Monthly Archives: May 2016

Travel

Asia Adventure: Luang Prabang, Laos

1 Comment

In December, I went on a 3-week trip to Southeast Asia, including 2 weeks in Cambodia, 5 days in Laos, and 2 days in Hong Kong. Overall, the trip was really fantastic – I met a lot of great people, got to meet up with friends from Hong Kong, saw amazing historical sites, had fun travel buddies, and ate yummy food. So as not to overwhelm, I’m breaking up my posts by city. Today’s adventure: Luang Prabang, Laos.

Part of a former French occupation, Luang Prabang, Laos proudly boasts Parisian cafes with cafe au lait and pain au chocolat. Fringed by two rivers, the town is almost as romantic and dreamy as Paris itself. Luang Prabang is an idyllic city for lovers and I was in love…

IMG_5631

Continue reading Asia Adventure: Luang Prabang, Laos →

Travel

Eat, Pray, Love at Shreyas Resort, Bangalore, India

Leave a comment

When I was living in Hong Kong in 2012 and writing for Sassy Hong Kong, I was commissioned to write a piece on Shreyas Resort. I’m reposting it to my new blog as a travel piece.

Not only did Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert inspire my journey to Hong Kong, it has also been the guide to how I’ve tried to live my life while here.  I’ve taken many of Gilbert’s words and experiences to heart and set my own path to happiness.  One such experience is the recent trip I took to Bangalore, India to partake in a yoga retreat at Shreyas Resort. Forget hello, forget handshakes or kisses on the cheek, you’re now submersed in the world of Namaste, head nods and downward facing dogs.

562266_642215682877_1811206620_n

As I stepped out of the airport, I was greeted by a prim, well-mannered driver whose car was equipped with a refreshing lemon-scented towel and cool water bottle.  Through the winding and bumpy roads, we journeyed for an hour in order to reach the Shreyas Resort (to/from airport, round trip for 150USD and booked through the resort).  We drove through villages and past a set of unassuming gates, only to be enveloped by serene beauty: polite staff, cobblestone pathways, bamboo and frangipani clusters, as well as lots and lots of nature.  I don’t think I’m in Kansas (Hong Kong) anymore!  Except for the fact that I was awakened by roosters crowing at 5:30am…which proved to be the perfect way to wake up because my first class was at 6:30! Continue reading Eat, Pray, Love at Shreyas Resort, Bangalore, India →

#RestaurantforTwo, Chicago

Restaurant for Two: Bella Bacinos

Leave a comment

Restaurant for Two: a feature where I bring a friend to a restaurant and we write a review together. Coworker and new friend, L’Oreal, and I rode the Italian train at Bella Bacinos! She’s a blogger, too, so she helped contribute to this post. 

Chicago is known for its Italian food…deep dish pizza and Little Italy, anyone?! So when L’Oreal and I went to Bella Bacinos, we had high expectations. Can the pizza be as good as the famous Lou Malnati’s? Will the pasta rival its competition? By the end of a seven course meal, we were officially stuffed, satisfied, and completely sure that this restaurant was delizioso!

Appetizers

Seasonal Bruschetta

“Love at first bite” is a real thing, especially when it comes to the seasonal bruschetta. This isn’t your basic bruschetta. With slices of prosciutto and balsamic drizzle, L’Oreal would have gladly eaten an entire plate of this delicious appetizer to herself, though she’d have to fight me for it.

IMG_6351 Continue reading Restaurant for Two: Bella Bacinos →

Travel

Outdoor Adventure: Seattle

1 Comment

Seattle is amazing! Maybe it was the fantastic weather we had (a sunny 70s and 80s everyday with NO rain), my travel companion (go DAD!), or the fact that Seattle has so much to offer, but I loved this trip. So much so, that I even started looking at jobs out there! (Don’t worry, Mom, I’m not leaving anytime soon…)

Day 1

Unlike most of my travels, we had a rental car, so it was easy to get to Snoqualmie Falls from the airport. We parked at the top of the falls and walked the trail down to the bottom. It is quite steep, so we wore our tennies not knowing there was a the parking lot at the bottom.

IMG_6366 Continue reading Outdoor Adventure: Seattle →

#RestaurantforTwo, Chicago

Restaurant for Two: Nando’s PERi PERi

Leave a comment

Restaurant for Two: a feature where I bring a friend to a restaurant and we write a review together. Lucky for me, I was able to bring TWO friends to Nando’s. Thanks to my partners-in-crime, Kira and Janelle, for joining me!

Nando’s PERi PERi may have over 1,000 restaurants worldwide, but they’ve only just broken into the US market. After establishing a pretty strong presence in the D.C. area, they decided to make Chicago their next stop after receiving countless requests from Chicagoans.

On a trip to London, the students I traveled with convinced me that Nando’s was the place to be (apparently One Direction is in love with their food), so we made a special trek around the city in search of the official chicken of 1D, and boy were we glad we did! So, when I read that Nando’s was coming to Chicago, I was stoked. I went to their soft opening last year with friends and I was just as in love as when I’d gone in London. We tried a variety of dishes, each one more flavorful and yummy than the last.

Let’s start with the name: PERi PERi is a Portuguese/South African blend of Bird’s Eye chili, spices, herbs, garlic, and lemon. Nando’s marinates their chicken overnight and grills it made-to-order over an open flame. Whatever the secret is, PERi PERi chicken is moist and tender with spicy flavor. You can even choose the spice level of your sauce; from Extra Hot to Plain, there are six options, including my personal favorite – the sweet and tangy Lemon and Herb. Continue reading Restaurant for Two: Nando’s PERi PERi →

#RestaurantforTwo, Chicago

Restaurant For Two: Luella’s Southern Kitchen

1 Comment

Restaurant for Two: a feature where I bring a friend to a restaurant and we write a review together. Thanks to my gal pal, Lindsay, for eating along with me at Luella’s Southern Kitchen!

After my trip to New Orleans last March, I’ve been hooked on Southern cooking. So when the chance to try Luella’s Southern Kitchen crossed my inbox, I was in! The menu changes for the seasons, but sticks to the traditional and creative interpretations of Southern favorites from Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Carolinas – think mac and cheese, catfish, and blackberry pie.

With an impressive resume under his belt, chef/owner Darnell Reed uses locally sourced ingredients to make classic fare with flare. Luella’s menu is made for sharing – like Southern U.S. tapas! Choose from appetizers, small plates, sandwiches, sides, and desserts to make a meal that the whole family or a group of your friends can all try. Continue reading Restaurant For Two: Luella’s Southern Kitchen →