Can be pricey, but the food’s delicious.

Coletta’s - An Italian restaurant in Bartlett with an old-school, family feel.

Happy Mexican - Guess the style? lol The staff is always friendly here, and the food and drinks never fail. I recommend the fajitas, quesadillas, Taquitos Mexicanos (my fav), and the Margarita Dip! Also, please drink a Walk Me Down while you’re there. Thank me later.

Boscoe’s Squared - A cool spot in Overton Square with a huge beer menu, cool brunch menu, and intimate seating.

Babalu - A Mexican-Cuban fusion restaurant in Overton Square known for their tapas. They have really good seasonal drinks around the holidays.

Sweet Noshings - A sweet shop in Overton Square with their own candy, chocolate, ice cream, and popcorn! Let your inner child run wild!

Don Don’s Hot Wings - Wangs and thangs.

Dixie Queen - Absolutely love their lemon pepper and honey gold wings, their seasoned fries, and their lemonade.

Rendezvous is our claim to fame a la Food Network. I’ve also heard fabulous things about Southern Hands.

Tourist Attractions:

Stax Museum - An incredible history of the music of the South, particularly Memphis and Stax Records artists, starting all the way back with the significance of “field songs.” It’s beautiful and so enlightening.

National Civil Rights Museum - Fun fact: I worked here as a tour guide for a year. Your experience touring the museum after its renovation will be much better than mine working there, lol. But it’s extremely profound and an experience the whole family can appreciate and learn from.

Woodruff-Fontaine House - A cool Victorian house for an old, famous family in Memphis, known for its architecture, décor, and hauntings.

Slave Haven - A small house-turned-museum that allegedly served as a safe house for slaves traveling on the underground railroad. Historical accuracy is contested, but still cool to see.

Yes, Gracelend is here, but most natives have never been! There are also the Blues Hall of Fame and Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum.

Bars, Clubs, & Lounges:

Fox & Hound - If you’re a foxy lady or hound dog who likes great drinks, sports on every flatscreen, and pool, this is the place for you. I always go for the beer-battered fish and chips, and the Kryptonite ‘Rita.

Greencork Wine Bar (closed until 2018) - A snazzy little spot near the Cooper-Young district that allows you to buy a card to test out wines from about 20 dispensaries as you lounge by the fire or sit at tall tables with friends. Food options are more expensive than they’re worth, though, and you’ll need to know which types of wines you favor before testing to get more bang for your buck.

Club Love / Love Lounge - A recent business development, this lounge that typically caters to the 30s+ crowd is an excellent mix of throwback jams and new music as the night goes on. If you want a more sophisticated night out, this place is great. Hosted my 23rd birthday here.

Mollie Fontaine Lounge - Across the street from the Woodruff-Fontaine House, this historic home turns into a lounge at night with great truffle fries, girls dressed as vampires, and men Vogue-ing. It’s lit!

Wet Willie’s - While the history behind this place is pretty ugly (see Ida B. Wells placard outside), it now serves as the best place for a frozen alcoholic beverages. The Bob Marley is where it’s at! I once went with the girls, recognized a guy I knew having a birthday outing, and his crew bought 20 jello shots for us all to share. Such is the Beale Street party life.

Peabody Rooftop - This is something different. You can see the sun set, hear cool live bands, and enjoy drinks and complimentary food if you’re there on time when it starts. Great chance to be with a different crowd and have some fresh air as you sweat out the liquors, lol.

Arts & Entertainment:

Studio on the Square - A quirky, old-school theater in Overton Square that serves alcohol and real food to go along with your movie. Along with typical showings, has indie films and other cool stuff.

Paradiso Theatre - Styled like an Italian villa, this theatre also serves alcohol to accompany your film.

Hollywood 20 Cinema - More in my neck of the woods, aka in Bartlett.

Hattiloo Theatre - A black-owned performing arts theatre that hosts plays and musicals with African-American casts and narratives, as well as panel discussions and other events with topics related to the black community.

Playhouse on the Square - A theater in Overton Square.

Crosstown Arts - An art gallery in the Sears-Crosstown area that hosts changing art exhibits and other artsy-fartsy events.

Rumba Room - A nightclub that specializes in salsa dance lessons and Latin foods, while also hosting poetry nights and dance recitals from other companies and troupes around the city.

We’re also home to the Indie Memphis Film Festival and On Location: International Film & Music Festival. That scene is slowly building.

Nature:

Memphis Botanical Gardens - Make sure you go in full bloom or else it’s like your backyard, lol. But it’s really great, with a relaxed path through the entire thing as well as a Japanese garden bridge. I also enjoy their on-location restaurant Fratelli’s.

Shelby Farms - This huge, huge, huge plot of land is the best place for a wide variety of hiking and running trails. They’re also home to the Starry Nights drive for Christmas, and Earth Day in April.

W. J. Freeman Park - This little park is tucked into Bartlett, and it’s usually empty if you want some privacy for a quick jog or to walk the dog.

Mississippi River Walk - Beautiful and serene location if you want to go for a walk near some water. Just don’t stay too long into the night or when it’s storming, for obvious reasons.

Shopping:

Wolfchase Galleria

Wolfchase Commons

Collierville Carriage Crossing

Poplar Plaza

Polish Girl - A black-owned nail shop with cool sugar scrubs, mixed drinks, and a playlist that your girlfriends will enjoy.

Diva Nails - An Asian-owned nail shop designed like a Venetian spa.

Events:

Grizzlies Games - Basketball is what makes the world go ‘round here.

Redbirds Games - Good family or work event if it’s not too hot out. If so, wear a hat to shade yourself and buy some frozen pink lemonade.

Africa in April - A festival of art, food, and performances celebrating the diversity of Africa in Robert Church Park downtown!

Latino Memphis Festival - A festival of the same things, but in Overton Park with the country of celebration changing every year!

Events on my to-do list are Beale Street Music Festival, Latino Memphis Dia de los Muertos, Curtis Givens All White and All Black Affairs, Omega Psi Phi Sundresses & Linen Party, Best in Black Awards, 40 Under 40 Urban Elite, and Wine on the River.

That concludes my recommendations, everyone. A lot of things are coming to Memphis in 2017, so keep your eyes peeled for new adventures in the 901. I can’t wait to explore even more places to add to this list. Enjoy!

[guitarboard42-blog]

The Places I Go, Comptoir Libanais

One of the things I really like doing as a food blogger is being afforded the opportunity to enjoy food in new places and venues.  Restaurant Reviews don't  happen really often, but when they do, I am always really happy to do try something new! 

I was recently contacted and asked if I would like to enjoy a meal at the new Comptoir Libanais which had recently opened up in Cheshire Oaks, which is a huge shopping complex not too far from where I live.  I was offered a meal for two on the house.  The Comptoir Libanais dining experience promises to bring the delicious flavours of Lebanon and the Middle East to the the British customer. With a myriad of bright colours and flavours the food reflects the stunning interiors of all the restaurants.   

Founded by Tony, Kitous, there are a number of Comptoir Libanais restaurants now open in the UK, each one offering a fabulous Lebanese dining experience.  It has always been Tony's desire “to create a place for everyone to eat and drink in humble and friendly surroundings that is affordable for all”, so to see the Comptoir family expand in England's North West brings much joy to Tony and the team. Comptoir has a strong presence in the North with restaurants in Leeds and Manchester and Cheshire was the natural next location. 

Tony grew up in the kitchen where his love for food developed, with his mother and grandmother always cooking delicious meals for him and his family at their home. This love of food and his upbringing is what drives his ambition to share the unique food and culture from Lebanon and the Middle East with the rest of the world.

I brought my friend Tina along with me to enjoy the experience and from the moment we entered the restaurant we were struck by the authentic feel of it, the bright colours, the delicious smells and fabulous atmosphere.  It felt just as if we had stumbled onto a wonderful Souk somewhere in the Middle East, with a vibrancy in colour and a truly down home feeling.  The colours were a treat for the eyes and everyone was quite friendly and helpful.  At first there was some confusion as they weren't expecting us, and didn't appear to know anything about it, but that was quickly sorted by the very capable and friendly staff which showed us to a nice window side table where we could view the whole restaurant from.  I loved the colour and feel of the furnishings.  Brightly coloured and patterned vinyl seating, and red painted wooden chairs, mixed with a red  striped bench seats vie for your attention along with beautiful mosaic tile patterned floors and fabulous pendulum lighting.  I found myself wanting some of those light fixtures for my own home.  The walls were lined with pictures of famous people wearing colourful Fez's and beautiful handbags which were for sale, silver tea pots, also for sale. 

It felt so authentic and real.  We both knew instantly that we were in for a real treat.  I think about the only thing that was missing was some music.  I think a bit of Middle Eastern music playing in the background would be nice, but this is such a busy and happening place and filled with a mosaic of people's, speaking different languages etc.  We felt comfortable and at home.  Tina remarked that she felt as if she had been dropped into the middle of a lovely Eastern Bazaar. I felt the same.  

Within the “souk” feel of the restaurant there is also a real “souk” (market), created by Tony to help guests find hard to find ingredients which are essential to make Middle Eastern food. These include spic’s such as Sumac, Zataar, or Orange Blossom, Rose Water, Tahina, and sweet treats such as Nougat and Baklawa. There is also homeware and goodies and handmade bags which are made by woman in local villages. For those who want to cook Lebanese food for their family and friends, there are two cookbooks, written by Tony and they have recently launched their third highly successful cookbook: Feasts from the Middle East . The book aims to enable guests to create a taste of the Middle East in their own kitchen at home.  (Shhh, don't tell Todd, but I ordered one from Amazon!)

The menu is made of recipes which Middle Eastern and Lebanese mothers use at home including Tony’s mother. Comptoir is a place that serves food all day from breakfast until dinner. It is a restaurant where everyone can eat casually and the food is served with warm and friendly hospitality, just like back home in the Middle-East and North Africa. Breakfast is an important meal in the Arab culture, the menu includes dishes such as Shakshuka - a classic dish made up of slow cooked tomatoes, red onions and peppers mixed with parsley, coriander and garlic. Topped with a fried egg and crumbled feta and served with pita. Alternatively , Man’ousha flat bread or full Lebanese breakfast.

The all day menu includes a huge variety of different dishes from a large selection of hot and cold mezze which are ideal for a quick snack or to share with friends and family. All the usual dips, salads and dishes are also available, from Baba Ghanuj to Marinated Jawaneh - Chargrilled marinated chicken wings with garlic, lemon & pomegranate molasses. Warm Lebanese wraps (served with a Comptoir salad and pickles) are especially popular, as are the Marinated Grills and Tagines. No Lebanese meal is complete without something sweet there is a selection of Baklawa and Lebanese desserts, which are delicate, fragrant and delicious, such as Dark Chocolate Orange and Cardamom Cake. Refreshing homemade lemonades such as Romana - orange blossom water and pomegranate lemonade and Rosa - rose, lemon and lime lemonade, as well as Fresh Rose Mint Tea , served in a silver teapot are the perfect accompaniments to the meal as well as freshly squeezed juices, cocktails and a selection of Lebanese wines and beers, specially imported from the Bekaa Valley.

We were really spoilt for choice.  They offer a variety of drinks for their customers.  Hot drinks such as teas, coffees, chocolates (both European and Middle Eastern choices) along with a variety of wines, beers, spirits, cocktails and cold drinks.  We don't drink alcohol, tea or coffee, but were keen to try some authentic Home-made Lebanese Lemonades.

Tina chose for herself a Toufaha, which is an Apple, Mint and Ginger lemonade. (regular £2.95)

For myself I ordered a Roza, which was Lemon and Lime, with Rose Syrup.  (Regular £2.95)  Oh boy, but both drinks were amazing!  We tasted each other's (of course!) and I loved both flavours.  The Toufaha was spicier than the Roza, but both were deliciously pleasant and served with plenty of ice and a lovely paper straw!  (Yay!) 

There is a huge selection of Mezze, both hot and cold, available, along with a variety of Dips, Soups,  and Salads.  The people next to us were having a Mezze platter for two and it looked fantastic. You can also get a Mezze Platter for one. We knew we wouldn't have room for that, along with a main and dessert.

We didn't want to overly fill up before our main course, so we ordered two separate Mezze to share.   All were moderately priced, ranging from £2.95 for a selection of pickles to £6.25 for the Lamb Kibbeh.

(Sorry we had taken a bite before I took the photo)

Lamb Kibbeh (3 pieces) (£6.25)  - Minced lamb cracker wheat parcels, filled with lamb, pine nuts and onion, served with a mint yogurt sauce.

Cheese Samboussek  (£5.50) - Pastry parcels filled with Halloumi & Feta cheese, topped with sesame seeds, served with mint yogurt sauce. 

I think our favourite of the two was the Cheese Samboussek, but both were delicious.  The Lamb was nicely spiced, and not greasy in the least, with a crisp crust and flavourful filling.  I love Kibbeh, and this was very good, not too spicy, but well flavoured.  

The Cheese Samboussek, had lots of filling and we both fell in love with it.  Tina wanted to show you the insides.  Both dishes came with a delicious creamy dip and pickles.  I wasn't sure what the pickles were, but we both enjoyed them.  There was a type of hot pepper, and a crisp green stick with we think was cucumber, but my favourite were the pink ones, which you can't see here because I had already eaten it. It was so good.  I saw jars of them for sale, so when we go back (and we will because we want to bring our husbands with us) I am going to buy some for here at home. Seriously tasty!   Both Mezze were a nice size and not overly filling, which was a plus for me as I don't want to already be full before my main course arrives.  A good Mezze should whet the appetite for what is to come and these did just that!

They are a variety of warm Wraps on the menu ( Falafel Lamb Kofta, Chicken Taouk, Halloumi & Olive) all served with a Comptoir salad and pickles.  You can also get a Wrap platter.  There are four different kinds of Large Salads, with vegetarian and vegan options.  There are also Grill options and Fattets, several favourites, and Tagines along with a variety of sides available.

For our main, we again chose two different options which we planned on sharing.  They didn't bat an eyelid when we asked for two separate plates.  Let me tell you, it was really difficult to choose only two things.  I could easily have eaten everything on the menu. It all sounded very appealing! 

One choice was the Chicken Moussakhan (£11.95) - Roasted marinated half baby chicken in pomegranate molasses, walnuts, and sumac onion confit, served with Comptoir salad & Vermicelli Basmati Rice.   

THIS WAS GORGEOUS! 

The portion was very generous, the chicken was well flavoured and tender.  Delicious with a crisp skin. I normally take the skin off my chicken, but I ate the skin, I couldn't help myself.  The salad was nice and well prepared with a lovely dressing. (I have had some pretty manky salads in restaurants over here)  This salad passed my salad test.  I also really enjoyed the rice.  I love Vermicelli rice.  This had a faint flavour of chicken stock.  All told, we were both very pleased with this option.  

For our other option we ordered the Lamb & Prune Tagine (£12.50) - Tender pieces of lamb with prunes, butternut squash, roasted almonds and sesame seeds.   We chose couscous as the go with.  

This was also delicious, with plenty of prunes, lamb, squash and a nice thick gravy.  It was nicely spiced with a really fruity flavour, which went very well with the sweetness of the lamb. The lamb was so tender it fell apart. 

A variety of sides are also available on the menu . . .  rice, couscous,  olives, quinoa, Batata Harra (Lebanese spiced fries), Hommos,  and a selection of pickles.  

There are plenty of options for dessert and the sweet tooth!  Dark Chocolate & Red Rose Berries Cake sounded good.   So did the Orange and Almond Cake, the Mango and Vanilla Cheese Cake and the Chocolate Brownie.  There are also Baklawa and ice cream or frozen yogurt. We wanted something really authentic and light so we chose the Orange Blossom Mouhalabia and a selection of Baklawa.

Orange Blossom Mouhalabia £5.45 - a traditional Lebanese milk pudding with date, fig, apricot, prune and sultana compote.

Can you say TO DIE FOR!  This is what we wrote down . . .  Smooth, silky, light  and satisfying . . .  this was a clear favourite.  We had no problem polishing it off and the compote went beautifully with it.  It almost tasted faintly like Turkish delight.  We are so in love with this, that I am now looking for a recipe to make it at home. We want it for our Christmas lunch dessert!  

The Baklawa  (£4.95) was amazing also. I love, LOVE Baklawa. It is like one of my favourite things on earth. There was a very generous serving of six pieces.  It was all delicious.  You can also buy  the Baklawa in the "Souk" along with a multitude of other goodies.  

With an ample Breakfast Menu, a Children's Menu, as well as a Takeaway Menu, there something here for everyone, and every occasion.    

We were very happy with our meal.   It was well prepared, delicious and the servings quite ample.  The service was excellent.  The atmosphere was excellent.  All-told this was a very positive experience for both of us.  Lunch for two, with drinks, excluding tip, came to about £50.00.  All in all we gave this dining experience a perfect 10 out of 10!  It is a very family friendly restaurant as well.  The couples sitting next to us had small children with them.  I loved the colour and the vibe of the place. There is also an upstairs.  Washrooms are available, both regular on the upper floor, and a Handicapped accessible on the main floor.  Very clean.

We will return for sure. 

Many thanks to Comptoir Libanais, Cheshire Oaks for this really enjoyable dining experience! 

Special notes -

Tony started his entrepreneurial flair from a young age selling lemonades and sandwiches outside his home on the street in Algeria. This drive inspired him to come to London with very little and grow the restaurant business that he has today. The authentic journey of flavours from the regions where Tony spent his childhood and where he still regularly travels now, continuing to source ingredients and decorations that will enhance the intoxicating eating experience of the Middle East.

The food is available to eat in the restaurant or to take home back to the office or to your home. Takeaway food is part and parcel of Middle Eastern culture and so Comptoir Libanais s proud to offer this service to guests at the Cheshire Oaks restaurant. Not only this, but the team will soon be launching an exclusive delivery service with Deliveroo . Comptoir Libanais will, therefore, provide the perfect option for eating at home or for picking up on the way back from work.

The restaurant also offers a large dedicated children’s menu with an activity pack and colouring in section to keep the little ones entertained. Priced at £5.95 it includes a main course, drink and dessert and includes favourites such as Halloumi Halloumi platter with falafel and hommos and Chicken wings with hommos and Lebanese fries.

About Comptoir Libanais  There are 23 restaurants across London and around the country, including Manchester, Bath, Leeds, Reading, Birmingham, Oxford and Exeter. Comptoir Libanais also has a branch in Holland and is in the process of expanding further internationally, with restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Founded in 2008 by Tony Kitous, the name means Lebanese Counter, as it is a place where everyone can eat casually and enjoy Middle Eastern food, served with warm and friendly hospitality, just like back home.

www.comptoirlibanais.co.uk

Source: https://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-places-i-go-comptoir-libanais.html

[tyleroakley-obsessed]

Ed. Note: Contributor Michael Butler and self-professed wing expert takes the advice of local radio hosts and tries out a new hot wing restaurant, then asks for our prayers before he goes back to the restaurant. That may be a first for an I Love Memphis Blog post!   Memphis has plenty of wing spots. I’m pretty sure there are more hot wing joints than there are BBQ spots. You can literally find 20 or 30 going down Winchester alone, and they all claim to have the best wings in Memphis. Enter Wing Guru: formally known as Don Don Jr’s Wings. I found out about then Don Don Jr’s/now Wing Guru while listening to the 92.9 FM Jason and John show. John Martin would go on and on about how good they were. I like to think I’m a bit of a wing expert and I already had my personal favorite, but after hearing those guys rant and rave about it, I gave in.   I was skeptical. After all, these are radio guys and it was probably just some clever marketing. I took a trip over on my lunch break and walked into a very clean and bright restaurant. Most wing places aren’t very nice on the inside but this one was cool. There were plaques all over the wall featuring quotes from people praising the wings – people like Grizzlies players and coaches, NBA vets, Memphis legends and more. If Zbo and Tony Allen are vouching for you, then it has to be pretty dang good, right? I’m going to go ahead and say I was intimidated by the number of flavors The Wing Guru offered. Usually there are the same choices at most spots, but this spot has lots of creative flavors like spicy taco, garlic Sriracha, and the fabled honey suicide that’s won a few awards. I made two trips here so I will break down each. My first trip, I was nervous and skeptical, so I played it safe. I went for the lemon pepper wings and the spicy taco (being that it was taco Tuesday). The lemon pepper was pretty decent, but the spicy taco was awesome. Yes, they taste like tacos! Also, it’s not very spicy for those that can’t take the heat. On my second trip, I was more adventurous and decided to experiment. By this time, there was a name change from Don Don’s Jr to “Wing Gurus”. That’s a wild claim, but I figured my second trip would either disprove or validate the “guru” claim. I went with the garlic Sriracha and the Memphis Dry Heat wings with a side of fried okra. The Memphis Dry Heat wings are really, really good, but the garlic Sriracha, though? They are the absolute truth mane. Yes I said mane so you know it’s real! I’ve had wings everywhere, and I’ve never had anything like that. It was a perfect combo of spice and flavor. You have to get the fried okra. It has a hint of lemon pepper sprinkled on them. The next time I head over to Wing Gurus I will try these award winning Honey Suicide wings. I ran into the radio voice of the Grizzlies, Eric Hassletine and Brad Carson at Wing Gurus and I swore Hasseltine’s face was beet red from those wings. So pray for me y’all. Wing Guru is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and is closed on Sundays. Go there: Wing Guru 5699 Mt. Moriah Road wingguru.com About The Author Michael Butler, Jr. is a native Memphian, blogger, photographer, and United States Navy veteran. He loves the food, people, and scenery of Memphis and wants to showcase all the city’s great things. Michael loves to spend free time with his daughter, hanging with friends on local patios, or playing a game of cornhole. He’s an urban explorer who believes that life is for living. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or his blog. Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout http://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

http://ilovememphisblog.com/2017/07/try-a-new-hot-wing-flavor-at-the-wing-guru/

[lovemesomesurveys]

Whens the last time you ate bread? A few days ago. Whats the last movie you watched on your own? The Parent Trap yesterday.  What about the last movie you watched with another person? The Invisible Man. What about the last movie you saw at the cinema? Was it good? ^^^ Do you attend school, college, or uni? I graduated back in 2015.

What do you study, wherever you study? I studied psychology.  What industry do you want to be a part of when you’re older? I don’t know.  Are you a Hugh Grant or Colin Firth kinda girl? Neither. How many girls can you trust? One. What about guys? Two. How do you earn your keep? I’m not working, I just receive disability. If you could speak three different languages fluently, what would they be? Spanish, Swedish, and French. How many texts have you ever sent on your current phone? Yeah like I’m really going to count them and see. Who do you usually text the most? My mom. Baths or showers? Showers. Cheese or tomato? I love cheese. Shaved legs or shaved arms? Legs. Did you know they’re currently shaving their arms some people on this years xfactor? They shaved contestants’ arms? Wth. How many coats do you own? Several. What about shoes? A few pairs. One word to describe your most recent ex? Creative. Fried, poached, boiled or scrambled eggs? Scrambled.  Have you ever been surprised with breakfast in bed? Yeah. Where,in your current cournty, would you like to live, other than where you do now? I’m not sure. Definitely a different city, but not sure if I want to leave the state. Where wouldn’t you want to live? There’s several places I wouldn’t want to live. Has your life begun? Doesn’t feel like it. I’ve felt stuck for a long time. Do you like snow? Yesss. Have you always got good grades? Yeah. Do you like sheer clothing? No. List four things about your facial appearance: - I've got a lightly freckled face. - I wear glasses. - I have brown eyes. - I have a tiny circular scar above both eyebrows from this thing called a “halo” that I had to wear after a spinal procedure and a tiny scar on my nose from when I had the chicken pox as a kid. List four things about your general appearance: - I’m about 5′4. - I'm very thin. - I have red hair (dyed) - I’m in a wheelchair. List four things you like about yourself: - My red hair. - My sense of humor. - That’s all I can think of. List four things you dislike about yourself: - How thin I am and that I lost my muscle mass. - My teeth/smile. - My big forehead. - My torso.  I can go on forever.... List four of your favourite TV programmes: - Riverdale. - The Voice. - Dr. Phil. - The Golden Girls That’s just some of many and doesn’t include Netflix, Hulu, etc shows. List four of your favourite foods/drinks: - Coffee. - Boneless garlic parm and lemon pepper wings from Wingstop. - Pizza from this local place. - Ramen. This quiz is pretty different to others, right? Not really. I do a LOT of surveys, so. What phone network are you on? Verizon. Is it good? Yeah, I have no complaints. Cats or dogs? Dogs. Llamas or sheep? Sheep. Have you ever seen anyone famous in the street? Once when the Jonas Brothers performed in my city. I saw them behind the arena, but I was too scared to go up and say anything. I kicked myself for that ever since cause it was way back when they were first starting out and they were opening for Aly and AJ, who most of the people were there to see. There was no one else around, I could have just went right up.  Are you hungry right now? A little.  Do any of your friend really irritate you at times? My family does at times, but I’m positive that I’m super irritating to them. I know I irritate myself. What do you think of couples who have entire albums just for them, with pictures of them just randomly at home, doing nothing that really requires a photo? I don’t care.  Can you cook? I can make a good bowl of ramen, ha. Can you iron? I’ve never done it, but I’m sure I could. Can you work the microwave? Uh, yeah. I use it a lot, so I’m quite familiar with it. Can you work the washing machine? I’ve never done it. I need help with stuff like that, so my mom does it. Do you like your photo being taken? No. Do you like taking photos of yourself? I prefer to take the photo myself because I know the angles and I can mess with filters. Have you ever got into a club, whilst being underage? No. I never tried to do that. How many magazzines do you buy a month? I don’t buy magazines.  How many of them are car-related? If I did, they certainly wouldn’t be car related. That doesn’t interest me at all. What about fashion? Back when I used to read magazines it was when I was a teenager so it was those teeny bopper ones with fashion, advice, and celebrity stuff. Any celeb gossip ones? ^^^ And I sometimes will pick up a magazine while waiting in line at the store if something catches my eye. What pets do you have? I have a 3 year old German Shepherd/Lab mix named Princess Leia. Its getting pretty cold now, isn’t it? Do you have the heating on? It’s been cold again lately, which has been nice because it was getting warm for a bit there. I’m like no, we’re still in winter damnit go away. Even as we approach spring it still shouldn’t be hot. And no, we don’t use the heater.  Do you watch Hollyoaks? I’ve never even heard of that. Do you like Silus? - Who’s your favourite? - Who’s your least favourite? - Do you watch Gossip Girl? Nope. I never got into that. Who’s your favourite girl? - What about guy? - Last gig you went to? Concert? Green Day back in 2009. Next gig your going to? I don’t have any plans, but I’d love to go to another concert. It’s been waaaaaay too long. Favourite colour? Pastels, rose gold, coral, mint green, and yellow.. Are you regularly tired? Always. Are you excited to live on your own? No. I don’t have any plans to move out for the foreseeable future. When do you plan on moving out? ^^^^  Do you have a onesie? No.

[thehungrykat1]

7 Restaurants to Visit at Lio Tourism Estate in El Nido

During my fabulous adventure in Lio Tourism Estate where we explored the magical island of El Nido (read about it here), we also went on a two-day food crawl sampling the various restaurants by the beach. Swimming and snorkelling around the beautiful waters of El Nido can really leave you famished, so I took the liberty of trying out several establishments located along Shops@Lio so that you can choose your own favorites. 

Shops@Lio is a 3000-sqm. commercial area located right beside Lio Beach which aims to provide guests with a unique dining and shopping experience. This area is open to the public and guests of Casa Kalaw where I am staying so everyone can sample a wide selection of local and international fare with its different restaurants and bars. While some of the establishments are still being renovated, here are 7 restaurants that are already open and ready to serve hungry diners at Lio Tourism Estate.

Pizza & Amore

Pizza & Amore is an authentic Italian pizzeria and bakery serving freshly made pizza and bread straight from their wooden brick fire oven. After a tiring day full of activities, it’s nice to sit back and relax with a slice of pizza and their chocolate desserts. The open kitchen lets diners see everything that goes inside this giant brick oven.

The Carbonara Pizza (P480) is one of their specialties with mozzarella, bacon, onion and egg. This simple combination really works and the rustic brick-fire oven does its wonders with the pizza crust.

Other notable items on the menu include the Affettati Misti (P750), an appetizer with mixed cold cut Italian ham and pepperoni with focaccia. The Parmigiana (P420) is a fried eggplant that comes with parmesan cheese, mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil. Otherwise, go for the Calzone (P500) which has pizza dough stuffed with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and cooked ham. Then end your Italian meal with the Chocolate Cake with Biscuits (P300) topped with Vanilla ice cream.

But if you want both pizza and dessert in one dish, then order their Pizza Nutella and Banana (P500) which is good for two persons. This heavenly dessert pizza will make you want to have another slice, or two.

Pair-A-Dice Burger Bar

Pair-A-Dice Burger Bar has one of the best views among the beachside restaurants at Shops@Lio. Visit the restaurant and you might even see the owner, who hails from Texas, and his lovely girlfriend preparing some drinks at the bar. 

There’s nothing like having a refreshing cocktail in front of the beach. Pair-A-Dice offers classic and custom cocktails like The Pacqiao (P300) with a combination of peach schnapps, blue curacao, coconut rum, tequila, pineapple juice, orange juice, cherry vodka, grenadine, and spiced rum. This goes well with any of their delicious appetizers like Fried Mozzarella, Onion Rings, Dynamite Fingers and Mozzarella Tomatoes.

But the best items to pair with their cocktails would be their amazing burgers. Pair-A-Dice burger patties really taste authentic with a smoky beefy flavor. The owner really knows his burgers because these are some of the best I have had. Among my favorite from their grilled burgers was the Tokyo Teriyaki (P390) with grilled pineapple, fried onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and topped with teriyaki sauce.

Those who want something healthier for their summer bodies should go for the Tuna Cheese Melt (P390) with tuna and cheddar cheese, sweet onion sauce, cucumbers and tomatoes. But I would still suggest to get the burgers like The Blazin Asian (P390) with coriander leaves, cumin, curry powder, cayenne pepper and mangoes. On the other hand, their signature burger is The Pair-A-Dice Burger (P450) filled with bacon, fried onions, sour cream, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and barbecue sauce.

Manille Beach Bar

Manile Beach Bar is named after Destileria Limtuaco & Company, Inc’s flagship Philippine Craft Spirit brand, Manille Liqueur Calamansi and Dalandan. Distileria Limtuaco is the oldest distillery in the Philippines, developing quality spirits and liqueurs since 1852, and Manille Beach Bar features the many different uses of Distileria Limtuaco’s diverse product line through its food and beverage offerings. The beach hut is a bar within a bar which sets off the charming vibe of this restaurant.

We tried several of their Signature Cocktails and my favorite was the Manille Basil Smash, a gin basil smash twist made with Empire London Dry Gin, Manille Liqueur de Calamansi, lemon juice, basil leaves and simple syrup. It is served on the rocks with a basil sprig.

Other notable cocktails are the Calauit Park Swizzle using Old Captain 5-Year Old Rum, orgeat syrup, guava juice, plus angostura bitters. The El Nido Gold has a combination of El Hombre Gold, Manille Liqueur de Dalandan, elderflower syrup, guava juice and lemon juice.

Manille Beach Bar also has some sumptuous bar chows to go along with their unique beverages. I really like the Spicy Chicken Wings with its crispy fried wings coated in a sweet-spicy glaze pepper sauce with Imeldifique cooking wine.

We also got to try the Manille Longanisa Nachos, crunchy corn chips topped with fresh salsa, cheese sauce and pork sausage meat with Imeldifique cooking wine. Their Signature Cheeseburger has a 100% all beef patty with cheese, lettuce and onions served with fries. If you are really hungry, order the Grilled Meat Platter with pork barbecue, paradise mango chicken, grilled chicken and grilled liempo. But if you want a hearty rice meal, then get the Amadeo Coffee Beef Ribs with choice cut beef rib stew simmered with Amadeo Coffee Liquer.

The main highlight at Manille Beach Bar is the Flight to Lio. Order this multi-glass cocktail and you will see how they make it a performance to remember. It comes with Aloe-Haaal, Yuzu Good to Me, Lio Sunset and Old is Gold cocktails served this way. You have to see it to believe it.

Globy Traveling Chef

Globy Traveling Chef restaurant & bar serves an international lineup of appetizers and main dishes from across the globe. I like their comfy chairs where you can put your feet up and just enjoy the luxury of dining by the beach.

Fresh fruit shakes are available like the Banana Chocolate Shake (P180) which is very refreshing especially on a hot summer day.

Go around the world with their specialties like the Nasi Goreng with Chicken Satay (P390) from Indonesia served with peanut sauce. The Breakfast Panini (P340) comes with flat bread, tomato, pesto, scrambled egg, bacon, onion and cheese. This breakfast item also includes a choice of tea or brewed coffee. From India comes the Chicken Tikka Masala (P450) with roasted chunks of chicken tikka marinated into spices and yoghurt cooked in a spicy masala sauce, served with homemade chapati bread. Travel to Thailand with the Pad Thai Noodles (P300) which is a common street food item there. These stir fried rice noodles in fish sauce are mixed with bean sprouts, egg, carrots, onion leaves and peanuts.

The highlight at Globy Traveling Chef is the Colombian Backpacker (P990) which has a grilled Beef Tenderloin Steak topped with lemon marinated vegetable salad and feta cheese.

Bead Cafe

Bead Cafe is a Do-It-Yourself Bead Jewellery cafe where you can create your own works of art while waiting for your cup of latte. I have never seen a coffee shop quite like this before and guests can craft their own jewellery and beads for a certain fee.

I ordered one of their Blended Frappes, Cookies and Cream (P125-Grande) which is a refreshing sight. This is also a good place to unwind and take cover from the heat in between meals and activities.

Pukka Bar

Pukka Bar serves Filipino and international classics with live performers and singers to create a lively beach ambiance.

They serve some powerful concoctions like the Mojito (P230) and Pina Colada (P210) which seem to have double doses of alcohol. 

Order the Nachos Bowl Supreme (P180) for your bar chow with your drinks. As for your main dish, get the Ribeye Steak with Fries and Mixed Salad (P750) with its sumptuous and tender beef. Can’t go wrong with steak so this should be the best item to order.

El Nido Grill

Lastly, enjoy fresh and savory seafood at El Nido Grill. After trying out all these great restaurants at Lio Tourism Estate, sometimes it takes just simple grilled dishes to make everyone happy. 

We ordered the Pork Sinigang (P480), Grilled Squid (P400), Butter Garlic Shrimp (P390), and Grilled Chicken (P395) together with garlic rice and it makes the perfect beachfront dinner. We upgraded our dining experience by adding the Crabs in Coconut Milk (P580) and everyone went home truly satisfied.

More restaurants and retail establishments will be opening at Shops@Lio in the coming months to give even more choices and activities to guests at Lio Tourism Estate. If you are planning your trip to El Nido, Lio Tourism Estate has everything covered to make sure you have a wonderful dining experience that will match the breathtaking environment.

Lio Tourism Estate

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

www.lio.ph

www.facebook.com/LioElNido

[hottytoddynews]

4 Rooftop Bars To Ascend This Season. Raise the roof, raise a glass!

The cocktail-thirsty crowd beginning to spill out onto the balcony at The Coop atop the Graduate hotel overlooking the Oxford Square. Photo by Danny Klimetz

This story was republished with permission of Delta Magazine.

Sunset sipping, Memphis style, just four floors up overlooking the magnificent river in Harbor Town. Photo by Jay Adkins

There’s something about a rooftop bar. Ever since the Tower of Babel, humans have been trying to get as close to the clouds as possible. Who can blame us? The views are spectacular and the thin air makes the sips of bourbon go that extra mile. Eating and imbibing on the roof is an unrestrained indulgence. It defies natural limitations the same way a screened porch mocks the plague of mosquitos on an August night in the Delta. A view from the top is something you should consider, and we know just the places.

Showstopping Sunset The Terrace at River Inn

Nestled among a canopy of oaks and cottonwoods, its panorama drifting west across the Mississippi River, resides Memphis’s hidden rooftop gem. The Terrace at the River Inn is a beautiful blend of atmosphere, scenery, food and drink. The River Inn, unlike its bigger sisters, The Peabody and The Madison, is a boutique hotel merely four stories tall in Harbor Town. Yet its size can fool you. The view is tremendous. Lazy northbound river traffic can hold your gaze and sunsets from your perch can make time stand still.

The Terrace was renovated in 2013 to include folding windows — a convertible restaurant if you will — so you can always drop in no matter the weather. Choose your vibe: flirty and energetic at the full bar, or relaxed and introspective at a table along the rail. Go for the rail.

The menu is simple, yet complete, with offerings from a classic filet or rack of lamb to smaller plates to share. Try the Mojo Shrimp, Gulf shrimp with a roasted red pepper sauce. The drink menu offers local beer, cocktails, and wine by the glass or bottle. 2012 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon, anyone? The Southern-inspired cocktail menu hits the right notes, from the ubiquitous Moscow Mule to a selection of refreshing martinis: pomegranate, French and appletini. Get there, with hungry friends, as the sun begins to slide beyond the horizon, order a Mississippi Sunset (vodka, triple sec, strawberry liquor,sweet and sour and lemon) and relax at the best little rooftop in Memphis.

– Jay Adkins The Terrace at River Inn, 50 Harbor Town Square, Memphis

Natural Retreat Green Roof Lounge

Photo by Danny Klimetz

Pork meatballs served tapas style with the bourbon and blueberry Oxford Blues cocktail. Photo by Jay Adkins

Five floors up, atop the brand new Marriott Hotel in Oxford, is a lush rooftop bar and restaurant, the Green Roof Lounge. This is no slab of tar with some wrought iron chairs. This is a metropolitan rooftop lounge with plush seating, strung Edison bulbs, parquet wood floors, and grounded greenery reminiscent of the High Line in New York City. Green Roof Lounge is proudly curious with their running hashtag: #howdoyousunset

Ole Miss college co-eds covening in the lush landscape at the Green Roof Lounge. Photo by Jay Adkins

They’re asking because they know the answer. If the spectacular sunset panorama is the reason you go, then the menu by Chef Cameron Bryant is why you should stay. Not merely “bar food,” this is exciting and delicious cuisine. The chilled cucumber and almond soup, topped with arbol chili oil and toasted almonds, is better than any restaurant gazpacho. I absolutely loved the cheese toast, grilled bread covered in fig preserves and warm goat cheese. The pork meatballs are delicious, drizzled with smoky tomato sauce and covered in salty shavings of Grana Padano cheese.

Mixologist Mason Payne concocting one of the Green Roof’s stellar cocktails.

Upon my next visit, I’m trying the Smoked Shrimp Roll and the Steamed Mussels. Their craft cocktail menu is equally adventurous. The Oxford Blues blends blueberry, bourbon, a little citrus, honey and bitters — a beautiful combination of deep bourbon and slightly acidic fruit. There’s also the Clint Eastwood, their take on an Old Fashioned with ancho chili bitters, a stellar example of the 2016’s summer of spicy cocktails. Rebel yellers will be storming the Green Roof Lounge this football season, for they can practically (almost) see Vaught Hemingway.

– John Fincher Bobo Green Roof Lounge at the Courtyard Mariott, 305 West Jackson Avenue, Oxford

Urban Oasis The Coop

A rooftop Rebel yell: HYDR tater tots!

Graduate Oxford has the original rooftop bar of the Velvet Ditch, and it has quickly become a classic venue for happy hours and late nights. This elevated watering hole is an indoor/outdoor experience that’s breezy in the summer and lamp-heated in the winter. A captivating birds-eye view of the historic Oxford courthouse is bolstered by cozy couches and lantern light, and the wrap around bar shows off its prime location. If the Green Roof Lounge is a tropical hideaway, The Coop is the urban hot spot to see who’s in town for the weekend — and maybe also to make an appearance. Not to mention the sweeping panorama of The Square, this is the ultimate people watching venue. If there’s work to be done and agendas to complete, start early in the afternoon with a cup of coffee and a snack downstairs at Cabin 82 cafe. When the clock strikes five, put down the uppers and go up for some downers. The Coop has a full arsenal of drinks and an elaborate assortment of bar food. The extremely satisfying Hell Yeah Damn Right Tots (HYDR, for short) are crispy tater tots that woke up one morning and decided to be nachos. They’ve also got sliders, tacos, and even Mississippi Delta-style tamales.

Photo by Danny Klimetz

Oxford folk will be storming the Green Roof Lounge and The Coop this football season. And even though Vaught Hemingway is technically out of view, the most faithful Rebel yellers will continue to look away, look away at dixie land below.

– John Fincher Bobo The Coop at Graduate Oxford, 400 North Lamar Boulevard, Oxford

Go with the Flow 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill

Photo by Danny Klimetz

Mightily beckoning an awe-inspiring bird’s eye view of The River, 10 South serves up the city’s iconic scenery with elevated (ten stories up) Southern cuisine. It’s a local lunchtime hot spot that heats back up late afternoon when signature cocktails are served with a side of citrus-hued skies and a glowing panorama. The sky was the limit for Vicksburg restaurateur and chef Jay Parmegiani when he blew the roof off the culinary scene and built out this perch downtown.

The “fully-loaded” bloody. Photo by Melissa Townsend

Take in the breathtaking views over a bloody and meet the Civil War history buffs and tourists at the next table. Snap their pic and peruse the small plates: fresh-made guacamole that does not disappoint, hot wings tossed in the house Coca-Cola barbecue sauce — an homage to Vicksburg’s soda fountain history — and the bright and flavorful blackened “Yazoo City” catfish tacos, dressed with sugar cane slaw and cilantro-corn salsa. Lunch at 10 South features hearty sandwiches like the Monte Cristo slathered with preserves from the local farmers’ market, soups and Southern sides, plus fried chicken and waffles and gourmet burgers. In many ways, 10 South has the feel of a backyard barbecue with the family. As Chef Kevin Roberts puts it, “it’s just casual food.” Roberts is to thank for the tasty little seasoned pretzels on the table, and although he’s keeping his recipe a secret, here’s a tip: you can take home a box, mustard included!

Take the elevator up to the roof of the Trustmark Building for breezy views, bites and booze at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill. Photo by Melissa Townsend

Approaching this rooftop restaurant’s magical hour, catch a cool breeze over margaritas with that guac or sip a tropical libation like the Mississippi Sunset. There’s also a wine list and a beer selection with Mississippi craft beers to Abita hailing just across the river in Louisiana. What to order for dinner? That’s when steaks ignite the grill, the chef’s own choice being the Makers Mark whiskey-glazed ribeye. Somebody should save room for the signature mile high peanut butter pie, and go ahead and give in and order a bucket of chocolate-covered bacon for the table. This is Mississippi Delta-style hospitality: the pace is unhurried and no one is leaving without a gracious plenty.

– Melissa Townsend 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, 1301 Washington Street, 10th floor, Vicksburg

Scott Coopwood, publisher of Delta Magazine.

Delta Magazine is considered one of the most unique regional lifestyle publications, which some even call “the most southern magazine on earth.” The Mississippi Delta is known for its literary, musical and culinary heritage, as well as for its legendary entertaining style and social traditions. The bi-monthly Delta Magazine embodies every aspect of the Mississippi Delta with its fresh content, cutting-edge photography and devoted readership. Learn more by visiting deltamagazine.com.

For questions or comments, email hottytoddynews@gmail.com.

The post Delta Magazine On The Road: Where We’ve Been, Where To Go Next appeared first on HottyToddy.com.

[clicknlick]

“The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.” – Confucius

For many, food is an experience. It is both a science and an art. It is meant to be savored and enjoyed. In a culture with such passion for food, it is no surprise that we also like talking about it. While the Chinese share that love of language, they also have a love of food. Over their centuries-long history, the Chinese have composed an innumerable collection of legacy – including food.

China Wok is a cheerful red and yellow eatery on Purna Das Road. There are narrow steps that take you to a mezzanine floor – and here there are just four tables placed tightly together. The newly opened outlet  and has a very fresh feel to it and served authentic Chinese food. China Wok is where you go when you want the classic (somewhat) greasy, succulent, mouth watering, take-out Chinese food that brings back nostalgic memories of brown paper bag family dinners when no-one feels like cooking.  Great Chinese food even the Chinese would be impressed.

Where do I start? Well lets do the obvious first then shall we? FANTASTIC, and I don’t say that lightly. Varun Rajgarhia, the absolutely lovely, talented and perfect host and owner. When we arrived, we were greeted with the warmest most sincere smile that was followed by dinner packed with punch. This place is small but mighty. It is a small place, with less than 10 tables. It does not look much from outside. Inside, it is warm, inviting and clean. The biggest thing I can say about this place is call ahead. They are a local institution and fill up quickly. Their small dining room can hold maybe 25-30 covers at a seating so space fills up fast.  The cuisine is authentic, delish and served in huge portions for your penny. As a Chinese Food lover, I have been looking for a genuine, original Sichuan restaurant for a long time. This is definitely a must-go one in South kolkata. The service is good, or sweet. They provide a multitude of choices in the menu, all of those we tried today are damn good.

“China Wok is my take on Authentic Chinese and Thai Cuisine at affordable prices. While there is a plethora of Chinese and Thai restaurants in Kolkata, most of them Indianise their Asian delicacies partly to make the same cheap/ affordable and partly becuase that’s what sells. China Wok is my endeavor to bring Authentic Asian Delicacies to the city at affordable prices. While creating the dishes, we have remained true to both traditional cooking techniques as well as traditional ingredients. It was born out of my principle that food tastes best when it is authentic and hopefully the city of joy feels the same and I am sure will find new love for Authentic Asian Food and its simplicity once they try China Wok”  – Varun Rajgarhia – owner – Asia House

The Dishes We Had : 

Welcome Drinks  :

Sweet and Salt Lime & Cold Drinks – 

Soups :

Spicy Lemon Burnt Garlic Soup – Spicy soup with fresh lemon, burnt garlic and green chilies with chicken. Given the lemon addition, this soup is as good for summer meals as it is in the winter. The recipe combines two of my favorite ingredients: garlic and lemon. Lemon soups have the lightness and brightness that some savory soups miss. This soup joins the savory of garlic with lemon for a fresh-tasting finish.

Eight Treasure Soup – Traditional coriander and chili flavored thick soup with vegetables and mushrooms with chicken. It’s both warming and delicious – and full of ingredients that are GREAT for your health! The first time I had it was at a dinner. It was one of the most delicious, sweet, creamy soups I’ve ever had. I was hooked at first sip!

Starters :

Prik Kai Sot Sai Thod – Chicken wings tossed in Thai sweet chili sauce with kaffir lemon. The combination of both fragrant Sweet Chili Sauce and kaffir lime leaves are what make this recipe special so don’t leave either of them out!  These wings have crispy skin that is full of Thai curry flavor. Yet, they are not spicy hot like some Thai dishes. The crunchy kaffir lime leaves add texture and fragrant, making the wings distinctly Thai.

Asian Barbecued Chicken – Pan roasted Chicken smoked with charcoal and caramelized in Barbecue and butter sauce. This Asian-style version of Berbecued chicken on oyster sauce, soy sauce and roasted garlic, with toasted black peppercorns added a strong and bold flavor to the dish. The sauce is superb glazed on chicken.  Grab some napkins everyone!

Chicken Sui Mai – Wafer thin flour wrappers with minced and served with garlic oil. I bet most of you have heard about Dim sum, which is a southern Chinese cuisine that serves with tea and comes in small portions in bamboo steamer! I will never say ‘no’ to Dim Sum and it will always be one of my favourites! Sui Mai is definitely a “must-order” dish. Here they are making it with chicken instead of prawn or pork, just simply because I think We Bengali are more chicken than pork person! Or perhaps, its purely because they feel like trying something different to serve us. Wafer thin floor wrappers with minced chicken served with garlic oil.  There is something charming about going for this dim sum, I guess it must be something I treasure for a long time. 

Mains :

Kung Pao Chicken –  Diced chicken toast in kung Pao sauce and finished with roasted cashew nuts. Apart from the chicken cubes, this famous dish contains chili peppers, spring onions, garlic, ginger,  Sichuan peppers and most often toasted peanuts, but according to the author cashew nuts are also encountered. It may seem very simple, but the flavours are very unusual and surprising for someone who knows Chinese cuisine from European restaurants. Two things make this dish very unique: Sichuanese peppercorns and the very light sour, sweet and hot sauce prepared with black vinegar.

Pla Pad Kraprow –  Sliced fish tossed in Thai Chili Basil sauce with Birds eye Chili. Healthy bowl of goodness! To be honest this is such a great and uncommon and also a popular dish. Every one like this and i specially like this dish too much.  We were amazed by the perfectly cooked fish, crunchy fried crust, and fragrant and flavorful sauce.

Thai Red Curry (Veg) – Traditional medium spicy Thai red curry with fresh chilies and Ginger. This recipe is so simple and tastes amazing! I had Thai Red Curry powder and mixed it into a paste and found Thai Kitchen organic coconut milk in a can. For speed, I blanched the cauliflower and green beans together; and substituted baby bella mushrooms and Living Herbs basil since I couldn’t find fresh cremini or thai basil. Came out delicious, my teenager even liked it!

Rice & Noodles :

Schezwan Rice (Chicken) – Spicy fried rice tossed with roasted Chili paste , bell peppers and dry Red Chilies. It is a Chinese dish of steamed rice that has been stir-fried in a wok and, usually, mixed with other ingredients, such as eggs, vegetables, and meat, and as such, often served as a complete dish. A treat of flavoured rice, with shreds of chicken topped with a spicy schezwan sauce for an unforgettable hit of deliciousness in your mouth!

Chili Garlic Noodles (Egg) –  Chill Garlic Noodles is a simple stir-fried noodles recipe infused with bold flavors of garlic and hot red chill. A quick, easy and flavourful meal, perfect for entertaining and busy work day. It is a delight to eat. It was so soul satisfying. 

Steamed Rice –  Steamed rice is a staple food for almost any Oriental meal. It is soft and sticky compared to other kinds of Asian rice. 

Desserts :

Darsoan with Ice Cream – Crispy Fried flour strips tossed with burnt honey  and caramelized sugar.  A Chinese style dessert which is exquisite. I love it. This is almost every body’s favourite Desert in any Oriental Restaurant. 

I have had a lot of Chinese food in a lot of different places but I have to say China Wok is right up there in the top 5, I have ever had. It’s my understanding they have a great Chef and his preparation is outstanding. I find that most Chinese food restaurant dishes all have the same flavour profile. NOT the case here, each dish is unique and flavourful.

Staff were extremely pleasant and seemed genuinely pleased to hear how much we enjoyed the dining experience. You would never expect the quality from looking at the outside of the building, it being so non-descipt. Currently the leading Chinese food restaurant in area. I would definitely come back to try the lunch specials too. 

Special Thanks to – 

○ Varun Rajgarhia, owner Asia House for the invitation and amazing hospitality. ○ Chef for providing us such a lovely experience of Steam Food

○ Rajdeep Bhattacharjee for leading us.

Proud Member of Panch Phoron #panchphoron

When you need your Chinese fix…China Wok is there! "The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live." - Confucius For many, food is an experience.

[jasondarejourney]

A “quick” Con dao travel guide. It covers how to get to and get around the island, some facts about night on ship, foods and what to do to explorer the paradise.

Hopefully it helps you plan for your trip. This is a beautiful remote place in Vietnam that a traveller should visit once-in-a-lifetime.

  Travel to Con Dao

There’s no budget flight on HCMC-Con Dao. The only airline is Vietnamairline, national fleet, price ranges around 80 usd/ one-way. The airport is quite far from the town, so if you’ve booked hotel, kindly request them a transfer.

The cheaper (but more adventurous, I warn you) way to get to the island is to secure a seat on a ship in Cat Lo port in Vung Tau. It runs every two day, so you should check the schedule beforehand. The green box is route Con Dao-Vung Tau, Blue box is Vung Tau-Con Dao.

The ship start at 17:00 and the arrival should be at 6:00 the next day for both route Vung Tau – Con Dao and vice versa. Sometimes you’ll reach the port at around 8:00 if the sea is rough the previous night.

  There are two ship operating:

– Con Dao 09: a big ship with 238 vacancies (200 beds and 38 seats). I traveled to Con Dao in the ship.

– Con Dao 10: smaller ship, vacancies only 148 passenger (108 beds and 40 seats).

  There’s a cafeteria onboard, serves you instant noodle for 20000 vnd and purified water for 10000 vnd. It serves until 19:00 when it’s getting windy and the ground becomes more up-and-down feelings.

Note: On the way to port, there’re several vendor selling local food, cheap. So before departure, you can walk nearby neighborhood for better food than poor menu onboard.

It’s quite clean, a lot of officer onboard. Night on ship will not a good news for those who are stuck with seasick. You’re likely to vomit, and it will weaken your health a bit. So if you’re not healthy, take a flight please, for your life. Here is my story in Con Dao 09 ship.

  Cost

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Ticket price

Vehicle fee

If you go on Con Dao 09, so you’ll pay 85 000/ seat and 150 000/ bed. Con dao 10 is more expensive: 200 000/ bed and 125 000/ seat. You can have seat anywhere you like, someones even stretch their legs over the nearby seat to sleep. You can bring hammock if you want more comfort.

50 000/ motorbike + 60k loading fee (onboard and offboard). Your gasonline tank will be empty before loading onto ship. The ship departs at 17:00, so you have to be at the dock before 1 hour if you’d like to bring along your bike.

    For ticket, buy here:

In Vung tau city: 1007/36, 30/4 street, ward 11. Telephone (Vietnamese) 064.383.8684.

In Con dao town: Vo Thi Sau street, near Con dao market. Telephone: 064.383.0619.

Email (quite useless): vetaucondao@gmail.com

You’re required to provide your ID card, passport to buy ticket, and the vehicle license for your bike.

Note: From Ben Dam port to the town center, you have to travel 12 kilometers so if you don’t have any vehicle, so the motorbike taxi would charge you 50 000 for a ride. Remember to write down your hotel name along with address because few drivers speak English.

  Get around the island

Small fact: Con Dao islands are a group of 16 islands. The largest island is known as Con Son.

There are many way to explore the island.

Walk: Just by walking, you can even explore beautiful sea, visit prison complexes, have food and so on. The village is small scale so all the points of interest are close to one another ridiculously. Jogging in the morning and evening is recommended.

Motorbikes: I love this option most – as a guy loves roadtrip ah ha. The price is very cheap: 100 000 vnd/ day, no fuel cover, cheaper than mostly rest of Vietnam. The bikes are new, but remember to get your tank full of gas or you have to drag your vehicle (which is not romantic at all) because the petrol station have limited hours: 6:00-11:30 and 13:30 – 20:00.

Motorbike taxis: They are mostly honest. However, I think you should also check the distance, and bargain price before get on. Good guys – Bad guys – Who knows. These man are very useful guide, but because the fact that few of them speak English, so it’s not really useful if you cannot communicate in Vietnamese.

Taxis: Most expensive, I didn’t choose it. You are on a beautiful island, full of wild landscape. Why do you have to be stuck in a metal box?

Bicycle: Town is small, so if you don’t walk, you can ride a bicycle, but just around the town, OK. out-of-town roads are extremely rough and sloping. Know what to expect you!

  Stay

Many hotel in Con Dao, but most of them are quite expensive if you travel alone because there are just private rooms available. Price range from

If you have money, then Six Sense is a upscale resort that can satisfy all you need and your standard. (Ok, I’ve never been to there, I just heard people saying so, haha). A night here cost you only 500 – 2400$ (it’s too long to write in vnd, excuse me).

Con Dao average price for private room ranges from 20-40$. You can find Phi Yen hotel, Con Dao island hotel, Anh Dao easily. They are all popular to most of taxis.

I chose the only dorm in the island – Uyen’s house, very budget if you travel solo, only 10$ and it’s very beautiful, new so the equipments are still very fresh.

See more: Uyen’s house hostel review

  What you do in Con Dao

Con Dao, it’s famous for 3 things: a national park and a big historical jail and a island so, there are many activities to do, which may take you a whole week to well dig into each one.

  Swimming

As a small island, Con Dao owns just several nice beach to swim, the other are beautiful, but too rocky, which make it impossible for swimming around but ideal for camping, snorkel.

The closest beach is right at the town, walking for minutes and you get there. The water is clear enough and the sand is nice.

Further and quieter is Dam Tre beach. Just few local and hikers pass by. The water is clear as crystal, sand is very nice and smooth, while the beach is completely even, suitable for sun-bathing

  Trail Hiking

I did completely two routes, and to be honest, I did love them. That was a chance to refresh your lung, paint your eyes with green sightseeing and enrich your experience with wild friends, like monkeys and birds.

Hiking alone is more adventurous sense. A lot of scary things like cave explore, stuck in trail when it’s twilight, be some robinson-moment on a nice beach at the end of the trail,… very tempting!

  Wandering in historical sites

To be honest, I was frightened when enter Con Dao jail for the first time, it’s quite, dark, human statues. If you read the history, then you sense this is where thousands of revolution people died, like a mass death. It’s haunting.

Besides the jail complex, Hang Duong cemetery is also a sacred destinations where hundreds of pilgrims visit daily at night. You won’t forget the moment there.

  Diving

As a remote island, untouched by most of human activities, and still well preserved, Diving in Con Dao is very famous. There’s several diving center with PADI sign on. Signing up for a diving course is recommended.

  Cruising to surrounding islets

The wild life in surrounding area is still very dynamic. You can go to port, ask any fishing boat for a cruise tour, bargain for the best price, and step on, explore islets.

  Roadtrip

There’s an only coastal road, so it’s thoroughly worthy a ride to enjoy beautiful shorelines in the island. You’ll see bird spreading their wings in the sky, sun brighten the sea and wild plants color the roadside.

Roadtrip is very cheap, you can rent a bike for only 5$/ day, plus 1-2 $ for fuel. The experience on road will be amazing!

  Food and Drink

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bun rieu

dipping sauce

duck salad

lemon and hot pepper

adding vegetable

Food is expensive. We had a half of boiled duck and 4 soups, costing 320 000 in total. A buffet for 340 000/ pax, and a bowl of Bun rieu for 25000.

You have to breakfast/ lunch in time or no one would sell you anything. But the dinner is very relaxing, most of restaurant lasts til mid night.

If you run out of budget then some instant noodle packs are saviors. A packs cost 7000, double will be likely enough for a active day.

Most of Con Dao specialities are gifts or snacks like: almendron nuts, Oyster soups (not really special), Sea foods (snails, lobsters, fishes,..). I think echinus sauce and peanut worms are the two most unique that deserves a try (but requires a taste after all).

There are some nice local coffee shops to check in. I’ll pick up Infinite and Laraca if you like somethings cool, price is a bit higher than average . The local drink is also good to try. I bought a sugar water for 10 000vnd, the 1.5 liter bottle of water also costs me another 10 000vnd.

  The safety

One of the best things in Con Dao, and other islands like Phu Quoc is no theft threats. I haven’t heard any news report about crimes in the island, and you don’t worry about your bike if you leave it on road. That’s pretty good compared to the land.

One more thing to noticed that when you get on a boat for a cruise, remember to check for any life vests available. Some boat owner won’t provide the safety equipments like that so go on or choose another provider is your call. Be careful!

Do you have any questions on my Con Dao travel guide? Comment them below!

A “quick” Con dao travel guide. It covers how to get to and get around the island, some facts about night on ship, foods and what to do to explorer the paradise. Enjoy it if you are planning to visit Vietnam and have time for remote islands in the South. A “quick” Con dao travel guide. It covers how to get to and get around the island, some facts about night on ship, foods and what to do to explorer the paradise.