Category: Travel

Miss Taiwanese World joins the Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Society of USA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration 

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Celebrating 20 years is an incredible milestone for any organization, and the Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Society celebrated by displaying a curated collection of both traditional and modernized artwork at the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Culture Office (TECO) in El Monte.

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Miss Taiwanese and Royal Court celebrating!

This intimate event began with a formal ceremony recognizing key members and ended with photos and cake cutting. It was a simple event, but one where I felt highlighted the artwork – the real stars of the show. Congratulations and thank you for allowing me and the royal court (Mr. and Teen titleholder) join in on the festivity.

How would you celebrate a milestone? Small with family and friends or a huge bash? Comment below!

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

Sample 30+ of Anaheim’s Best Restaurants at the 22nd Annual Taste of Anaheim

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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!

Whats your favorite restaurant in Anaheim?

XOXO,

Rockstar

California Roadtrip: Visit a Danish Village without leaving the US!

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When I think California, I think of surfers and beaches. However, California’s vibrant immigrant community has formed some areas with distinctly European flair – one of them being Solvang, a quaint town that look as if it came straight out of a Disney movie.

Yummy tubs of butter cookies 

An incredibly well-maintained and safe city in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is just two hours outside of Los Angeles – though you would feel as if you’ve been transported across the world. Known  for their baked goods and pastries, it’s a favorite pitstop for many travelers.  Olsen’s Danish Village bakery  is one of the town’s most popular bakery shops and with four generations of family recipes people come from near and far to indulge in these award winning treats. Be sure to take home a bucket of butter cookies on your visit!

Solvang – a charming city

The city is also home to the Hans Christian Andersen Musuem, the author of “The Little Mermaid”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “Thumbelina”, and countless other fairytales. The musuem itself is modest and the displays are old fashioned; however, this FREE attraction is a nice place to reminisce your childhood, The musuem is located at the second floor of The Book Loft and next to the Solvang Coffee Shop. So after browsing through the classics you may be inspired to enjoy a cup of coffee with your nose in a book.

Fresh Aebleskivers

There are countless speciality shops and local restaurants in the area, but one of the best things to do eat are the fresh Aebleskivers at the Solvang Restaurant. These crispy pancake battered balls are doused with a gloop of raspberry jam and lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. You can enjoy them at the restaurant, or order them at the outside take-out counter. There’s almost always a line, so you can be sure to grab a fresh trio of this treat. Yum!

What’s your favorite childhood fairytale?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

 

California Roadtrip: Wine and Dine in Paso Robles (The Napa Valley of Southern California)

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Napa Valley is a well known popular travel destination for wine connoisseurs in the Bay Area. With acres of grapes and hundreds of vineyards to tour, it’s a wine-o’s dream vacation.  Yet, those in the know flock to another California favorite with equally picturesque rolling hills and less tourist traction than the former. Paso Robles is a Southern California hidden gem with spectacular food and wine.

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Panoramic view of Calcareous Vineyards

With over 200 wineries in the area it can be quite intimidating on deciding where to go. However, after extensive research we decided on Calcareous Vineyards in part because yelp offered a complimentary wine tasting upon check-in, and there were many positive reviews on the amazing view.  I think we scored he jackpot on that account. 🙂
When we arrived we were given four samples (one white and three reds) and took home the 2014 Calcareous Chardonnay and the 2013 Devil’s Canyon Syrah. The Chardonnay is sweet with fruity notes whereas the later is more gritty and bitter with a heavier tobacco accent.

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Golden Oak Grill entrees

Good wine and food makes a winning combination and the Golden Oak Grill is a great establishment that serves fine dinning cuisine at an affordable price-point. We visited during lunch and ordered the Goat Cheese Salmon Salad ($13) and BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich ($12) with sweet potato upgrade. You can tell that the chef really takes pride in the food he prepares as the presentation of each dish is meticulously executed. And yes I can confirm with you that the food tastes just as good as it looks. I will definitely return here in a heartbeat and can’t wait to try other items on the menu.

 

Do you prefer Red or White wine?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

California Roadtrip: How to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium for FREE plus cheap eats!  

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My friend and I took our rental and headed towards Monterey Bay – home of the world famous aquarium. I remember visiting the aquarium back as a child, but with adult admission circling the $50 range, I had a hard time convincing myself to make it a pitstop on this road trip. But I was able to kill two birds with one stone, by booking a local air bnb room with complimentary tickets! Sweet!

Just an FYI, many of the local air bnb lodging will provide this incentive to attract visiting guests.

After my friend and I checked into our airbnb space to pick up tickets we headed towards Cannery Row. There’s certainly a great deal of things to see, hear and touch and as an educator I especially loved learning about all the different sea creatures.

The aquarium is divided by themes spread across two floors. We were recommended to start on the west wing and work our way towards the east as it’s home to the new exhibit – Tentacles (yes!!! octopuses! :D).

Penguins, sea otters, sharks, sea turtles, you name it and they probably have an exhibit dedicated to it. My favorite was the jellyfish exhibits. They’re just so graceful and calming. Combined with the serene music that they play in the background you just can’t help but feel at peace.

We finished the aquarium in about three hours and spent the rest of our late afternoon and early evening walking around Cannery Row and enjoyed the sunset.

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Now a post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t give a recommendation on a hidden gem and this one is definitely a must especially if you love carbs!

When we punched in directions and headed towards Palermo Bakery we were surprised by the industrial exterior. You would never think to go here as it looks like a warehouse. There was no cash register, menu, na-da! It’s straight up bread factory. Regardless, we went in bright and early in the morning to see their offering. They sold everything from sourdough, to dinner rolls to entire loafs. My friend and I each bought a loaf for $2.40 a piece since our next destination is considered the SoCal Napa Valley. Stay tuned for my next post to find out where!

What’s a must see local attractions in Monterey Bay?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

California Roadtrip: Wake up San Francisco! 

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Visiting the Golden State would be incomplete without a photo with the Golden Gate Bridge. However, capturing this iconic panoramic view from this perspective is one that out of town visitors seldom uncover.

I’ll be honest, this shot is a bit of hike (literally) and you can’t just drive here, but it’s definitely worth it – and that’s coming from someone who hates exercising! My friend and I left our rental at a local bart station and took Lyft to the beginning of the Lands End Trail. Be sure to stretch and wear comfortable shoes! Your thighs and calves will thank me later!

The trail is relatively easy for a novice outdoor girl like myself and the spectacular view makes it a noteworthy trip. The hike is about 1.5 miles and many moderately fit people can complete it within an hour. You could go here to relax and enjoy the scenery or watch the sun rise or set. Either way it’s a great place add on your travel agenda! To learn more about this trail click here.

What’s your must see attraction in SF?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

California Roadtrip: Brunch and other hidden gems in Oakland! 

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I’m starting up my travel series again! Who’s excited?! 😀 This time I focused on some of the smaller cities in the Golden State (with some larger cities sprinkled in) and went from top to bottom. First stop Oakland…

Now when you think of Northern California you probably don’t think of Oakland as your first travel destination; however, if you’re looking for something off the beaten path and some really awesome locale fare you should bookmark the Lake Merritt area (aka “The Lake”). Grand Lake Kitchen is a popular brunch joint and for good reason. The wait time was a good hour and a half! Luckily the area has some great attractions to help pass the time AND they text you when your table is ready. Sweet!

Right across the street is Lake Merritt and the Lakeside Park, a great place to just take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The landscape is breathtaking and my photos don’t do it justice.  Just imagine yourself walking your dog or going for a leisure jog.

Across the Lake there’s a small area called the Cleveland Cascade – the ideal place to complete all your staircase workouts. I saw a number of individuals in fitness gear running up and down the staircase. I wasn’t quite prepared for a workout, but my friend and I did one round before heading back to the restaurant.

After perusing through the menu, I ordered their signature Savory French Toast ($14) as it came highly recommended. Served with Rye bread, two poached eggs, fresh arugula, and assorted mushrooms this unique take on a brunch classic is a home-run. The bread was a perfect base for the runny egg yolk to soak into and the greens complimented the dish perfectly. Perfect way to start my morning and I highly recommend getting this dish!

I read some reviews on their orgasmic Pork Belly Hash dish, but heard that they no longer served it. *gasps* So my friend and I decided to try the next best thing – Pork and Polenta with an overeasy egg ($16). It was certainly a tasty dish with complex flavors but I can’t wait to try some of their other offerings!

Overall this area is a great family friendly one and I can’t wait to come back! What are some other Oakland destination must see and/or eat?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Kee Wah’s newest bakery branch in Arcadia

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Gong hei fat choy!  And for my non-Cantonese speaking readers – Happy New Year (again!!). The Lunar New Year is just around the corner (January 28th) and what better way to celebrate than by stuffing our face with yummy Cantonese food. Mmmm…

Now it’s a tradition in the Chinese culture to gift rice pudding to family and friends during the Lunar New Year, and while making it from scratch is a very laborious process, Kee Wah Bakery has them packaged and ready to go!

They offer five different flavors including the Original, Maltitol (a sugar substitute), Coconut Juice, Ginger Juice, and Red Date and the gift boxes range in size and assortment. The single gift box set starts at $15.

But if you’re like me you probably will be hungry just by waiting in line and lucky for you the baked goods at Kee Wah Bakery is authentic and delicious. They offer three different styles of egg tart – the Portuguese Egg Tart being my favorite, as well as savory and sweet breads. Yum!           I love eating fresh bread and coming to this bakery gives me access to a ton of yummy treats. Salty? Sweet? Crispy? Soft? There’s a ton of variety to eat carbs and it’s very true to authentic Cantonese style baked good. nom nom….

Whats your favorite carb?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

Miss Taiwanese World reflects on 2016 and the year to come

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2016 – you sure were a year of surprises and at the beginning it was a rough start. I had challenges in all aspects of my life and felt trapped. I went to bed wishing that the emotional turmoil of life would go away and woke up knowing that I would get a new helping of it. I hated feeling burnt out and so unhappy, and I didn’t understand why any of my efforts didn’t change the situation.  Yet, this was a year where I felt that God told me to just be still and let go.

I couldn’t really comprehend the idea of not having a plan and knowing my next steps, but I unwillingly trusted and went for the ride of my life – mind you I was TERRIFIED as I have always been a planner, but the next couple of months really showed me things that I could have never expected.

Never did I expect to represent my cultural heritage as Miss Taiwanese World Queen and attend some amazing events including a Dumpling Making Night with Taiwan Celebrity host Theresa Lin and the Annual Double Ten Celebration on behalf of the organization. (I’m sorry I’m still backed up with some of these events so stay tuned on those entries)

 

I also didn’t expect a new day job and also going back to school to take three graduate school classes at night. The teacher/student role combo wasn’t easy and there were periods of time where I wanted to throw in the towel because I was just exhausted, but I successfully completed the classes with straight A’s!

Visiting two new states (Washington and Oregon – absolutely gorgeous) and more than a dozen new cities on my West Coast Roadtrip was also another 2016 accomplishment. I did a second budget roadtrip a week ago and am excited to share with you all some new hidden gems in my upcoming entries!

Locally I explored my own town and attended multiple TV Tapings including: The Voice, America’s Got Talent, Family Feud Celebrity Edition (Team Lance Bass vs. Team Kellie Pickler), Jimmy Kimmel Live (Special Guest Elton John & Usher), and the last season of American Idol – seriously one of the coolest FREE things you can do in SoCal. I also got to be on TV during on the day of Kobe’s last game in LA. Can you find me in the picture below?

This year LA welcomed a new attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood and while initially I was hesitant about getting an annual pass without anyone to go with I can say now that I’ve visited both the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas for the first time (and many times after that).

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Suffice to say that this was a year of adventure and it’s not where we start, but how we finish. I’d like to say that my story is still unfolding and that I’m continuing to write it 🙂

I wish you all a wonderful and prosperous New Year and hope you all make beautiful new memories for 2017.

Take chances and make the most of every moment.

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

 

Frugal Finds, West Coast Roadtrip: Seattle,WA (Part 2)

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A trip to Seattle isn’t complete without a visit to the iconic Space Needle. I also heard some amazing things about the Chihuly Garden and Glass Musuem, and with some extensive research my friend and I decided to go with the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass Musuem package deal (versus buying tickets from each attraction). It’s definitely worth it in my mind.

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Think about it… A single day ticket at both the Chihuly Garden and Glass Musuem and Space Needle is $22, so if you bought both it’d be $44. However, if you purchased the package deal it starts at $36 (general adult) – so you save $8. If memory serves me correctly I believe you had to pick times that you wanted to visit and the different time slots were different prices. The beginning of the day and the end of the day were the cheapest with the mid-day charging the premium. We chose to go right at the beginning of the day for three reasons

  1. A cheaper rate
  2. A greater opportunity to take nice photos without crowds of people and
  3. Good lighting for photos

Alternatively you could also go with the CityPass which allows tourists to visit 5 attractions for $74.

But first we went to Lola, a local breakfast spot with a national reputation. Featured on Food Network, Chef and TV Host Giada De Laurentiis raved about the fresh and made to donuts on the “Best Thing I Ever Ate – Fried Food Edition.” I generally like to start my day with something savory so I went for one of their most popular dishes the Eggs benedict and smashed potatoes.

The entree was quite substantial and easily could feed two people. The Bavarian ham was on the saltier side, but the poached eggs were perfect and I popped it open to allow my crispy potatoes soak in the ooey gooey magic. I was extremely full even though I only ate one portion. It’s a $20 dish and they add a 20% gratuity on all items.

With bellies full we took a short stroll and headed towards the Space Needle. We gave our ticket printout to the greeter and bypassed a huge portion of the line (mainly school groups taking a class field trip). I think that’s another advantage of buying a ticket early on.

We were then directed to the elevator and flew up 605 floors until we hit the observation deck. The sight was beautiful and it’s definitely a destination that all tourists should visit at least once. After a few shots and selfies we walked around the deck and headed down.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass Musuem is absolutely a must see destination. The glass blown masterpieces are breath-taking and while I think I captured the essence of their beauty I think everyone NEEDS to see this in person. Photos and words can’t really express how glorious and exquisite these art pieces are.

Within the museum each room is dark and reflects a certain theme. I think the under-the-sea rooms were my favorite as I felt as if I was swimming with the little mermaid, but each exhibit had a charm that really could appeal to anyone.

img_6458After you finish the museum interior you are invited to the gardens where they infuse flowers with glass sculptures. It’s so majestic and I’m convinced that when I win the power-ball I’d want this Dale Chiluly (the glassworks artist) to design my backyard. But until then this museum definitively tops my list on one of the best places to visit in Seattle.

Do you have a favorite place to visit in Seattle? Leave a comment.

XOXO,

Rockstar