Thanksgiving in Toronto

Happy Thursday! Christmas is just couple days away! Hope everyone's getting cozy at home.

This is a recap of our recent trip to Toronto during Thansksgiving. We were prepared for the Canadian cold! For those that didn't read my post on my Korea trip, we were mentally and physically not prepared for the freezing weather there and learned the hard way. We knew it could get pretty cold in Canada so I packed a petite friendly hooded down puffer coat from London Fog (it's 40% off right now! Only a few petite sizes left! Link below) and plenty of thick cozy sweaters.

 In Toronto, their Thanksgiving is in October, however the mall was packed when I went during Thanksgiving with many stores having Black Friday deals!

Also, there will be some drool worthy pics of some amazing eats we encountered during our stay, a must try for those foodies visiting Toronto.

Outfit Details:

My favorite all time Canadian brand, Aritzia had a Black Friday sale. With the Canadian dollar conversion rate in favor of the American dollar, I got this grey cashmere wool blend coat (here, it's still on sale right now) at almost 30% off! I wear it almost everyday now. I think it's so important to invest in quality stylish coats that you will wear time and time again.

Black Striped Dress in Meadowood

A couple of weekends ago, we went to wine country and indulged our inner foodies at The Restaurant at Meadowood. We expected nothing short of culinary amazingness and were surely blown away!

It was chilly and gloomy that evening with a light drizzle, but I ended up wearing a striped midi dress that was perfect for this elegant restaurant. The length of the dress was just right and I didn't feel cold wearing it, despite the chilly weather. I also brought along my all time favorite - my black curly wool jacket from Banana Republic. It never fails me if I want to add a pop and timeless style to any outfit. I also wore it in this post to dress up my plaid shirt. I've also wore this striped skirt from Modcloth to my trip to New York when we went to Per Se.

Outfit: YSL Medium Cabas Tote (here),  Modcloth Stripe It Lucky Skirt (here), ASOS Lace up heels (similar here), Banana Republic Wool Jacket (sold out but I really like this similar Grey boucle Moto Jacket from Forever 21 here)

Sunny and Windy in Osaka

It was a bright sunny yet windy day in Osaka. After almost a week in Japan, you'd think my body's immune system would get used to the sharp winds. However, being outside for 10+ hours a day constantly, and having to wake up early, I grew physically tired. When we reached inside the Osaka Castle, I literally passed out on a bench on the 5th floor, ha. I would of slept more, but I didn't let my fatigue get in the way of my exploring!

I bought a really warm and snug fit turtle neck sweater from Abercrombie couple months back during their Black Friday sale. I've certainly outgrown this brand, it brings back memories of my college days. But over the years their style has certainly matured and couldn't pass up on an amazing sale. As if it's not an eyesore by now, I've been wearing my Aritzia camel coat on most of the days in Japan. Since I packed light, this was one of my preferred options.

Outfit: Abercrombie & Fitch Turtleneck Sweater (similar  here), Babton Camel Coat from Aritzia ( here), HUE Grey Jean Leggings ( here), Corso Como OTK boots ( here)

Tranquil Kyoto Part 2

Outfit: Zara Burgundy Jeans (here & mentioned here), Sam Edelman Petty Booties (here), Babaton Camel Coat from Aritzia (here), BEAMS Grey Hat (similar here) 

Tranquil Kyoto Part 1

I truly miss the tranquility in Kyoto. With the frequent hustle and bustle of city life, we sometimes forget the serenity and beauty of wildlife. No matter how stressed, worn out or unhappy, we should always find time to visit mother nature. Out of all the cities we visited in Japan, I must say I enjoyed Kyoto the most. It's just that peacefulness you get walking through the untouched parts of town or around the corner you can find a tree lined stairs leading to a shrine or around another corner you find a calm pond with a little bridge.

It was slightly raining and a bit cloudy but not enough to cause a fuss. Thankfully it wasn't too cold that day so I went with my classic wool peacoat that I splurged on from Aritzia. I know in a previous post I mentioned to buy a size up for layering. However, I felt since Japan wouldn't be too cold and I would mostly be wearing the coat in San Francisco, I didn't have to bundle up like a snowman! I can really enjoy the slim silhouette of the coat.

   

Outfit: Babaton Camel Coat from Aritzia (here), Uniqlo jeans (here), Ann Taylor scarf (similar here), Sam Edelman Petty booties (here)

Fuzzy Feeding Frenzy in Nara

Outfit: Aritzia by Sunday Best Mortimer Coat (Currently on sale here, but oak color sold out), HUE maroon leggings (similar here) and Corso Como OTK boots (here)

As you'll see in many upcoming posts, I've been wearing my Corso Como over the knee boots on heavy rotation during my Japan trip. It has the perfect combination of style and comfort!

A Warm Winter in Taipei

Happy belated new years! This is a long overdue post. 2015 went by so fast, I really don't remember what I did, but I guess that's what happens when you're busy and time just slips by. Most importantly, it was another year filled with lots of happiness, unforgettable moments, and loved ones being healthy. I spent the holidays traveling to Taiwan and Japan. I rung in the new years at Tokyo Tower, expecting for at least a countdown, but I'll leave that story for another post!

We first headed off to Taipei where we stayed for 4 days. On our first day there we ate 4 meals before noon! I haven't eaten so much in a long time that my stomach was getting a bit aggravated. Nonetheless just thinking about the delicious food we ate, I regret nothing and would do it again in a heartbeat.

The weather was unexpectedly hot and I didn't bring enough summer clothes. There were days that rained which got humid and then one day the weather got to 80 degrees, with the sun on full blast, it definitely wasn't winter.

Outfit: Ann Taylor sweater, H&M jacket (similar here), HUE leggings and Corso Como OTK boots (here)

A Very Joyful Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! This year me and my co-workers decided to dress up as characters from Disney Pixar's Inside Out. I was excited I got to be Joy as she brings joy to Riley and keeps her happy, I can say we're relatable to say the least. I found the perfect lime green dress at Forever21 for only $5, what a lucky steal! I then bought some sparkly blue fabric paint to draw in starbursts on the dress.

Original dress that I found for $5. The color matches Joy's dress exactly.

Burgundy Floral Maxi and Napa

I wanted to do an early birthday celebration in Napa this weekend since next weekend overlaps with Halloween. Lucky for me, the weather was perfect. Forever a Thomas Keller fan, we had brunch at Bouchon and everything was delicious!

Outfit: Hinge Floppy Hat ( here), Abercrombie Maxi Dress, Bauble Bar Pearl Bracelet (similar  here) and B.P heels (I like this  color)

Nepal - A Trip to Buddha's Homeland

After the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in April, I was saddened to see the historic monuments and temples being shattered, some even entirely gone. Not to mention the countless people that died and those who are struggling to rebuild their homes and communities. I really wanted to go back to lend a helping hand. I've grown a soft spot for this country I call the "land of peace" that calmed my soul during my visit in February. I truly feel bittersweet that I was able to admire the historic landmarks before the earthquake but disheartened by the disaster that struck them. Hang in there, keep on fighting Nepal!

Our hike on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Hmm where shall we go next?

I Love New York

Over the labor day weekend I finally made my first trip to the Big Apple! I missed New York Fashion Week by two days but it was already a packed weekend, there's so much to soak in. We were so fortunate to able to get reservations at Per Se for brunch when we first arrived. It was the most exquisite dining experience I've ever had. It was hard enough to get reservations at French Laundry in Napa so I was very excited to be able to dine at Thomas Keller's other 3 michelin star restaurant.

Cooking Adventure at Guy Savoy Vegas

Over the weekend we headed to Vegas for a short getaway and decided to do something different. We signed up for a cooking class at Guy Savoy restaurant at Caesar's Palace, cooking alongside world-renowned Executive Chef Chartron. We didn't know what to expect but right when we stepped into the kitchen, it was like we were on a set of Top Chef on Food Network, it was all very surreal! We were set to cook two dishes: Chilled Pea and Crab Soup and Lamb Rack with Rigatoni Gratin.

Chilled Pea and Crab Soup

Ingredients:

• 1lb of English Peas
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 liter of vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup of crab meat
• Olive Oil
• 1 Bunch Chives
• 1/2 Cup of Grape Seed Oil
• 2 Lemons
• Espelette Pepper to taste
• Peppercress
• White vinegar

We first blanched the peas for about 10min, depending how hard the peas are, it can go for more or less. Afterwards we shocked them in cold water to stop the cooking process. Once the peas are soft and cooled down, we proceeded in peeling the outer skin of the peas to create a smooth texture and blended it and added lemon, salt and pepper. Keep the peas cold by putting it in a bowl of ice. Follow by blending chives with grape seed oil and strain through a cheesecloth. Chef Chartron told us that just these two simple ingredients can enhance the flavor and bring richness to any dish, especially soups. Poach the eggs in boiling water with vinegar and wrap the egg whites around the egg. 

Top 10 most recent memorable deliciousness

These past two years I have eaten many, in my opinion, amazingly delicious dishes that I would never thought to experience. Thanks to the bf, I am slowly on my way to becoming a pro food critic. Just kidding! But my palate has definitely become more sophisticated. I'm revisiting my top 10 most recent memorable dishes and some that I stumbled upon that's worth mentioning.

Alexander's Steakhouse, San Francisco

Very pretty bakery shops

There are many articles on the best restaurants around the world, not to mention the famous Michelin ones. However, I don't see articles on bakeries very often which I so very love! I came across this buzzfeed article on the 25 bakeries around the world you should visit before you die. Not sure if these bakeries taste as good as they look but just by looking at the pictures my mouth is already drooling!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/candacelowry/bakeries-around-the-world-you-should-visit-before-you-die