Mistuwa Marketplace + 85

Chestnuts! I saw these vendors outside of the Mitsuwa Marketplace. So many great things all in one place!





I am falling more in love with the OC. This was so perfect for a winter day. It was hot and fresh!

Santouka Ramen inside the marketplace.




I was so full after all that but it's not complete without milk green tea. I go to 85 bakery every chance I get. I think I fall more in love with it every time. It always hits the spot. I wonder what would happen if I lived near these places. what a perfect sunday!

KOGI!!!!!!!

Out of boredom and guilt at 5:30 I went for a quick 2.5 mile run. I came back sweaty and stinky. I was about to hit the shower and just calling it a night but what the heck? I think I've ran enough to calculate a yummy taco into my calorie consumption. I had my mind set on it since I found out Kogi was coming to Rosemead and it was only 2 blocks away. So I arrive around 6:20 and see this....








....3 hours later I get to finally taste it. was it worth the wait? yes and no. Yes because I was bored enough and had nothing else planned for the rest of the night. No because....are you kidding me???? 3 F-ing hours in the cold cold night for a few tiny tacos???? I have to admit that they are pretty darn tasty and I am already craving more. I'll have to strategize a plan to get these more efficiently or wait til the hype is over. As for the different flavors, I did try them all and there's no point really. You could probably fool someone into thinking that the tofu was chicken because the bbq flavor overpowers. I really enjoyed the flavors, but perhaps I ate these in such a hurry that I didn't have time to really savor the differences. I was soooo famished 3 hrs after my run.

The little next door

I'm so in love with the little next door!














mmm...potato pancakes with the omelet.




Smoked Salmon and Pistachio pancakes.


valrhona hot chocolate...mmm.


http://www.thelittledoor.com/

Happy Lunar New Year!!

this blog must live on!! I eat ALOT but I'm too lazy to blog..

here are some homemade goodies. It's an annual tradition for my family every new years. I'll admit, I don't really eat them as much as I used to as a kid(I'm not a fan of shredded coconut) but I still love to make them. I've perfected my edge folding over the years. The fried mochi balls are REALLY good fresh! I love the warm chewy goodness! The filling is a mixture of shredded coconut, peanuts and sugar. Very simple but time consuming because we make huge batches of them. I want to continue the tradition year after year and generation after generation. Perhaps I'll alter the recipe later down the line.

Bodum milk frother

chocolate chai latte with extra foam! w/mallow and valrhona cocao powder.

A quick post before bed. I finally got myself a milk frother and it's quite awesome. It's small and wonderful. I've been meaning to get one for years.

making stuff up

I've been craving some kind of baked goods since I woke up this morning. Some how I feel I should at least put something in the oven instead of buying a ready to serve pie from the market. At first, I was thinking of getting a box of pre-mixed Betty Crocker, just add milk, pop it in the oven and call it a day. But what's so hard about taking an extra step? I have the same disease with running. I'll go out for a few miles then I'll say, "what's one more?" Before I know it, I've gone from 4 to 10 miles. What's the extra mile? I have plenty of eggs and milk at home, I just needed some flour and when you're at a place like whole foods how could you settle for pre-made? I spotted some almond meal/flour and it was over from there. I attemped to make french macarons years ago and failed badly. oh! how naive! So I decided to try again and...

FAIL!!!

what mine look like....

they turned out just a tiny better than the last time I tried.

what they are supposed to look like...

picture and recipe taken from here

They tasted like thin almond cookies which is still yummy, but I was not satisfied. So I took a simple cupcake recipe, replaced butter with avocados, added valrhona cocoa, chai tea and some spices and voila! mini chocolate chai spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and chocolate to top it off.



and madeleines too cuz the mini cupcake tins were full.

no recipes for these because I literally threw stuff together.

P.S Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Starbucks of Taiwan

85
Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center
2700 Alton Parkway, Suite # 123 Irvine, CA, 92606
Tel : (949) -553 -8585
BUSINESS HOURS :
MON - THUR 7AM - 10PM
FRI - SAT 7AM - MIDNIGHT
SUN 8AM - 10PM

The first 85 Degrees Celcius Bakery opened in Irvine in Sept. I tried the milk tea and it was just the way I like it, not too sweet. Their pastry selection is pretty good as well. It's a shame my stomach isn't bigger. There's so much I want to try, especially the taro flavored ones. oh well, next time. I'll definitely have to come again.