Kabob

Just had a great dinner with kabob (chicken and beef) @ friend's house. They made the best kabob I've tried in USA.

This is a very simple vegen dish: flat bread with cheese and herb.

Actually I don't know how they put the meat to the sticks, look artfully haha

Farmer market

There is a farmer market next to UCI, open every Saturday morning. If you can wake up early, or even around 10 am, you should go there buy fruits and vegetables, especially Asian vegetables. No wax, no frozen, go fresh!

Balboa island

Today, the wave was so high.

It brought some kinds of shells to the beach. I've never seen those animals before.

Need sth for Friday afternoon

Vietnamese rice cakes and noodle

Banh beo chen (banh beo Hue) - steam rice cake

This is a very popular dish in Hue, central city of Vietnam. The cake is made by steamed rice powder, garnish with shrimp, meat, green onion, and fried shallot. This restaurant makes very terrific cake, love it. around $2,5 for 5 small bowls. If you miss Vietnam or just want to eat Vietnamese foods, go there at 13861 Brookhurst str, garden grove -  Thuan kieu noodle and grill

This one is awesome too!
Bun rieu cua - noodles with fried tofu and crab meat

Coffee night

It's not time for coffee (10:00 pm) but we are so tired, need sth to wake up. This time it is Kona coffe from Trader Joe's. They are hand picked Kona whole beans, and the flavor is awesome. You should buy it soon, cause I think, Trader Joe's products are seasonal. It's pricy  but worth the price.

Tea time with Rooibos tea

Rooibos tea is nice with no caffeine! The one I bought from Lupicia still smells good after months.

Guang dong lunch

It's smart to go to Chinese restaurant at lunch, they have better price for food. Today we have lobster with noodles, only $6.99 and fresh fish, $28.99. They cook with Guang dong style (or Hong kong style), very tasty!

If you love dim sum, I suggest you go there on the weekends, they have more variety of dimsum than week days. But for seafood, weekdays are cheaper. Just some miles from school: China garden seafood, 14825 Jeffrey RD, Irvine.

Autumn noon

The fall is already here, yellow leaves are everywhere around you, cheers! A new semester starts @ UCI!

Roasted chicken thighs - Vietnamese style

At the end of summer, it's not too hot to have roast chicken for lunch. Let's try this dish today: roast chicken thighs - Vietnamese style

1. Ingredients: (serve 3: I have guess today)

- Chicken thighs: 3

- Lemon grass: 2

- Garlic: 4 gloves

- Ginger: 1 piece

- Turmeric: 1 tea spoon

- Black pepper, salt, fish sauce

- Honey: 1 spoon or sugar: 1 tea spoon

2. Cooking

- Cut 1 lemon grass into 1 inch size 

- Chop the other lemon grass with ginger and garlic

- Mix all seasons  well, then mix this mixture with cut lemon grass and chicken.

- Marinate for at least 1 hour, if you don't have time, 15 mins is enough

- Preheat the oven to 375 degree, here I use roast function with  Breville Stainless Steel Smart Oven .

- Put chicken to the included baking rack (with the oven), cover it with foil, roast for 40 mins

- remove the foil, roast each side at this temperature for extra 10 mins

Taiwanese 85C Bakery

Have you ever tried anything from this Taiwanese store: 85C Baker Cafe? You should try it definitely! The cakes and breads are so good with acceptable price. All the beverages have same flavor as they are in Taiwan, your homesick will be much better.

Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center
2700 Alton Pkwy
Ste 123
Irvine, CA 92606

 Half moon cake -  coconut flavor

 Green tea red been smoothie