Macha Love

While in Plano, I love going to Mitsuwa, the Japanese grocery store.  In their food court is Matcha Love.

I've usually get their canned drinks, but when I come to the cafe, I'm going to try them out.  

This is Black Sesame Shake with Boba.  First of all, it taste exactly like the Chinese dessert where they have dumplings with black sesame in the filling.  It is expected that the filling will spill and it's delicious.  Another one without the dumpling is black sesame all crushed in soup form.  That's what this taste reminded me of.  I will say, with the boba, it's a bit filling and I think I over did it.  On the other hand, it does taste great and it's not something I get regularly.  

So, besides matcha, they also love black sesame and taro too.  Give them a try!

Matcha Love

inside Mitsuwa Grocery

100 Legacy Dr

Plano, TX 75023

First Chinese BBQ

Went back to my old stomping ground and Chinatown of Dallas.

The First Chinese BBQ is as authentic as you can get to Cantonese food back in the 90s.  Surprisingly, after 30 plus years, they are still keeping true.

Chinese Mustard Green - stir fried.

But this is the whole reason to be here: half plate of BBQ pork and half plate of marinated chicken.  I love both, so having a half-and-half is perfect for me.  The meat is not dried, not too soy sauce-y. 

They have since renovated and added more staff.  Food is still good.  That said, with the new strip center of having new food, there are definitely competition.  But for some old fashion taste, give them a shot.

First Chinese BBQ

111 S. Greenville Ave

Richardson, TX 75081

http://www.firstchinesebbq.com/

Commissary - Dallas

So, while staying in downtown Dallas, the front desk staff all recommended Commissary.

It's early before it started to warm up, so went to check it out.

On the way are mix of new and old architecture, that does make it look interesting from the inside downtown perspective.

Cute place, Commissary, even the hotel staff all come here for coffee and breakfast and even lunch.

You can really sit down and enjoy the city pass you by.

But first thing first!

Coffee!  They made a lovely latte here.  Doesn't taste shabby at all.

Then comes the monstrosity that's called my breakfast.

Actually, it's a breakfast burrito, you can really tell it's fully loaded.  The burrito by itself is heavy.  It has scramble eggs, cheese, bacon, pico de gallo, chicken sausage, and salsa.  I hacked about half of it and cried uncle.  First I was making a mess as everything fell apart.  Then, the salsa just dripped everywhere.  I was a hot mess.  That is not to say that the food doesn't taste good.  It tasted good.  Just too much and the method of delivery was not cooperating.  So, to no fault of the burrito, it's all me.  

I will say, every single one of the staff are super friendly and patient as I stood there to study the menu.  Super accommodating, and I definitely came back the next day.  Highly recommend.

Commissary

1217 Main Street

Dallas, TX 75202

214-827-2927

http://www.commissarydallas.com

Nola Brasserie

Was at a conference in downtown Dallas.  It has become such a happening place, people everywhere.

I ended up at Nola Brasserie, I was hoping to have some gumbo anyway.  A very nice comfort food.

Truffle fries?  Twist my arm.  I wouldn't say no to crispy fries drizzled with truffle oil and parmesan cheese.  Yes please!

Here's my Gumbo, which has dark roux with chicken, andouille sausage, and a scoop of rice.  That was just enough rice to be honest.  The 2 little balls were crawfish fritters, but sadly they were tasteless, much like a badly done hush puppies, so I just forgo that so I can save the calories for the fries.

They are actually a subsidiary of Marigny in New Orleans proper, which is very much on the maps for NOLA.

It is a very perspective being so close to the Reunion Tower and not as a resident but a semi-tourist.  Downtown has added more hip bars and eateries and it's not just catering to the working folks anymore, they are also catering to bar-goers, which makes parking I the area a definite challenge.

Nola Brasserie

1201 Main Street

Dallas, TX 75202

496-972-1820

http://www.nolabrasserie.com

Sushi Wabi

Went to Sushi Wabi for a quick bite.

Lucky for me, it is still Happy Hour.  Happy Hour is Monday - Friday 3-7pm, weekend is 3-6pm.

All appetizer on Happy Hour is $3, like this Agedashi Tofu, my standard.

Selected Sushi Roll on Happy Hour is $6.50, like this Sapporo Roll, which is a tempura fried roll with kani (imitation crab), salmon, tuna, and spicy sauce.  I asked them skip the cream cheese, not much of a fan to begin with.

The whole thing before drink, tax and tip was less than $10.  So, happy hour is worth while here.

Sushi Wabi

3953 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 77027

713-623-8818

http://www.sushiwabihouston.com/

Bao Shi Yi

Came across this cute places thanks to some foodie friends.

The concept sounded pretty unique and if they paired with good food, that is a great idea.

They have matching dishes to their decor.

This said, if human don't eat or drink, then freshness will not be known.  Very true indeed.

So, we got the soy milk, which is warm and not sweetened.

Chinese Donut, which don't get it wrong, it's not sweet at all.  It best go with the soy milk.  A lot of times, I just dip one into the other and enjoy it that way.

This kind of Xiao Long Bao was different, they were not the thin skin/wrapper that I'm used to.  This is like Char Siu Bao kinda bun, not thin noodle wrap.  The problem with this kind of bun as wrapper is that any soup that is in there got absorbed into the bun, which I think it's part of XLB experience, the soup and the meat.  Don't get me wrong, the meat is just fine, just not sure I like this style of bao.

Here's their pancake with egg.  So, it's a thin noodle-like pancake, and they fried an egg in the mix, which solidify that skin.  The rest of the consistency is like a crepe thinness.  Then you pick veggie, meat and sauce.

I got sausage, fried wonton, and onion.  It's definitely unique and different.  And in terms of sauce, your choices are spicy or not spicy.  Seeing that I'm not that much of a fan for a spicy dish, I forgo it, but I'm thinking maybe a little bit is worth having.

Anyway the place has a constant turnaround.  As folks comes in, there's folks going.  So, even though the place is small and you worry there won't be a table, they turn around pretty quickly. 

I do have to note that I've seen alot of Braised Pork Noodle in various tables, so I'm guessing that's also something they're good at, and that'll be my next dish when I go.  Parking might be a bit tight, but doable.  Just pay attention where you park.

Bao Shi Yi

9175 Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77036

832-925-7913

http://www.baoshiyibunhouse.com/

Mala Sichuan - Finn Hall

This is couple weeks back, before Mala closed the Finn Hall location.

Who knew that was the last time I would be able to enjoy Mala in walking distance.  

No worries, Finn Hall is still there, and Mala still have 2 other locations.

This is Barley Lemon water - like lemonade but less zesty or sweet.

Got their Ma Po Tofu, which is my all time comfort food, despite the fact that my body does not like rice.  It also came with a side of grilled eggplants.  The brown sauce on the eggplant is not the same as the Ma Po Tofu sauce.  Either way, tons of sauce to go with the rice, and that's my weakness.

Along with the lunch portion, it also came with a soup.  That's actually alot of food.  I had split up the soup and the rice so I didn't stuff myself silly.  That said, the wonton has decent amount of meat to go with it.  So needless to say, it's also very filling.

Mala Sichuan

1201 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77006

832-767-0911

Or Chinatown location

9348 Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77036

Disney Food and Wine Festival - Day 2

Here's a recap of the Food & Wine Festival at Disney Day 2

More walking and more eating...

Picking up where I left off the day before.  Here's Belgium.

This is the Beer - Braised Beef over a bed of smoked gouda mashed potato.  It's pretty dang good.  Would've like to have a bigger portion.

Finally, the ALPS!  The long awaited...

... the Raclette.  I'm not going to lie, I was a tad disappointed that the Raclette portion was not enough.  The cheese wasn't melted enough before scraping onto the potato, but you know, it's a rare thing so I treasure it.

Then I got this Milk Capped Lychee Tea at a Tea Stand in front of China.  It's kinda unique, it's lychee iced tea, foamy milk on top (sorta like a latte) and then some Himalayan Salt.  So, the tea is sweet but the foam is salty.  That said, I'm not sure it's worth $7.95.  The Bubble Tea was cheaper.  And frankly, I would have gotten the tea, which is much better without the foam.

Next stop on the World Tour, is Africa.

This is the much talked about Kenyan Coffee BBQ Beef Tenderloin with sweet potato and corn mealie and slaw.  The Slaw was fine, the sweet potato was fine, but the much talked about tenderloin was chewy and cannot taste the coffee marinate.  It was actually pretty disappointing for a dish.

Walking along.  Wait, what?!  There's a Chocolate Studio?  How can I not stop in?!

This is the liquid nitro chocolate-almond truffle with whiskey caramel.

They basically threw a bunch of words that I like into one dish and I'm totally ok with that.  What they did is this mousse-like texture, they scoop it into a bucket of nitrogen and do a 'flash' cook.  By the time they fish it out it's a solid and they smash it with a mini-hammer, and sprinkled in these salty crumbs.  It's scrumptious.  Highly recommend.

Next to it is the Cheese Studio, WHA?!

Here, I had the Black Pepper Boursin Soufflé.  It is a nice little soufflé in a mini muffin style and they add some fig marmalade.  The sweet and the saltiness from the cheese makes a perfect match.  It's actually a good pairing.

Oui Oui, here we are in France!

This is the Boeuf Braise a la Bordelaise, Pomme Dauphine.  So, that is braised beef in cabernet with red onion and puffed potato.  I can eat those puffed potato all day with that sauce.  It was so good, but I had to focus!  Only taste, not full dish.

Last thing, out at the Refreshment Outpost, I got a Nigerian Meat Pie.  It is really an empanadas with curried minced meat inside.  We happen to get there when they have a fresh batch out of the oven, so it was hot, hot, hot!

Of course, this is Disney.  You can get any merch regarding this event from head to toe.  Then, again. I kept reloading my gift card, which is unique to this event and it's a good keepsake for me.

Now, for something different....

Here are the very controversial Galactic Bottles.  

They were much talked about because you can only get it here at Disney Star Wars Galaxy Edge.  Nowhere else in the park.  Lots of people think they're neat and bring them home as a souvenir.  EXCEPT, TSA thinks its shaped like a detonator and therefore caused an uproar.  If you check, most TSA in Orlando have seen these enough times to let them thru.  However, don't forget that 3oz liquid rule.  Which means, you cannot get a full bottle home.  Enjoy the drink, rinse it out, pack it, and take it home for a good wash and enjoy it then.

This trip was fun.  Ate lots, saw lots, walked lots.  I highly recommend you do a trip with people who have the same gusto as you.  Don't forget to pace yourself, both in the money and the food department.  At the end of the day, you are paying theme park prices, so yes, things are inflated.  If you veer off to do an official meal, double check and see if they do mobile order.  One of the Disney Apps can help you skip the line.

Let's talk tickets: their prices is depended on their predicted attendance.  That said, it's a little also like booking airfare.  The earlier and more days you book ahead, the cheaper it is.  You can add park hopper, which allows you to move from park to park, which I did one day in 3 parks.  OR! They have a deal that lets you in after noon for a discount price, but they only have 2 days or more on sale, not less. 

Another reason you want to get your tickets at least 60 days earlier is so that you can book your fast pass.  Some folks this is a sport, it's all strategic and good planning.  For instance, you can only do 3 fast passes in one park.  So, if you have a park hopper, how do you plan and so on.  Either way, it's Disney, you'll have fun!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival (thru Nov 23, 2019):

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/

Coke Bottles at Galaxy Edge:

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coca-cola-and-disney-designed-these-galactic-bottles-for-star-wars-galaxy-s-edge