85° C Bakery

Whenever I'm in the mood for a quick treat, my one stop shop is 85° C Bakery in Irvine. 

This bakery is very popular and located in the busy Diamond Jamboree Plaza. There's usually a wait to enter the bakery, but it's worth it! 

When you are finally able to enter the bakery, the smells just hit you. The welcoming aroma of the warm breads waft through the air as you make your way to the rows and rows of delicious baked goods.

First thing you have to do before you get your hands on their treats is to pick up a tray at the beginning of the line and a plastic prong.  Then you can make your way through the aisle and pick up as many of their breads as you want! 

The breads usually have a little description of what is inside. The baked goods come in sweet and savory flavors. A lot of the savory breads have cheese and herbs on them whereas the sweet breads have a lot of nuts and glazes. My favorite treat of theirs is the Berrytale. It's a like a giant sweet muffin with a surprise blueberry cream cheese filling inside. I always make sure I pick one up whenever I am there.  

Berrytale

Once you have gathered up your goods, you then head over to the cash register to ring up your breads. The breads are fairly priced and they come in good sized portions. They can range anywhere from $1-$5 but most are in the $1-$3 range. 

Not only does 85° C have a to go bakery line, but you can also order drinks and cakes there as well. So next time you're in Irvine, give this place a try! I can almost assure you you'll be coming back for more.

Hello, 2013.

I'm a little late on the topic, but lately I've been thinking a lot about New Year's resolutions. 

I used to be forced to write my New Year's resolutions on pretty pieces of paper to be hung around the classroom. I thought it was just a fun craft project. I never really cared for, or thought about them. 

Ever since, I never made serious ones in which I really worked at to achieve. Every year it's been eat healthier and exercise more, and every year I fail at that (as evident by this blog). But this year is different. I thought I would actually try this "new year, new me" thing. 

I didn't write my resolutions on sparkly paper and I kind of make them up as I go. But I've chosen a few to really stick to. 

My first one sounds a lot more obvious than when actually in practice, but it is to keep close the people worth keeping. Last year, I found myself scrambling around to make time for    everyone. I pushed the people I actually wanted to be around away to make time for others. But time is the most valuable thing you can give a person, so why waste it on someone who isn't really worth it? This year, I hope to reserve the valuable time for those who can make a positive difference in my life. 

My next one is just to become a better person, not only make a positive difference in my life, but in others. I find that everything as a selfish motive behind it. There is no selfless deed. But if I can do deeds in which the only selfish motive behind it is to make myself feel better because I'm helping other people, then that's really all I can ask for. I'll gladly own up to that selfishness. 

Even though it's only ten days into the new year, I think I've done quite a good job at keeping these resolutions. It's amazing to see how many people's days I can make better just by my simple acts. It makes me feel so much more significant because I'm actually contributing something back. When you know you're the reason a person is smiling, it's enough to warm you through this winter.

New Year's resolutions are a powerful method to kick start a great new year. But we shouldn't reserve bettering ourselves to just the beginning of the year, we should be making resolutions all year round.

California Shabu Shabu

This past week, I tried for the very first time, shabu shabu. Shabu shabu is a Japanese hot pot dish cooked with beef. I went to California Shabu Sabu in Fountain Valley to experiment with this dish.

I was new to the entire experience, so I went with a seasoned shabu shabu expert. The restaurant was small and it featured a round counter seating with the waitresses serving you in the middle. I wouldn't suggest it for large parties because you cannot face each other while eating. 

Once seated, there is a pot of boiling water in front of you. You can season the water however  you want with chili powder, soy sauce, and chili sauce. Each person also receives a plate of vegetables to cook in the broth, a bowl of rice, and two bowls of dipping sauces. One is a peanut sauce, and the other is a soy sauce. You can also season the sauces with powder and radish. 

Next, you order your plate of beef to cook in the broth and eat with the rice and veggies. You can select from four to twelve pieces of varying qualities of beef. The beef comes in choice, prime, and kobe, which are all thinly sliced. Upon receiving your plate of beef, you cook the pieces one by one until their are fully cooked. Then you can dip the beef in the sauces and eat it with some vegetables and rice.

I was skeptical at first because I had heard it was mostly vegetables and sounded too healthy for me. But I was pleasantly surprised. The sauces flavored the broth very well and the beef was tender and worked well with the soy dipping sauce. I would not recommend this dish for everyone however. It is quite healthy with low fat and sodium. Also, it is quite pricey. You're expected to pay at least $10 for a couple of slices of beef with mostly vegetables and broth for lunch. However, it was a new experience and I would be delighted to eat shabu shabu again!

A Good Old Fashioned Cup

There really is nothing better than your favorite mug filled with steamy hot cocoa and miniature marshmallows during the winter season. 

There's something about the rich chocolately smell that just sends you right back to every wonderful winter memory you've ever had. The little ones enjoy smushing the marshmallows with their tongue and even the dieters can find it in themselves to enjoy hot cocoa's irresistible pull. 

Recently I've had the pleasure of participating in a hot chocolate fundraiser. We passed out the comforting beverage to passer-bys in a neighborhood known for its Christmas decorations. I got to experience first hand what this hot drink could do. Children screamed out in glee when we asked if they wanted marshmallows and wives dragged their husbands in to enjoy a cup. This is one drink that has the power to bring people together, and it doesn't even have to be cold out. 

Starbucks Hot Cocoa Kit

Hints of sweetness shine through the cocoa flavor as the warmth creeps along your tongue. This is one drink you just can't pass up this holiday season. The perfect gift for the holidays is a hot chocolate kit, complete with hot cocoa powder, marshmallows, and, two mugs (for sharing of course). Make a kit yourself or buy a pre-made one! Hot cocoa powder ranges from all price ranges but even the classic, affordable Swiss Miss packets bring joy and cozyness. But Ghirardelli and Starbucks offer hot chocolate powders as well for a more refined cocoa flavor. Whatever the price range, whatever the occasion, you just can't go wrong with a good old fashioned cup of hot chocolate. 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause.

 
It's the holiday season again, really the most wonderful time of the year. KOST 103.5 is playing their month long of Christmas songs again and there's a slight chill in the air. Everywhere you go you are bound to run into a beautiful Christmas tree draped with all sorts of twinkling tinsel and ornaments. 

This time of  year brings the urge to be with family, stuff your face with goodies, and cuddle with that special someone. This time of year is also the time for giving. Every year, Macy's sponsors the "Yes, Virginia" Believe Campaign, explained here in this article.

Macy's sets up red mailboxes and letter stations in their stores for about a month. Customers can sit down at the station and write a letter to Santa Clause. For every stamped letter that is dropped into their red mailboxes, Macy's will donate a dollar to the Make-a-Wish organiztion.

Make-a-Wish is an organization that grants the wishes of children diagnosed with terminal illnesses. They have sent children all over the world and had them meet their favorite celebrities. 

Virginia's Original Letter to The Sun

The "Believe" campaign is unique because it is based on a popular story of a little girl named Virginia who wrote to The Sun asking whether or not Santa Clause was real. The response that appeared in an editorial was "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause". Since then, her letter has left a legacy and has inspired many holiday stories and short films.

So this year, head on down to Macy's and write your Christmas wish list to Santa Clause. You can help grant a child's wish this holiday season. I personally asked for a Christmas miracle this year. Because yes, there is a Santa Clause.

Tous Les Jours

  
Tous Les Jours, which means "everyday" in French, is a bakery and cafe located on Garden Grove Blvd in the Korean district. 

I have been there previously to buy baked goods  because sometimes they have great three pastries for a dollar deals, but today was my first time buying a cake from them. 

We usually go to Paris Baguette, another bakery located in the Korean district, to buy our cakes, but we decided to give Tous Les Jours a try today.

The inside of the bakery is meant to look like a quaint Parisian bakery and their workers dress in ridiculously adorable green and white uniforms with a mushroom like hat to match. 

The attendant behind the counter was very friendly and helpful. We browsed around their pre-made cakes. They had options of mocha, fresh creme, white chocolate, and more. However, the selection was not that large but it might be because I came in around 6pm.

We eventually chose the white chocolate cake. It costed us $22 which wasn't too bad for its size. Other bakeries usually charge more for a similar cake. But now to how it tasted!

It was a delicious cake. The white chocolate shavings added an extra "oomph" to it. It wasn't terribly sweet which is a must for me in cakes. I was a little disappointed at the creme inside the cake though. It tasted too buttery for me as I like my cremes lighter in consistency and taste. However the cake was moist and fluffy, not crumbly and dense. Overall, a satisfying cake.

I would recommend Tous Les Jours if you're looking for an elegant cake, not those tacky ones that have frosting piled on, and are on a budget. Most of these specialty bakeries charge at least $25 for cakes that are even smaller than this one. My personal favorite is Paris Baguette if you're willing to pay the price.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There's nothing like a cup of coffee in the morning. Or afternoon. Or evening. Or really, anytime. And now all coffee lovers can rejoice. Starbucks has started their infamous holiday line of drinks again!

Yes, Starbucks have unveiled their red cups for the 2012 holiday season! And red cups mean delicious holiday inspired flavors. Victoria Ptashnick wrote the article  Starbucks’ holiday drinks in red cups are back — just two days after Halloween for TheStar. In the article, Prashnick writes of the anticipation surrounding Starbucks new line, especially the Peppermint Mocha drink. She also furthers discusses the calorie content of each of the drinks.

I am one of those people who highly anticipated the return of the red cups, and in particular, the Peppermint Mocha. The Peppermint Mocha is a frothy blend of light minty sweetness with the darker tones of Mocha and coffee. And it's topped with chocolate curls. You can't go wrong with chocolate curls. I realize the Starbucks is not the healthiest option for coffee, but this is a once a year occasion!

The 2012 line of drinks is:
Caramel Brulee Latte
Peppermint Mocha
Gingerbread Latte
Eggnog Latte
Toffee Nut Latte
Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha
Eggnog Latte

I haven't tried all of the drinks yet, but I definitely will attempt to this holiday season. The perfect opportunity to fatten up on these drinks is coming up too. From November 15-18, Starbucks if have a buy one get one free promotional offer on their holiday line. But you have to buy it from 2-5 pm. Seize this wonderful time! I live for these days. You'll know where I'll be from the 15th to the 18th.