Free Cookies

I like Springtime because it means that my college sets these fancy cookies out to impress prospective students. Today's flavors were lemon and cappuccino!

Froyo

 

Oreo balls as a topping *crying*

Straight Snacking

This is after dinner (lobster mac and cheese) and dessert (bread pudding). The only good part about having your boyfriend halfway across the world is that there's no reason to feel self conscious of ginormous food baby after a high sodium high calorie meal, because no one is about to see you naked....

Slacking

I was on a good gym flow last week, but I haven't worked out in two days and I've been eating very very unhealthy and college-y since last Friday. Case in point: a not so good pizza tonight at 10:30 PM :( I'm going skydiving in the middle of March and I'd like to be reasonably in shape for that so tomorrow it's eating healthy and gymming again...

I Ain't Even Mad

I had  2  3...

Because College

Funfetti Whoopie Pie and Krazy Kookie Dough Ice Cream

Addiction

My Precious

In a major Broccoli Cheddar Soup phase...

Linner

    

Lunchtime

 

         

Frosting Shot

Memphis Whole Foods

Memphis got a much needed bigger, better Whole Foods! Last year, Whole Foods bought out the space of Staples next door to their original space, and they have been working on the expansion for a while. On January 14, the new Whole Foods was finally revealed--my jaw hit the floor when I stepped inside. It's huge, spacious, well organized, and absolutely beautiful. The new store easily carries at least 3 times the amount of stock they originally had. The prepared foods section is ginormous and oh so delicious. Catering to the Memphis theme, there's a BBQ restaurant inside the store and the checkout signs are Memphis amps. If you're ever in Memphis, be sure to stop by. Make sure you're not in a rush, as you might end up spending 3 hours inside in total awe.

5022 Poplar Avenue

Fresh produce

My favorite section

 Whole Foods BBQ restaurant

 Chicken, duck, pork, brisket, sausage

 Brisket and smoked mozzarella pasta

 Juices and smoothies made to order

Gelato Counter

Cashier signs that are Memphis amps

New York in Londontown

Who knew there was a Balthazar in London? I've seen this restaurant used as a backdrop for numerous TV shows and movies set in New York. After a morning of walking around Covent Garden (there's also a full service Ladurée there), boyfriend and I were starving! Enter Balthazar.

 Salade Niçoise

Would you like more soup with your cheese?

New Years Resolution: be more photo friendly

Do you like cheese? Do you enjoy the smelly yet strangely arousing taste onions leave in your mouth? Do you like bread soaked in sodium filled soup? If you answered yes to any of these questions, get the French Onion Soup. Actually, just order the French Onion Soup no matter what you like. This soup should be renamed Cheese Soup, it is sinfully cheesy and bursting with flavor. I wish I got more up close and personal photos of the soup, but there's always next time! As much as I love fish, the Salade Niçoise was too fishy--I think the anchovies were to blame. 

Travel tip: After exploring Covent Garden, walk towards Regent Street and purchase overpriced tickets for Les Miserables. Make a left on Oxford Street and stop by LOLA's cupcakes inside Selfridge's. Buy seconds and thirds of said cupcake. Rub your fat belly in satisfaction.

Asian Food in Londontown

Whenever my parents go anywhere, they exclusively eat only Asian food. I remember going to Paris with them, and we skipped by hundreds of alluring patisseries and boulangeries only to eat lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Back when they lived in The Woodlands, we would make the 45 minute trek every weekend to lunch at Chinatown in Houston. Why do they do this? "Consistency" according to my dad.

Rest assured, I am nothing like my parents. Chinese food is good, but if I have a choice between Chinese cuisine and some other cuisine, the latter always wins. The next two restaurant reviews will make you think otherwise, but I guess I was just really craving Chinese food...two nights in a row. Fun fact--both Yauatcha and Hakkasan are owned by the same owner (Alan Yau). He also owns the noodle chain Wagamama but I will not blog about that restaurant because it is the Panda Express of England. Shin Ramyun noodles taste exponentially better than anything on the menu at Wagamama. 

Yauatcha

Har Gau

 Char Sui Cheung Fun

Mandarin Macadamia

Macarons: Chinese Five Spice, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Yogurt, Earl Grey, Madagascar Vanilla, Toasted Coconut

Hakkasan

Confused as to why this is a Michelin starred restaurant

Stairs leading to main dining area

Signature Menu £60 per person, min. 2 people

Dim Sum Platter

 Jasmine Tea Smoked Organic Pork Ribs

Spicy Prawns

Seasonal Chinese Vegetables (you're not fooling anyone, it's just chopped asparagus)

 Roast Chicken in Satay Sauce

 Stir-fry Black Pepper Rib Eye Beef with Merlot

Pan Fried Silver Cod

Caramelised Apple Tartin

Chocolate Marquise

Looking back on these photos, I'm still confused as to why Hakkasan is a Michelin starred restaurant. Yes, the restaurant is beautiful and "hip" but the service was subpar and the food fell short. The dishes were overly salted, and you could get the same food for 1/3 the price at a restaurant in Chinatown. Even the dim sum platter that everyone raves about wasn't that stellar. They didn't skimp on the fillings, but the overall taste was just normal. Yauatcha was more or less the same. Their Har Gau was juicy and filled with shrimp. Tasty, but rest of the meal was meh. Try the Salted Caramel macaron, but skip the rest of the flavors.

Burgers and Lobster in Londontown

I hardly take photos of food, but ever since I fiddled around with the idea of having a blog, I am well on my way to becoming the stereotypical asian-foodie-hovering-over-food-with-camera.

The next couple posts will be backlogs to when I was in London this winter (December 2013/January 2014).

First up is Honest Burgers. As well as Burger & Lobster. I can't talk about one without talking about the other. They are 10 steps away from each other on perpendicular streets in Soho. When one is completely booked, you walk to the other. However, don't be surprised if both are completely booked out for the night...

 Honest Cheeseburger with Rosemary Salt Chips 

The burger at Honest Burgers is JUICY. It's not too big either (only developed a semi food baby after this meal). Best burger I've had in Europe, and on a completely different level than Five Guys. 

Lobstahhhhhhh

Boyfriend and I went into Burger & Lobster 3 consecutive nights trying to get a table. 3rd night we were in luck...except the wait was 3 hours. We didn't end up eating until 9:30 but it was so worth it. Delicious fresh lobster. So simple but so good. I should have taken more photos, there's a big juicy piece beneath the claws that made me cry tears of deliciousness.

The menus at both restaurants are very small. In fact, Burger & Lobster literally only has three choices--lobster, lobster roll, or burger. Here's the rule, order the burger at Honest Burger and order the lobster at Burger & Lobster. Love the unpretentious and laid-back vibe at both restaurants.