Castle Dreaming

May 23, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

During the middle of our Spain trip, we got to sneak away to a romantic Languedoc France. We took the train and as we got closer to Languedoc, the scenery become more tranquil and stunningly serene. The high speed train was so smooth and we whizzed by horses, vineyards and a large lake. It's funny - I think the freshest baguette sandwich I ever had was at a train station during a transfer in France. I had no idea Hank planned a Michelin star lunch so I accidentally spoiled my appetite a bit with 2 of those sandwiches (no regrets). We stayed in a fortified town called Carcassone in the south of France. We stayed at Hotel de la Cite which is the most charming hotel straight out of a medieval fairytale. You step outside the hotel and the basilica is right there. Because the bulk of the people there were tourists, the town felt a bit like Disney World's Epcot except everything is actually authentic. Nonetheless, we admired the church and headed out to edge where we got hit by the wind and soaked in the views. There was something so fresh and exciting about being here with my husband, I was excited to see him in his element during this leg of the trip and spontaneously go out to explore with my "adventure buddy". He was especially excited for our wine tasting tour that took us out to a couple local vineyards and another picturesque town, Minerve. I wish we had taken our time to explore it since it is known as one of the most beautiful towns in France and some of the views reminded me of the Grand Canyon. Because we were with a group and it was unfortunately a bit rushed. During our tour it was my first time trying organic and live wines (In case you are wondering, I am not pregnant yet so it was safe to try the live bottle - which I liked and learned I like "tannin"). Ugh, without a doubt the best part of France was the price of their wine. It's ludicrous how expensive a glass is here in NY compared to their 2.5 euro. A side note: Feeling a bit adventurous I ordered "black pudding" and apple salad - turns out it means "blood sausage"! Being Korean we have something similar so it wasn't bad, but it was definitely not what I anticipated. I think my husband knew what I was ordering and gave me no warning, haha.

Packing wise - cute outfits are fun, but hey I'm on vacation and nothing feels better than stealing my husband's cozy cardigan come the moment to put an outfit on. I noticed I wore the buttons unaligned when I was uploading these photos - a sure sign of a relaxing time~. It's always a good idea to pack a set of comfortable clothes for back up because at the end of the day, you want to feel good and enjoy yourself! Lastly, you're in luck~ I found the embroidered blouse I'm wearing at a market from our last trip to Korea- I typed in "bohemian top" to find something similar since I figured some of you might ask about it- and I found the exact one! (Korean markets often sell wholesale to brands). It happens to fall under both "cute outfit" and "comfortable outfit" so it's a winner! Well, that's the last of our week and a half in Europe - next stop, Paris!

Screen Shot 2016-05-18 at 11.33.59 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-06-24 at 6.15.47 PM.png

frame3026993655_q1_1-0._QL90_UX336_-1.jpg

illes3011115763_q1_1-0._QL90_UX336_-1.jpg

Postcards from Barcelona, Part 3

May 19, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

Oh man, how do you put into words the work of Gaudi. It's no secret that he is a huge part of what makes Barcelona a special place. Sagrada Familia (angels chiming *ahhhhhh*) is TRULY a gem. My jaw dropped to see the stained glass in this enormous space is ombre! The sun light piercing through was just magical and breath taking to say the least. I was lucky to have come back 16 years later and it caught me off guard to see new parts of the building I did not remember from 2000 (a 10th grade Spanish class trip). Turns out it was only half built back then. I remember climbing the spiral stairs up a tower, terrified that there's no guard rail, holding onto the wall as I courageously made it to the top. Now they have an elevator! It's pretty cool to see people still working on it both from the outside and inside (by the museum) on a structure started over a hundred years ago. Can't wait to come back with Chase when he's old enough to appreciate it and perhaps it will finally be complete by then! Each of Gaudi's creations are pretty spectacular, Park Guell is a sunny day in tangible form and FYI Palau Guell is free on the first Sunday of each month. If you like visiting historic and architectural spaces, the MUHBA was more interesting than I honestly expected it to be - you can walk around Roman ruins discovered under street level with all sorts of shops and homes in a rather small vicinity.

Tamara from Theglamandglitter was in Barcelona just before me and recommended Chok, a chocolate and donut specialty shop. Don't expect a sit down cafe, just a couple seats for a quick bite and the most fabulous concoctions! I am so glad she recommended this spot because we went back anytime we were near one. The cronuts are beautifully garnished, we got a white chocolate one with edible flowers and a an amazing tarty crunchy topping. Contrary to how they look, they're not too sweet so you can manage to eat an entire donut. It's really hard to choose a flavor - their combos are really sophisticated and interesting! I also got a package of dark chocolate covered potato chips for the road which is perfect for a salty tooth like me.

I absolutely have loved this Self Portrait dress for ages! The powder blue was perfect for Park Guell but a lot of shoes were dressing the dress too up. I wanted to wear it casually and the weather was non committal, so I paired it with boots. Try wearing your favorite dresses this spring whenever or wherever you want by accessorizing appropriately!

Screen Shot 2016-05-18 at 3.02.57 PM.png

Post cards from Barcelona, Part 2

May 16, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

Ciutadela Park, wearing Shopbop — Ciutadela Park, wearing Shopbop

Welcome back for Part 2 of our trip! I mashed together some of my "naturey" photos and ended up with a parks list. I have come to realize I have a soft spot for parks when I travel. When you're running around seeing all the sights, it's especially relaxing to sit and listen to some water trickling while soaking in the surrounding culture. My favorite place was Ciutadela Park, as we went back twice by choice. There's something about this park that brought out a sense of home away from home. It reminded me of a condensed Central Park in NY, except this park has palm trees galore!

We also went back to the beach for a second time. The first time, we stumbled upon it on our way to the cable car that takes you up to Montjuic. We saw people selling blankets and decided to come back for a picnic if we had time. On our last day we happened to walk by the beach again. Before making it to the sand, we got distracted by some people making large bubbles for the crowd. It was then I noticed groups of people buzzing around on electric bikes and scooters of all kinds. Right there in the middle of the board walk we spotted a rental place and had a spontaneous ride! I definitely recommend going along the entire boardwalk this way. It was so fun that had we discovered it sooner I may have convinced my husband to do all day rentals everyday~

El Nacional is a gem! There are multiple restaurants in one large open space with THE most fabulous interior. Our Airbnb was just around the block and I would have missed it had I not just seen it on my friend's instagram (@mjtraynor). I think we tried most of the sections and I can't really recommend one over the other. The tapas section was a unique experience because they come around announcing available plates in their hand (kind of like dim sum carts). Definitely check out this space if you're in the neighborhood!

Post cards from Barcelona, Part 1

May 13, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

Mini Croissant, Hot Dog by Patricia Chang

Hotel El Palace, Jacket by Patricia Chang

El Nacional, black squid ink paella tapas

On our first day we did a tour of Palau de la Música Catalana soon after we landed. We went during the day to see the light flood in through the incredible stained glass ceiling in the most beautiful theater you'll ever step foot in! Though not by Gaudi, it was a taste of the unique architecture we would see in Barcelona. I was especially happy to see mosaics and colorful tiles all throughout the city.

The food was just as vibrant as the surroundings. Mercat de la Boqueria is a must - there are many repeating stands, one of them being fresh juices displayed on ice with pretty and enticing colors. I tried as many flavors as I could, one of my favorites being 'Mint Coconut' - yum!! A restaurant you must try is Tapas 24 - sadly we never made it to lunch or dinner. So on one of our last days we tried to go early to beat the crowds and ended up trying their breakfast menu. It was one of the most memorable meals I've ever had! The fried calamari baguette - please order this and thank me later.

Packing wise, the weather is pretty much spot on to New York so I brought layers for early May. We had a range of chilly to very warm days during the first week. One piece I packed and loved were these denim shorts from Shopbop. They are meant to be casual so they are baggy and super soft, making them the most comfortable denim in the world. I always like playing with looking a bit dressed up, but having that element of bringing it back to casual and easy.

This was Part 1 so stay tuned for more recommendations!

Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 11.34.56 AM.png

Screen Shot 2016-05-14 at 9.03.33 AM.png

Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 1.07.04 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-07-21 at 12.00.04 PM.png

Chase is Two!

April 11, 2016 by Patricia Chang in diy, Family, Food

My son turns two years old today! Over the two years I savored each day, each milestone, every giggle and every precious memory whole heartedly. I hate having to put into words how the experience has been because a few words won't do. I love (is there a stronger word?) - I LOVE watching him grow and develop into his own person, SO full of personality and expressions. It's insanely fun to interact with him on new levels versus simply taking care of him. Now that he is two - he is more self aware, opinionated, independent, and hilarious! It is definitely worth celebrating!

In Korean culture it's tradition to throw a huge celebration for a child's first birthday. (Chase is half Korean - I am). So this year, I was so ready to have a intimate party with just my husband and I's immediate families! Here's how we planned our party for 11 adults and 3 children.

Macarons and Cake: Macaron Parlour

I just discovered them a couple weeks ago! (I can't believe there was a character macaron shop in NYC under my radar~) It was only a week before his party that I realized it would make the perfect cake! Not only were they kind enough to make a custom one for Chase, but everyone fainted at how delicious the luscious chocolate cake and buttery salted caramel icing tasted!

There is a second flower cake pictured - it was also my sister-in-law's birthday a few days ago! I bought a simple vanilla cake and topped it with fresh tulips! (Tip: Take the macaron apart and stick the front half on the cake using the filling as the glue.)

Decorations: Oh Shiny Paper Co

They did such a fantastic job last year I had to go back for their tassels and balloons! They walked me through the DIY photo confetti process. I printed 1" circles of Chase's face, cut them out and rolled them into the clear balloons. I did the same with tissue paper to make the confetti. For the tassels- you can get creative with how to place them according to your space!

Food:

I was surfing google images and landed on Honestly Yum's blog post about her ricotta crostini recipes. I'm normally intimidated by so much variation, but once I took a closer look it was more simple than it appeared (especially with my husband as my sous chef). I scrapped the initial plan of "chips and guac" appetizer and replaced it with this beautiful finger snack. It's really delicious so plan to make more than anticipated! We had to make more during the party until we ran out of all our spare crostinis. Now that I've tried it I'll be making it on a regular basis for sure (even just for myself). My personal favorite is the lemon zest, olive oil, and sea salt topping.

For the main, we cooked and ordered Italian - meatballs, pastas, salad, vegetables - family style!

You can usually count on a guest to bring dessert, and sure enough my sister brought some scrumptious pastries. Chase's care taker, Isabel, is Brazilian and made him a batch of the most delicious homemade caramel treats! Chase is so lucky to be surrounded by the sweetest people!

Gifts:

As he turns Two, Chase is really soaking in everything. So we asked our families for educational gifts and Chase (& Hank & I) LOVE the presents! He received a bit of everything he loves - trains, trucks, buses, animals and even the ABCs. The play-doh is great for his creativity and learning colors. (Tips: for messier projects, create a "one at a time" rule. We have a large roll of paper we use to cover our table for art time.)

Let me know your party tips so I can take notes for next year! :)

How to #WatermelonPizza

March 25, 2016 by Patricia Chang in diy, Food

Just when I thought beautifully organized toppings on a smoothie bowl was the epitome of photogenic healthy foods, I stumble upon this. Have you noticed the strange trend on Instagram (and I'm assuming on Pinterest & the like) lately? #WatermelonPizza? Did your face cringe or did it light up? Haha, I remember being intrigued yet a little confused about how I felt about it.

Recently I saw it on @natehunt's beautiful Instagram page, and it was his take with a greek yogurt spread that finally sold me that this could actually be a tasty dish. I do like greek yogurt, but I'm not craaazy about it. That got me thinking about what flavors are successful with watermelon. Ah, yes of course - Watermelon Salad! I googled some recipes and came up with my own take. What a pleasant surprise when it was even more delicious than I anticipated my first time around. Here's how it went:

Timidly, I chose a small watermelon as it would be my first attempt. It's perfectly round and absolutely adorable. Made me happy to pick it. You can pick a large one if you want to make one for a party or have a more prominent "pizza" look.

You can make as many "pies" from one watermelon depending on how thick or thin you slice it. Don't be intimidated by this step. Slicing watermelon is fairly smooth and easy with a large knife.

Feta seems to be the ideal cheese to marry with the flavor of the watermelon. It's the combination of sweet and salty that work so nicely together.

Red onions. Is it just me? I love it when a recipe asks for red onion because it adds color.

Here are my toppings and you can play around with yours. Baby Arugula, Pistachio nuts, Mint, Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Cucumbers, Artichoke.

I have a confession here: The ingredients in the round bowls are from the self serve salad bar at Whole Foods! It was from a greek salad dish. This was a great idea for me because I personally don't like random leftovers in the fridge. Even for a larger pizza, you won't be needing much of each topping.

Garnish your pizza!

Time to cut the slices! Again, it was surprisingly smooth and easy especially since I made thin pies.

I did make a note however for next time: If you want a super neat presentation, try slicing them right after the feta cheese step, and then garnishing the slices afterward.

Voila~ Watermelon Pizzas will make for a great appetizer this summer. Your guests are guaranteed to make a comment about it as well as enjoy it!

Difficulty level: It's much easier than making a real pizza, and just as easy as making a salad. Harder than ordering pizza delivery. Ha ha..

Finally, I found it flavorful as is, but a drizzle of delicious olive oil and a pinch of pepper never hurt. You won't need to salt because of the feta cheese and olives.

I devoured 2 pies by myself immediately and my family shared the third pie. My toddler, Chase went for all the pistachios (and an innocent bite of the crust which he didn't like). Conclusion? Clean to eat since it doesn't flop like a real pizza. Juicy, fun and delicious! Please share your pies and personal twist on the recipe if you do one with me. I'd love to see it! Happy eating and the camera CAN eat this one first since it's not a hot dish ;)

Drop the Mic Ice Cream

Drop the Mic Ice Cream Factory

March 22, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food

Chickalicious has been one of my favorite restaurants for many, many years. I learned recently, that it is called "Drop The MIC Ice Cream Factory" on Mondays through Wednesdays from 3pm to 11pm, where they serve 7 flavors of ice cream. Last week, Chef Mieko was kind enough to let me try them all to share with you!

I kid you not, the Black Truffle is hands down the most flavor packed truffle ice cream I've ever had. If you love truffle, this flavor is a taste of heaven! I can't wait to go back to have it again! I catch myself thinking about it from time to time, wishing I had ordered one more while I was there.

I randomly tasted the Pink Grapefruit Sorbet first and I recommend starting with a sorbets as a nice way to whet your palate with a fresh flavor. Another memorable one for me was the soothing Purple Potato ice cream. Many of my friends said they loved the Roasted Banana the most. Let me know which ones you try in the comments below! I'd love to know your thoughts, as well as where you went while you were in the neighborhood. My friend Sun, founder of Sjouel, was my date and we went to eat at Momofuku Noodle Bar afterwards just around the corner (I love everything on their menu, but there's not a visit I don't order the Pickle Jar as a side!).

I'm wearing a lace top by Alexis which I love so much that I own it in 2 colors. I was in a neutrals mood this day. I intended to wear pastels, but there's something zen and fresh when I think about this space, it affected my outfit otherwise. When I met Chef Mieko it solidified that it is indeed a peaceful place. There are no distractions so all your senses are focused on the flavors dancing in your mouth.