Whether you work at a school or attend college, staying awake and motivated to get through the last few weeks of the school-year can be a challenge. Teachers have mounds of papers to grades, and students have to prepare for multiple finals, and unfortunately, we can’t increase the number of hours in a day to get everything done; however, we can always count on caffeine to give us a hand. There are many Asian coffee and boba shops located in Southern California; however, I love going to 7 Leaves Cafe because 1) there are multiple locations and 2) the beverages are consistently good. I recently had the opportunity to try their new black flavors (Assam Milk Tea and Oolong Milk Tea) at their Costa Mesa location and can attest to the tasty and potent beverages.
If you’re looking for a lighter floral taste the Assam Milk Tea would be a good contender. The Oolong on the other-hand is more robust and creamy. Either way, both drinks are ready for patrons to try! Come check them out!
7 Leaves Cafe, 2800 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Birthdays are one of the best days of the year and with Monterey Park recently celebrating it’s 101st, you know a landmark date like that warrants an enormous celebration. To no surprise, Monterey Park dedicated four “Play Days” to capture the magnitude of this milestone. The royal court was invited to join the Play Day Parade on Day 3 and we couldn’t have been more excited.
The royal court and our Chairman being interviewed by a local tv station
Bright and early on Saturday morning the royal court along with local government officials, volunteers, and other parade participants met at the Monterey Park City Hall for a briefing and instructions on the day ahead. Journalists and local media stations also interviewed us to comment on the festivities.
Royal court with Monterey Park Council Members
After snacking on healthy breakfast treats provided by the Women’s Club and taking multiple photo shoots we loaded up on the shuttle bus and headed towards the beginning point of the parade.
Posing with the Kiwanis Club of Monterey Park
Many different organizations including several community service organizations, middle and high school bands, as well as after-school programs and local businesses were preparing for the landmark occasion.
Rolling down Main Street in an American Classic – a 1958 Ford
There were several vintage vehicles parked along the road and we were lucky to ride on a classic white 1958 Ford decorated with mini American flags. Guests were standing and sitting on both sides of the street taking selfies and videos. My favorite part of the parade seeing the face of small children light up when I waved at them. Some of them blushed while others waved with great zeal. It was adorable.
Walking around the Carnival at Barnes Memorial Park
After we finished our route, we all headed towards Barnes Memorial Park to pose for photos and enjoy carnival games and rides. It was a bright and sunny day making it perfect for everyone to enjoy this beautiful and diverse city.
What do you look forward to seeing most on a parade? High School Bands? Cheerleaders? Floats?
I know it’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here!!!! My popular annual Birthday Freebie post is finally complete! This year I was able to redeem over 20 birthday freebies in the month of April, and while this may seem overwhelming many freebies allow the patron to redeem the promotion either the day of, week of, or month of your birthday!
I’ve arranged them alphabetically for your convenience with a hyperlink to the retailer’s site for more information to sign up for their loyalty program. Personally, I created a junk email account for all these retailers to send me their promotions and then I check that email account during my birth month to print out the coupons, and collect all my goodies. Check out to see if your favorite retailer is here!
Baskin Robbins: (Free scoop of ice cream). I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! They’re really picky about printing out the coupons, so be sure to do that!
Black Angus (Free Steak Dinner with purchase of entree): Join the Prime Club and get a free steak dinner with a purchase of an entree of equal or greater value. Yee-ha! Good for the month of your birthday.
Boston Market (Free side): Join their VIP club and get a free dessert or an order of a regular side. I chose a side of creamed spinach. Yum! No purchase necessary. Expires a week after your birthday.
Brueggars Bagels (Free bagel!): Start your day with a free toasted bagel with cream cheese. You will get the email the week before your birthday and it will expire on your birthday.
Buca De Beppo (cake and meal discount): This year Buca De Beppo gave a $15 off with a minimum purchase of $30 and if you make a reservation with 4 or more they will also give you a cake for everyone to enjoy! Be sure to make your reservation through opentable to earn rewards points for your next restaurant gift certificate!
Corner Bakery (Free dessert), El Pollo Loco (Free meal), Del Taco (Free milk shake), Boston Market (Free side), Bruegger’s Bagels (Free bagel)
Charming Charlie ($5 gift card): Join the Charm club and earn a $5 gift card to purchase anything in the store! You can get jewelry, accessories, shoes etc
Churned Creamery (Free Scoop): Sign up on the “Five Stars” App on your smartphone and add Churned Creamery to your list. I believe the freebie is good for a week and expires on your birthday.
Corner Bakery: (Free Baked Good): Sign up for their eCafe list to redeem a free pastry treat. I chose a giant M&M cookie to take home. Expires a week after your birthday.
Cost Plus World Market(20% one item): Sign up to be a member and you’ll get a 20% off coupon
DSW($5 gift card): You can get kicks, heels, or flip flops, but I always get a new pair of cool socks.
Del Taco (Free milkshake): Your choice of strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate! No purchase necessary. Expires a week after your birthday.
Denny’s: I worked till 9pm on my actual birthday, and most places are closed by the time I left the office. Luckily I just flashed my drivers license for a complimentary grand slam (I opted for a “choose your own”). Who else loves breakfast for dinner?
Godiva ($10 gift card), Mimi’s Cafe (Muffin Sundae), Buca De Bepo (Free cake and meal discount), Baskin Robbins (Free Ice Cream), Black Angus (B1G1 Free Steak)
El Pollo Loco (Free meal!): Join the E-Club and enjoy your choice of “Original Chicken Tostada” or “2 piece fire-grilled chicken meal” within the month of your birthday.
Godiva (chocolate covered strawberries): Complimentary $10 gift certificate at the Godiva shop. I decide to purchase a cone of dark chocolate covered strawberries ($12.50) and paid the difference. The freshly dipped treat was a lux indulgence that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Kiehls (Free Lip Balm): Be a Loyalty member and get a free lip balm ($7 value) with a purchase of any item.
Mimi’s Cafe (muffin sundae): If you love the contrast of cold ice cream topped with fudge, strawberries and whip cream over a warm muffin, this offer is for you. Expires one week after your birthday and no purchase necessary.
Red Robin (Free meal!): I think this is the best deal meal deal. A free gourmet beef or chicken burger plus unlimited fries for free, and on my visit they also gave me a free birthday ice cream as well. Just show them your Red Robin’s Rewards Number. This is always one of my favorite places to visit during my birth month.
Sephora (Free Makeup): Love makeup? Be a beauty insider and you can get a deluxe sample of the latest products! No purchase necessary. This year I choose the Caldalie skincare items and so far it’s been very luxurious. Oh la la!
Kiehls (Free Lip Balm w/ purhcase), Sephora (Free makeup!), Charming Charlie ($5 gift card), and DSW ($5 gift card)
Souplantation: Join Club Veg and you will receive coupon for a free lunch with drink or a to-go combo #2 which includes a salad plate, two small soup containers, and a bakery bag
Starbucks (Free drink – any size!): This year they changed their promotion. You will get an email the day before your birthday and need to redeem it either on that day or on your birthday. Must have a Starbucks account.
Togos (Free Sandwich): Sign up to be part of the Togo Tribe on your phone and get a free birthday sandwich!
Veggie Grill ($5 gift card): This year Veggie Grill gave me a complimentary $5 gift card towards any menu item. I decided on a Grillin’ Chickin’ (fake meat) meal and enjoyed my healthy lunch. It’s a great healthy fast food option for people on the go. Offer good a week before and after your birthday.
Wienerschnitzel (Free Corn Dog): You get a coupon a week before your birthday to redeem an item and this time for me it was a free corn dog. Expires on your birthday.
Whats your favorite birthday freebie to redeem? Are there freebies that I missed? Comment below!
One of the best things about serving as Miss Taiwanese World is the opportunity to connect with people of all backgrounds and learning about their culture and customs. The royal court was invited to the 35th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Monterey Park earlier this month to enjoy this yearly event.
Live entertainment at Barnes Park Amphitheater in Monterey Park
The day was a brisk and chilly one; however, considering the weather conditions and high chance of rain the festival attracted a diverse group of Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian enthusiasts. Performers sang in Spanish and some audience members got up and danced allow to the melodious beats. It was really beautiful to see how regardless of language, music and the arts can really bring us all together.
The Royal Court and Cinco De Mayo Chairman backstage
As goodwill ambassadors the royal court presented Friendship flags to the event Chairman Jesus Ortiz and Monterey Park Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian to continue relationships and support the City of Monterey Park. Photos were taken and we enjoyed the good company and energetic entertainment for the remainder of the afternoon. In addition to performances they also raffled off some cool prizes which included giftcards to haircuts, restaurants, and other local businesses.
Anaheim is home to the “Happiest Place on Earth” and a centralized location to a mecca of franchises and hole-in-walls, so naturally this city would host an impressive list of restaurants for their 22nd Annual Taste of Anaheim. If you’re like me, getting the opportunity to sample the cities best restaurants in one spot is a foodie’s dream come true!
(Left to Right): Rainforest Cafe (mud pudding), Zov’s (sliders), Nothing Bundt Cake (lemon cake), Smoqued (BBQ bites), and (yummy dessert)
It was so fitting that the Taste of Anaheim was held on “National Eat What You Want Day” (it’s seriously a day!) and given the variety of choices at this annual event, I definitely gave cheat day a run for it’s money. Located at the Gardenwalk in Anaheim, patrons could enjoy a wide array of vendors from A-Z spread across the upper and lower level. A few of the vendors included but not limited to: Applebees, Roys, Ruth Chris and Zovs. Disney also had a large presence at the event with three restaurants: Catal, Naples, and Tortilla Jo’s.
(Left to Right): Food Blog Friends, Rosco’s (Fried Chicken and Waffles), La Brea Bakery (Panzanella Salad),
In years past the venue seemed crammed with long lines, but this year it was much more spacious and the lines all kept moving making it easy to try all the booths offerings. I also loved the belly bar tables so guests could enjoy multiple sampling at a time and their vibrant live entertainment made the experience a complete one.
Highlights
1. Roscoe’s definitely stole the show with their chicken and waffles as each guest was given a full meal (fried chicken, mac and cheese, waffles and syrup).
2. Freckled Strawberry Lemonade from TGIF. Super refreshing and one of the few vendors that offered complimentary beverages at their booth.
3. True Grits served Pork Belly Bao and was one booth that I frequented often. I loved the contrast of the raspberry jam with the savory melt in your mouth pork belly. Yum!
4. Spin the Wheel prizes from Dave and Busters was a fun and entertaining booth. My friend won a clear drawstring bag!
5. The sweet and savory smoked meat from Smoqued was finger-licking good!
6. Lamb tacos from Urbana was solid
7. Sample of lemon cake from Nothing Bundt Cake was fluffy and moist
(Left to Right): Catal (Pita and Hummus). True Grits (Pork Belly Bao), Urbana (Lamb Tacos), Taste of Anaheim Logo
This was my 2nd year attending this annual event and I look forward to visiting again for many years to come!
May 7th marks the beginning of Taiwanese Heritage Week and the Taipei Economic and Culture Office (TECO) in Santa Ana celebrated their 11th annual kick-off celebration at it’s headquarters on Sunday.
Taiwanese community group photo
In attendance were government officials, local community leaders, Taiwanese students, as well as prominent newspapers who covered the event. While the heritage week is a weeklong occasion, two weeks worth of events have been scheduled to showcase the Taiwanese culture. One event that I’m greatly looking forward to attending as a goodwill ambassador is the “Celebration Ceremony” held at my alma mater, Chapman University, on May 16th.
Volunteers serving traditional Taiwanese food for guests to enjoy
Following introductions and the formal certificates of recognition ceremony, volunteers and leaders enjoyed delicious traditional Taiwanese food prepared by generous volunteers who worked tirelessly to highlight some of Taiwan’s best dishes. I’m a firm believer that food brings people together and that you can learn so much about a culture through the cuisine. One of my favorite memories is actually going to the Taiwan night markets and snacking on cart food, which this feast featured extensively.
Have you been to Taiwan? What’s your favorite memory?
Growing up my brother and I always loved baking cookies with my mom, and I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes the cookie batter doesn’t always go on the tray in the oven. *halo over head* I’d often lick the left-over batter mix on the cake mixer as one of my guilty pleasures. Thankfully, I hadn’t been cursed with contaminated pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli. Yet, there’s a new store in town where you can enjoy cookie batter without wondering if you’re at risk for food poisoning.
Decor and Menu
I attended the Grand Opening for California Cookie Dough (18854 Brookhurst St) in Fountain Valley to try out what could be the newest dessert craze to get the latest scoop. Upon entering the hole-in-a-wall, I was greeted by the friendly manager and allowed to sample their various creations. I was informed that after many attempts at perfecting the flavors before they’ve decided on ten unique combinations.
Double scoop of “Grey Matter” and “Coconut Delight”
After careful consideration I decided on their popular “Grey Matter” which has a potent oreo and chocolate chip cookie flavor as well as the “Coconut Delight”. It is quite rich and decadent treat, but great for sharing. It’s fairly dense, so one scoop would certainly suffice. They also have milk on tap that comes in the vintage bottles as well as Nitro cold brew coffee for patrons who need an extra boost of energy.
The store hours are great as they’re open late (10pm on weekdays, and 11pm on Saturday; Closed on Tuesdays), so I imagine that it’ll be a popular destination in the sleepy town.
The Newport Beach Film Festival is one of Orange County’s crown jewels. Held each year at the end of April throughout Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, this annual event showcases both local and international talent as they veil new projects through their visual story-telling. This year the festival is celebrating their 19th Anniversary and with tickets starting at $15 it’s an affordable price-point for all to enjoy.
Newport Beach Film Festival Program Books
300+ movies participated this year so it was really difficult to decide which film to watch; however based on times and dates I decided to check out a documentary on identical twins who live identical lives. Little did I know that the short I picked granted me an afternoon of five shorts documentaries.
Upon checking into the theater, volunteers scanned my confirmation and handed me my ticket. I then proceeded to the theater and was given a sheet of all the film titles and asked to vote on the best film for an “audience choice award”. Two of the shorts were produced by Chapman University film students (Yay- alma mater!) which focused on the lives of the Mawali people in Africa, one was focused on the impact of plastic straws, another showcased how fishing the traditional way versus commercial fishing impacts fish flavor, and of course the film I initially choose fed my curiosity on the lives of identical twins.
Q/A with filmmakers
After all documentaries were shown, representatives from the films featured went to the front to answer a brief Q&A regarding the film and potential future projects. I was very impressed by the quality of films and felt more informed about these various topics covered. I even made a pledge to stop using plastic straws and look forward to attending this event next year.
Lately I’ve been trying to incorporate more vegetables into my lifestyle and with poke places poppin’ up left and right in Orange County it’s fairly easy to eat a wide selection of healthy ingredients in one bowl. Poki Poki HB is one the newest edition in Huntington Beach with a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion at their Grand Opening I decided to try them out.
Free poke bowl coupon!
At the store entrance guests were given the opportunity to “spin the wheel” and I landed on a “Free Poki Bowl” – Woohoo! With that coupon the manager said that I could redeem TWO free poki bowls since there was a BOGO day. My mom and I were extremely happy since we both got a free meal.
Inside of the store
Like many fast food poki places, guests pick a base, protein scoop, sauce, and toppings before checkout. I decided on a half-and-half base with spring mix and brown rice, salmon, octopus, tuna, and all toppings with the exception of jalapeños and avocados ($1 extra). Their sauce selection is straight-forward as patrons choose from not spicy, mild, and spicy. I ordered the not spicy and I think it’s a combination of ponzu and perhaps soy sauce.
BOGO Poke bowls!
While this meal was complimentary, I honestly did really enjoyed it. The plate was colorful and the portions were extremely generous. I also loved the diverse fish selection: octopus, yellowtail, salmon, ahi tuna, spicy tuna, shrimp, albacore, scallop and for the non-fish patrons tofu, so there’s something for everyone. The assortment of toppings was also wide as I got to include both western (ie. corn, green onions) and eastern (ie. masago eggs, seaweed) additions. They also have lemon infused self-serve water station which is a nice touch and makes my H2O beverage even more refreshing and hydrating.
The one area that I’d recommend to the owners is perhaps rethink about the vessel in which they prepare these entrees. We eat with our eyes and although the ingredients look and taste wonderful, the bowl cheapens the experience.
What kind of protein would you include in your poki bowl?
There are many Asian coffee and boba shops located in Southern California; however, I love going to 7 Leaves Cafe because 1) there are multiple locations and 2) the beverages are consistently good. I recently had the opportunity to try their new black flavors (Assam Milk Tea and Oolong Milk Tea) at their Costa Mesa location and can attest to the tasty and potent beverages.
If you’re looking for a lighter floral taste the Assam Milk Tea would be a good contender. The Oolong on the other-hand is more robust and creamy. Either way, both drinks are ready for patrons to try! Come check them out!
Insider Irene 
