Sushi Mazi

We checked out Sushi Mazi last night for my Dad's birthday. I would totally recommend going during happy hour on Tuesdays through Sundays from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, where the menu is extensive enough to try an array of fresh fish... or go for the Grasshopper sushi! Yep, a real [deep fried] grasshopper . When Michael ordered it, I was all gung-ho about it. After all, I love trying new things! When it arrived, I excitedly whipped out my camera. The waitress even asked if she could take a picture of us with her own camera, since it's what they do when someone orders it so they can post it on their wall. After the hype settled, Michael and my dad each popped one in their mouths and chomped away. When I looked down at mine, it stared back me. And my whole outlook changed - Wait a minute... am I really going to eat an insect? Eww! I've had my fair share of strange foods - I've eaten sea snails, ostrich and kangaroo but never an insect! Bleh! All of a sudden, it looked massive. There was no way I was going to be able pop that entire thing in my mouth. Why was that mound of rice so unusually large? What if its eyeball rubbed against the roof of my mouth? I contemplated on biting it in half but didn't think I could do it without my tongue touching it. I studied the angles to see if there was a way I could pop it in my mouth, so that its body would land squarely between my molars and its body could crumble before touching my tongue. Meanwhile, my dad kept encouraging me, "Just eat it! It's really crunchy and really good!" but I knew better. Growing up, he use to trick me into eating odd meats by telling me it was chicken. Then there was Michael, staring me down. I could have easily told my dad I didn't want to eat it and he wouldn't push me. But Michael!... Michael didn't have to urge me to eat it. In fact, he probably wouldn't have batted an eyelash if I decided I couldn't do it, but I knew he wouldn't let me live it down. I could already see him mockingly shake his head in shame. After all, I'm suppose to be his partner in crime; his adventure buddy; the other half of his dynamic duo! (plus, I talk a lot of shit :)... and I couldn't even eat a grasshopper??? I HAD to do it. If not for anything besides to show my man what his woman was made of. After literally eight minutes of brooding over the grasshopper, I finally compromised. I had my dad bite of its head (so I wouldn't risk it looking at me while it went in my mouth) and quickly chewed it into bits. And you know what? It was really yummy!!! I should have known, you can't go wrong with anything deep-fried!

Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes

For my Dad's birthday tomorrow, I made my first ever attempt at baking cupcakes. Shredding carrots is a b*tch!

How Charlie Rolls

Yesterday was our good friend Charlie's birthday. The night consisted of dinner and dancing at Studio 1. Charlie reassured me that dinner would be an intimate affair, with just his closest friends. I had foolishly attempted to help him pick out a venue for dinner. And each restaurant I suggested was "too small." I retorted, "How big do you want the place to be? I thought it's just suppose to be for close friends?"

But I should have known... no one rolls deeper than Charlie. When you think of "dinner with close friends," how many would you invite? Six? 10? 20? Ok, I'll even give you 30. But would you ever guess 60?! And to think I thought Michael and I were special and "close" enough to be invited to dinner! Ha. They just kept coming and coming. There were three cakes! And that was just dinner. The theme was black, red, and white. Charlie, decked out in a black suit, white shirt and red tie w/ vest had to divy up his time from table to table. Some say it was like MTV's Sweet 16. I say it was like a Chinese wedding. He had to make his rounds, toast and take shots with each of his tables! If this was for his 28th birthday, I can't even begin to imagine what his 30th birthday might be like. Or his wedding for the matter :) We better start mentally preparing for it now.

Yen's 28th

I was way too pooped after Gourmet Dinner Club to plan anything for my birthday, so this year, I kept it low-key. Lunch with Charlie at Fire on the Mountain (I love my chicken wings)!!!


And dinner with my parents (it's my Mom's birthday too) at Michael's place!

Beautiful British Columbia

People who know me, know I loooove celebrating my birthday! Similar to Michael, my birthday is also usually a month-long affair, but unlike him, I'm not shy or subtle about it - I love making a big deal out of it!

But this year, I can't seem to be bothered to think about it. Maybe it's because Gourmet Club is occupying most of my mind and with the grand finale just 2 days before my actual birthday, I'd rather focus on that!

So when Michael asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, the only thing I could think of was to take a drive... just the two of us... somewhere scenic... to get away from the hustle and bustle of being home and watch the Fall foliage change colors! They say Fall is an older person's season. I guess that would make sense, now that I am older! So I would have been content with a short drive up to the Gorge or somewhere close by.

Eleven days before my actual birthday, Michael had something else in mind. Something that he conjured up out of the blue, at 3 Am last Friday morning. And after 3 hours of research, he called me at 6:30 AM and said, "Pack your bags, grab your passport, we're going on a road trip!"

Now in case you didn't already know, Michael never wakes up that early (on his own, anyway). And he certainly never sounds that chipper at 6:30 AM! So I was like, "Yea right..." and he says, "I'm serious! I'm on my way to your house now!"

Suuuuure, I thought, I'll believe it when I see it... and fell back asleep.

But there he was, 30 minutes later, at my house! And 30 minutes after that, we were on I-5 North, with the top down (freezing I might add), driving to Canada!


Does it sound like I'm complaining? Because I'm not. I love surprises. And I love spontaneity. As some of you now know, I also love to travel. So even though I'd been to Vancouver, B.C. countless times before, I hadn't been recently, and I certainly had never been with Michael... therefore, anything we do (for the first time) together, near or far, is exciting to me.


We made it to the border in 6 hours (with a stop in Seattle for lunch) and checked in at the lovely Pan Pacific Hotel (#20 on Conde Nast's 2008 World's Best Places to Stay) in downtown Vancouver. We then took a drive through Vancouver's famous Stanley Park, where I got to see my fall foliage! It was very enchanting :) I don't think I've ever seen Vancouver like this before - no wonder it's always listed as one of the best places to live in the world!


We had dinner at Ping's Cafe - a highly reviewed, yet down-to-earth, underground, neighborhood Japanese joint with the most humble and personable service, specializing in small plates! Naturally, Michael did all the research in advance, and like most places he chooses, dinner did not disappoint. The meal was so wonderful, I'd recommend it to any foodie who visits Vancouver! I wish I took pictures, but I was too busy enjoying myself, I forgot! Besides, it's one of those places where pictures would not do it justice, you just have to go there!!!

The next day, we went to Chinatown, had some dim sum and spent the rest of our day on Granville Island at the public markets (so much fun), before the drive home. So overall, it would be considered a very short trip for such a long drive to most people, but for me, it was exhilarating... and a perfect way to celebrate my 28th :)

This dim sum restaurant used a scan-tron to place our order!!!

The chicken feet here is HUGE! Maybe that's why it's award-winning. I think they cut it from the knees instead of the ankles :)

Michael's 26th

As humble and subjective as he is, (I bet you guys didn't know that) Michael's birthdays are always month-long celebrations oftentimes taking us across the border! This year though, with our recent move back home, we decided to stay in town and keep it low-key with family (Deschutes rafting and a birthday cake blow-out at his aunt's house), ending with a surprise outing in Hood River on the actual day.

We started off with breakfast at The Country Cat... speaking of which, I need to start blogging about food again! I've been trying some awesome places in Portland that need props :)

A hike at Oneonta Gorge

Wine tasting and a picnic at Cathedral Ridge Winery...

And a top-off with a drink at Full Sail Brewery

In addition to its world-famous pinot wines and micro-breweries, Oregon (more specifically, Hood River) is arguably the wind surfing capital of the world!

GDC Week 3: Co 3 & Cau 4

(Pictures courtesy of Chi Chau)Co Ba & Cau Tu's gourmet dinner took us outside (plus 5 points there - who doesn't love dining al fresco :) for endless appetizers, Cau Tu's popular Hu Tieu dish , and fried bananas for dessert (no pictures of the main & dessert, sorry)!

After dinner, the kids roasted marshmallows in the outdoor fire pit (how neat is that) and as the night went on, entertainment included a poker, karaoke, and a surprise birthday cake for Michael, courtesy of Bakery Bar!

August 8th

I know of at least four people within a 15 mile radius that have an August 8th birthday, so it only made sense that we head out on the town. But again, why is it every time I do go out, we always end up at Barracudas???

Michael: "Hey Thang, you wanna go meet some chics?"

Thang: Hmmmm - I'm not listening, I'm not listening...

We also ran into Jill's bachelorette party that night!

And each time I go to Barracudas with them, we always end up taking home city property :)