Tapas

If you go out to eat with me, you would know that I love variety. I need something from every category on the food pyramid. When we go to restaurants, its difficult for me to decide and we often order too much because of the variety I want. Therefore, going to a restaurant that specializes in tapas is perfect for me. There's a lot of variety and the appetizers pretty much make up your meal. In other words, I get what I want, and I get it in smaller portions.

My favorite were the empanadas. The crust was crispy and chewy, the beef inside was succulent and tender, and they even drizzled sour cream on top. Well executed, my friends.

Scallops in tomato and wine sauce.

Chorizo and potato omelet.

Food coma...

h&m suspender skirt, express white tee, chanel shoes

We had a couple of other tapas (Shrimp and squid pesto pizza, lamb skewers on top of couscous) which I failed to get a picture of because we couldn't wait to dig in. Small portions? Yes. But when you still fall into the trap of ordering too many, you have to walk it off afterwards.

Bo Bia Bia

Bo Bia is a type of fresh spring roll that my family loves to eat. You can buy it at a Vietnamese grocery store or bakery, but we like to make it at home in part because we can each eat like four to six rolls. Making Bo Bia is actually really simple. The ingredients are basic: Chinese sausage, green leaf lettuce, eggs, rice paper, basil, hoisin sauce, dried shrimp, jicama root (available at most Asian grocery stores).

Wash Your Greens!

Fry your scrambled eggs extra thin. Roll up a couple of the egg "sheets" and then cut it into slender strips.

Wash, shred and then sauté the jicama with fish sauce and dried shrimp.

Cut the Chinese sausage very thin diagonally.

Assemble! Lettuce, basil, jicama, chinese sausage, hoisin on top of your moistened rice paper.

These were pretty delicious. When you make things at home, you can put as many ingredients of your preference as you want which is especially a huge plus for me because I like my Bo Bia Bia with extra basil and jicama, light on the hoisin sauce. My only gripe? It is tedious as hell to make. Even if you are only the helper.

I Couldn't Find a Better Place.

I've been on a mission to try out all the little new establishments in Chinatown. Along with that, my taste buds have been craving a good Japanese ramen for as long as I can remember. So, Kubo's it was.

Put on some items that day that hadn't really been touched since they were bought.

Detail of the red cord belt and the specks of lint all over my top.

Finally getting a chance to wear my Theory croc pattern wooden wedges.

Looks fairly decent, right?

First mistake was that I made myself believe that I could find good ramen in Houston, when I didn't even have good ramen in New York. Secondly, the too-hip-for-Houston-Chinatown should have rang the alarm the minute I walked in.

Missing You

Austin. I hate the pressure from school , the 24/7 traffic on 35, the hobos on the streets, and the religious/political/you-name-it propaganda everywhere.

Yes, it can even be a little weird at times.

Let's keep it that way. I'll be missing you.

Comfort

Courtesy of: my Sony Cybershot

Anthropologie Outer piece, F21 Zipper Dress, Nine West heels

I wore this outfit a couple weeks ago. Thought I would post it now since I never got a chance to previously. I got both pieces when I went to Dallas in mid-August. I was actually surprised by the quality and look of the dress when I was scavenging through the North Park F21. A few hours later on that same day, I also scored the Anthropologie piece for a fraction of it's original price. What a happy shopping day that was. 

Thought I'd get a quick post in before this week starts to get hectic. Since I promised myself that I would be more committed to this blog, I thought why not update each time I got a chance to. 

Pretty typical day today. Came home and made this: 

Courtesy of: my Iphone

Tomato Cream Spinach Penne

Yum. This is definitely going to be one of my staples.