Tag Archive | san francisco

Photo Blogging Challenge: Liquid #photoblog

The theme for October’s photo blogging challenge hosted by http://hoohaa.com/ was LIQUID. I tried to find cool, different pictures that fit the theme.

Without further ado, here are my pictures on the theme.

Photo 1

This is my friend’s fancy espresso and cappuccino machine. One Saturday we were all together and as everyone was drinking their coffee, I decided to spotlight the machine that made it all possible 🙂

Photo 2

After watching a video on Facebook, I made a face serum with the recipe that was featured in the video. The ingredient Blue Tansy gives it its vibrant color. I have been using it daily and my skin seems softer because of it. Plus, it was really easy to make.

1.5 oz rose hip oil & .5 oz jojoba oil

20 drops each essential oil Blue Tansy, Frankincense, Lavender, Sandalwood

Photo 3

I had to go on a business trip and stayed at a Embassy Suites. I love that they have complimentary drinks during their Happy Hour. I ordered a vodka cranberry so that I could get my Vitamin C.

Photo 4

My business trip destination was San Francisco. Of course, I had to get a picture of the San Francisco bridge. It is so peaceful to sit at the park at look out over the water. However, I could not stay long because it got chilly. That wind is something else!

Photo 5

At an art event that I attended, there was a potter spinning clay. It was mesmerizing to watch her mold the clay with her hands, adding drops of water at the right time. What started as a lump of clay became the vase you see in the picture. I am planning to take her class because I want to learn how to make pottery.

Check out the website to see the other bloggers’ submissions and interpretations of this theme.

To quote another blogger GeoKs

While you’re there, please consider joining us next month! Participation is like taking on a low-stress photo assignment, which you can use to refine your photography skills. Any camera will do: your phone, a pocket-sized point and shoot, the DSLR that’s been gathering dust somewhere or a film camera. For each month’s theme, you’re asked to share five photos; the amount of accompanying text is up to you.

Foodie Friday – Brandy Ho’s @brandyhos #BrandyHos #Chinese #HunanFood #SanFrancisco #Foodie

Sep21

Brandy Ho’s Hunan Food www.brandyhos.com

When we were in San Francisco, we stayed in Chinatown.

We ventured out to check out a local place for dinner. Of course, we wanted Chinese food.

We found Brandy Ho’s Hunan Food. This is a family owned and run restaurant located in San Francisco’s old red-light district. They are known for their authentic, deliciously spicy Hunanese cuisine. From their website, they explain, “Hunan cuisine is infamous for its use of the chili pepper. They are also known for using smoking techniques in their cooking as well as mixing in lots of shallots and garlic.”

When we entered the restaurant, it did not seem too crowded. After looking at the menu, we decided to try it.

I ordered the Shredded Pork With Celery $11.95 and added Jasmine Rice + $1.95 . This dish consisted of pork sauteed with celery, carrots, bamboo shoots in a spicy ginger sauce.

I also ordered Egg Rolls $6.00 (Stuffed with vegetables & tree ear mushrooms).

Hubby ordered what he orders at every Chinese restaurant: beef and broccoli.

TOW: The food was tasty but spicier than anticipated. I like spicy food, but was not prepared for the heat. Even hubby mentioned that his food had more chili pepper in it than he was used to having.

I thought the business was slow (since it was not crowded), but as we sat there, I saw a lot of pickup orders. I guess most people chose not dine in but carry out.

If you are in the area, check them out!

217 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94113

Phone 415.788.7527

Mission Mini – San Francisco

Apr29

One of the benefits of visiting a large city is that they probably have plenty of specials using Groupon Now feature. It is where you look for deals at participating stores/restaurants that are happening for a limited time period (usually only for the day).

When Hubby and I were in San Francisco, I checked Groupon Now and found a Mission Mini cupcake deal. I love deals and I love cupcakes. And when they are mini cupcakes, I think I love them even more because I can get more flavors to satisfy my sweet tooth. I quickly bought the deal and told Hubby that we were on our way to Mission part of town for cupcakes. After he finished rolling his eyes (he has no sweet tooth), he put the address in the GPS so that we could drive there.

This bakery of minis offers different flavors depending on the seasons.

Flavors of the cupcakes I ordered (shown in the picture from top left going clockwise)

Ruby Red Velvet – Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting {This was all right, but not as sweet as I would have liked.}

Banana Maple – Banana cake topped with a pure maple syrup glaze {the texture seemed more like a breakfast bread and less like a cake, but I think that is because it is a vegan cake. It was still really yummy.}
Swiss Almond Coconut – Fresh coconut cake with buttercream topped with toasted almond and shredded coconut. {I always love coconut cupcakes.}

Cinnamon Horchata – Mexican rice milk cake with cream cheese frosting topped with freshly ground cinnamon. {This had a mix of flavors that I was not familiar with -sweet cinnamon with a hint of spice-, but tasty nonetheless. }

Pumpkin Spice – Pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting {Quite possibly, my favorite pick of all the cupcakes. The texture and flavor were perfect.}
Lemon – Lemon cake topped with cream cheese frosting {This was good lemony flavor, but a little drier than I would have liked for lemon cake.}

If are in San Francisco, especially the Mission area, do yourself a favor and go to Mission Minis.
Mission Minis 3168 22nd Street San Francisco, CA 94110
http://missionminis.com/index.html
(415) 817-1540

Mission Minis, your deal on Groupon worked! I might live on the other side of the country, but you have a customer anytime I am in the San Fran area!

Si si me gusta!! Antojitos Aminta

Aug15

Antojitos Aminta is a restaurant in a food mall at the corner of Mission Str and 22nd Ave in San Francisco
I wanted some arepas de queso (cheese arepas). Arepas are usually served in Central American restaurants. Antojitos Aminta serves Salvadorian food.

I like it all especially arepas with the vinegary, pickled cabbage slaw.
If you, as a reader, do not know what an arepa is- it is similar to a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese (I don’t know what type, but probably a Centroamerican version of mozzarella).

I recommend going here if you are in the Mission area of San Francisco, but not if you are in a hurry. My parking meter was running out time and la señora making my food was taking her sweet time shuffling around the kitchen. Any other time I would not have minded. But since I was in a bit of time crunch, I started to get antsy.
***Looking at the picture for Antojitos Aminta is making my eyes a little misty for arepas SIGHHHHH

Yuet Lee – Chinatown San Francisco CA

Dec2

This is one of the many Chinese restaurants inChinatown. We chose this restaurant because (1) it was midnight- theyclose at 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights (2) we were hungry and (3)it was walking distance from our hotel.

First of all, no egg rolls served at this establishment. So don’t ask! It surprised me because I thought that eggrolls were a Chinese food staple. I thought the waiter did not understand what I was talking about. He did understand and, shaking his head emphatically, was telling me "No egg roll here".

I ordered spareribs with tender greens rice plate. I wanted BBQ ribs but did not realize that was not what I ordered. In any case it was a great value for $6.25 and there was enough food for two people. Dave and I shared this.

The ribs were cooked well and have a brown gravy covering it all. The greens were bok choy (I think). I cannot explain the flavors because
there is nothing to compare to it. It was delicious though. It was not spicy so I added Siracha chili sauce.

The wait staff were nice enough. The guy that took our order seemed to be no nonsense, taking his job more seriously than I thought necessary. He made sure our drink glasses were filled at all times and he was very attentive, so that was fine by me.

As we walked by the counter when we left, I saw all the comments about the fame of Yuet Lee as it was rated one of the city’s best seafood restaurants. Had I known that, I would have probably order seafood instead of ribs. Go figure. At least I know for next time.

Yuet Lee
1300 Stockton Str San Francisco, CA 94133