Port Orchard

This town is hardly far from where we are, but you feel like you are in a different world all together when you are there.  It's a place that's idyllic and calm, and where the pace is slower.  That is why we love visiting our friends there.

Brunch with the famous cinnamon toast - our friend's specialty!  A highlight to a weekend devoted to relaxing and enjoying the outdoors with great friends.

Portland

This plate alone makes it worthwhile to drive 3 hours to Portland.  This kaluah pork is the real deal - you get a heaping plate of it for $8. 

Joe chowing down on his plate, along with saimen.  This place was a real find, and recommended by a friend.  The owners are from Hawaii and they are all about making sure you get a good deal for your meal.

We took our Voodoo doughnuts on the road and the doughnut Joe is eating is called "old dirty bastard"  It is oreos, and peanut butter sauce on top of the lovely doughnut.  I got the "Voodoo doll" which was the best raspberry filled doughnut that I've had in a long time.

I just love this city...so quaint - structure of a large city, but still the feel of a small one.

I love the idea of all the food mobiles that are scattered throughout the city.  At this cart, I had the best chicken salad of my entire life.  I am so sad that I didn't take pictures, but I was starving at the time and marveling and savoring each bite.  This cart prided itself in only serving chicken, made in different ways.

For dessert, Italian ice.  I love that each owner had a passion for something and then created a cart to share.  He makes his own ice from scratch and the flavors are really unique.

The hardest working guy that I know..

Don't let his laid back nature fool you, this guy has a serious work ethic!  He doesn't feel like he has worked a day in his life - he's just having fun, enjoying every minute of working with technology.  He feels his best when his computer and coffee are nearby.

Ztejas

I'm usually not the biggest fan of Mexican food, but I love their happy hour.

Vancouver, BC

Amazing roast squab, that you can order while you inhale dim sum.  This is one of the many reasons why we frequent Vancouver, or Richmond to be more specific.  There is a huge difference as most of the chinese restaurants are in Richmond.  We go there at least 2-3 times every year.  The routine is very similar - dim sum is the first stop, then shopping, then afternoon snack of bubble tea and little cakes, and then night market if it is summer time, or some great restaurant for dinner in Richmond.

A proud moment with my girlfriends - look at the dim sum cartons that are stacked on top of each other.  We meant business as we were super hungry.  There was no talking, just eating.  Almost all of us were dim sum pros, except for my friend Esther, who was a newbie!  Here's her perspective of the trip - it is hilarious how she reacted to our "serious" eating!  http://bit.ly/fmWqbX

Steroid sushi - cheap and huge, and pretty decent.  This was definitely a happy meal.

Japa dog - this hot dog stand made our list of must-do's just this year.  We really love the seeweed, wasabi mayo, and bonito flakes on top of the hot dog and wonder why no one ever thought of it before.

Fast food, casual food.  Are you kidding me?  I have been contemplating reasons to move to Vancouver, when I saw how high the quality of convenient food was.

Night Market - the destination for a summer trip.  You can get any kind of snack you want - chicken hearts and liver on a skewer, potato curls on a stick, noodles, dim sum, soups, sandwiches..anything you can think of..  Yes, we love it.

Palace BBQ

Korean BBQ - all you can eat meat for about $15 for lunch, before the slight price increase.  We went there after a lovely hike and went a little out of control.  Put all you can eat meat in front of asian people and I think it can be rather dangerous.  We have all acquired the skill to eat way beyond the amount our stomach can hold, after being trained by our parents to eat our money's worth and more at buffets.

Amy's Cooking Lesson

Here are two friends that deserve credit for 1) loving to cook and eat  2) for always trying to teach me a thing or two about cooking 3) always believing in me that I too, will be able to cook someday 

Throughout our many happy hours in the past few years, we always knew that one day, eventually, that we would have to cook our own food.. the time has come, and let me tell you, it's not all that bad.  And happily, it still involves good wine..

Amy, the pro in the kitchen, and the one who is responsible for making me have two different colors of soy sauce, amongst a myriad of sauces.

The below is a pot of goodness, it's our version of soon-doo-boo, and has saved us countless $$$ for not having to go out every time we have a craving for this soup..