Best Brunch in Boston

There is no denying the universal appeal of the classic American brunch. Whether you're craving something sweet or savory, there is always something on the menu that will satiate your taste buds. Lately I've been trying to find restaurants that put a twist on the standard brunch items, such as an unique combination of flavors or the use of exotic ingredients. Brasserie Jo does a great job of incorporating traditional French dishes into their menu while accommodating to the mainstream American preferences. The Neighborhood Restaurant, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant run by a Portuguese family, is well known for their Portuguese Breakfast - a meat lover's paradise! The Beehive Eatery, the go-to place for jazz brunch, provides your usual eggs benedict or omelettes, but their menu changes often and its seasonal. In the end, regardless of what I've ordered, there truly is nothing more satisfying than enjoying a leisurely brunch with friends after a long night of drunken debauchery :)

Eggs Benedict with Virginia Ham at the Beehive

Cauliflower, Porcini, and Cheese Quiche at the Beehive

Croque Madame at Brasserie Jo

Chocolate French Toast with Almonds at Brasserie Jo

Portuguese Breakfast at the Neighborhood Restaurant

Latest Fashion Obsession: DVF Blouse

Yesterday I discovered Oona's Experienced Clothing, an unique thrift store that not only sells trendy clothing, but also time period pieces. I was really tempted to purchase a 60's themed plaid button-down and all of their chunky jewelry (only $15!), but I was committed to sticking to my budget. I found a DVF silk blouse in pristine condition with a price tag of $30! I couldn't believe my eyes. Though it is a few sizes bigger than what I typically wear, I figured that I could wear it as a tunic or tuck them into jeans/trousers so the fit can better match my frame. I've settled on 3 outfits that I can wear during the winter/spring. And then come summertime, I'll wear it with distressed cut-off shorts and my white straw espadrilles. This blouse is definitely versatile and brings a lot more color to my wardrobe!

Casual Friday Work Outfit

My version of the Boyfriend Blazer
Works well since the shirt has an elastic at the ends of the sleeves
A men's watch with a large screen is a nice added touch

 Girl's Night Out Outfit

Blouse tucked into pleated black shorts with black tights
 Add black ankle wedges and a statement ring to polish off this outfit 

Casual Weekend Outfit

Tunic style with a leather belt cinched at the hip (not the waist!)
Add a pair of knee high boots and chunky gold bracelets to polish off this outfit

Orchids to brighten up my day

This past week has been a little stressful for me. I've been spending a significant amount of time trying to figure out my personal finances, aka establishing a budget and a plan to pay off my student debt. I've also been applying for jobs and prepping for interviews, which is always a self-esteem booster (note the dripping sarcasm). For those that don't know me, I am in grad school pursuing my Master in Public Health, concentrating in Health Policy and Management. I graduate in May and am scared to my bones about where I end up! My passion is in improving the quality of care provided in hospitals and other health systems while also controlling health care costs. The U.S. Health Care System could learn a thing or two from other countries, such as Canada or England (ahem, single-payer health system), but we can table that controversial conversation for another day.

Sometimes in midst of all the everyday work and stress, it's easy to forget to the little things in life that brighten up my day. Anyway, I am thankful to my orchid (gift from the bf) which serves that purpose beyond my expectations. The white and fuchsia petals of orchid stands out against the stark contrast of the grey sky. In general, the orchid is not only an elegant plant, but a low maintenance one as well. Since I've never owned a pet (a goldfish from a carnival doesn't count) or plants before, I was very worried that it was going to wither in a couple of days. I water it just once a week and place it near the windowsill so it gets plenty of sunlight. I am proud to say that I've owned the orchid for a couple of weeks now and its luscious green leaves is a clear indication that it is a plant that receives tender loving care!

View from my living room window this morning

My orchid

Close-up of the orchid

Weekend beats

Happy weekend, everyone! What better way to get revved up than to listen to some upbeat street music? Took this video on NYE in NYC, which explains the colorful party hats  that everyone is donning :)

A MFA-inspired art therapy session

It was free admission at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) on Martin Luther King Jr's day and for the first time, my friends and I managed to walk through the entire museum in midst of the hoards of people crowding each and every exhibit. Of course the crowd density at the MFA does not hold a candle to the crowds at the Shanghai Art Museum or NYC Museum of Modern Art, so I was lucky enough to talk a snap of photos of the artwork without having some random person's limb or puffy parka peeking in the corners.

We went to the MFA with the intention of checking Degas Nude exhibit. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I confused Degas with Dali - you know, the guy that paints the melting clocks. So I walked into the exhibit, expecting artwork that falls under the same category of Impressionism. Sure enough, that was not case. As the title of the exhibit indicates, it was literally nude women...taking baths and drying themselves with a washcloth, or women being tied up in a war during the 1800's. Not to seem prude, but I was a little overwhelmed by the nudity (mostly because it was so gory) while also underwhelmed by the duplicity of the artwork. There must has been 20 different versions of "Woman taking a bath" and "Woman drying with towel"... I think I got the point, Degas. 

Moving on, I quickly realized that I appreciate Contemporary Art the most. I am most impressed when an artist plays with different materials, combines traditional with modern, and creates puns. Below are some of my favorites. Inspired by the breadth of artwork seen at MFA, we immediately headed over to Nicole's apartment. With a canvas purchased at Blick in tow, we let our creatives juice flowing and it just went on from there! I felt like I was bad in middle school, when I had a short-lived aspiration to become an artist!

MFA Contemporary Art

Art Therapy at Nicole'splace

Top left: My masterpiece (acrylic on cavas), Right: my inspiration - Chilhuly "Lime Green Icicle Tower", Bottom Left: Close up of the "Lime Green Icicle Tower"

Restaurant Review: Myers and Chang

Lo siento for being MIA. Just been busy pursuing the fine, fit, and fabulous life, with an emphasis on the fit, working out is both time consuming and physically draining!

Today marks the start of a traditionally week-long celebration of the Lunar New Year! Unlike the past couple of years, I did not celebrate back home in New York City and watch the Chinese New Year Parade because of inclement weather. Instead, my friends and I rang in the Year of the Dragon by heading over to Myers + Chang (M+C) to enjoy their modern take on dim sum. It has a trendy, hipster, yet casual diner vibe that is confusing at first, but the funkiness that adds to their appeal. Contrary to how dim sum is traditionally served, where middle-age women shout broken Chinglish while pushing carts of dim sum to the diners' tables in crowded chinese restaurants, M+C serves dim sum a la carte and the diners check off the desired quantity of each dish. Their incredible attention to the freshness of all the ingredients and combinations of flavors in every dish is what brings me back to M+C.  I consistently find myself exclaiming that their food look so simple yet the bold flavors indicate the complexity of each dish. I also make mental notes to replicate their dishes back home, such as the mussels in lemongrass broth... only the latter has yet to happen.

Some pointers: (1) the dim sum portions are pretty small and pricey, so think quality over quantity...and do what my friends and I did, walk over to Chinatown to sample some cheap treats at the Chinese bakeries; (2) dim sum is only served on Saturday and Sunday, 11:30am-5:30pm; (3) jasmine green and white or brown rice are complimentary; and (4) alternatively, you can get the best bang for your buck during M+C 's "cheap date nights" on Monday and Tuesdays - pre-fixe $40 options for the table of two!

Top to bottom:
thai ginger chicken with rice vermicelli, nasi goreng with pork and pineapple, and fried egg, dan dan noodles with spicy peanut sauce, sweet potato fritters with chinese sausage, crispy salt and pepper calimari, wok-charred brussels with caramelized onions, and M+C's adorable collection of Maneki Neko aka Lucky or Money Cats

Ethnic Comfort Food

First things first, I am a complete foodie at heart. I have waited hours (e.g. Ippudo and Magnolia Bakery) for delicious food and rarely do I have any regrets about it. Similar many of the other adventurous foodies out there, I am interested in trying the latest cuisine and cooking with obscure ingredients. This post showcases some of my favorite non-traditional comfort foods. And it just so happens that my more memorable comfort foods are served family style or typically shared with friends, which always results in a fun dining experience as well :)

Peruvian Cuisine
Clockwise: Roasted Chicken Breast, Corvina fish ceviche, and Salchipapa - grilled beef sausage and french fries. (Pio Pio Peruvian Restaurant)

Indian and Afghani Cuisine
Clockwise: Chicken Tikki Masala, Roasted Eggplant, Spinach and Paneer (Mela); One of many infamous Halal Carts in NYC; Chicken and Rice with extra white sauce and sriracha sauce - the only way anyone should order

Chinese and Japanese Cuisine
Clockwise: Dim sum (China Pearl Restaurant), Rice Porridge with Fried Dough (Congee Village), and Non-conventional tuna, salmon, and yellowtail sashimi tacos (Haru)