AFTER A YEAR IN KOREA - WEEK 1 RETURN

MY 1ST WEEK BACK IN A NUTSHELL
COMING BACK FROM TEACHING AND LIVING IN KOREA FOR A YEAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT EAT, SLEEP, YOUTUBE BINGING AND CATCHING UP WITH SOME K PEEPS AND SOME K BRATZ VIA KAKAO. SLOWLY CATCHING UP WITH MY HOMIES HERE VIA REAL TIME.

MISSED A FEW EVENTS WITH MY CAR NOT WORKING AND BODY STILL IN KOREAN TIME ZONE.

 I HAVE LONGED FOR THESE DAYS TO COME EVER SINCE THE LACK OF SLEEP WHILE PLANNING AND TRAVELING DURING MY LAST 2 WEEKS AFTER MY TEACHING CONTRACT WAS OVER.

AT LAST, THIS IS A TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR: A TIME OF TRANQUILITY ALONG WITH A HUGE TASK LIST TO TACKLE. HOWEVER, UNLIKE THE LIST I HAD DURING MY LAST MONTH IN KOREA, THIS LIST DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A DEADLINE.  

BODY MODE STILL IN KOREA TIME:
MY HOURS SINCE I'VE GOTTEN BACK HAS BEEN:

5:00AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME OF COURSE, EYES WIDE OPEN. CATCHING UP ON YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA OR ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES THE INTERNET VIA CELL PHONE. THIS ALSO INCLUDES CATCHING UP WITH MY #KPEEPS VIA KAKAO, AKA THE KOREAN INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM.

6:00AM GET UP
SCARFING LEFT OVERS OR WHATEVER MUNCHIES I COULD CONJURE UP IN THE FRIDGE OR PANTRY.

#BEINGACOUCHPOTATO CATCHING UP WITH MY HONG KONG TELEVISION SERIES (SPECIFICALLY TVB) WHILE EATING.

9:00AM INTERNET STUFF

1:00PM GOING OUT SOMEWHERE. ERRAND RUNS

4:00PM CHOW DOWN, START TO GET SLEEPY

4:30PM AND ON, SLEEPY TIME.

I NEVER DID BREAKFAST.....UNTIL NOW:
CHANGING IT UP, I STARTED TO EAT BREAKFAST SINCE I'VE GOTTEN BACK TO THE STATES. EATING BREAKFAST IS A RARE THING FOR ME. BUT SINCE MY SLEEPING HOURS ARE ALL JACKED UP, I'VE STARTED TO GAIN AN APPETITE AFTER WAKING UP.

YEP BREAKFAST WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

CATCHING UP ON MY CEREALS:

ALTHOUGH I’VE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A CEREAL PERSON, NOR A BREAKFAST PERSON, THIS IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY AT MY CRIB. HENCE, TRYING TO MIX IT UP A LITTLE BY COMBINING MY CEREALS WITH A BANANA. #STAYINGHEALTHY

IN KOREA, THEY TREAT CEREAL MORE LIKE A SNACK. IT IS ALSO HELLA-EXPENSIVE AND THE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.

I THINK I SPOTTED THE AVERAGE BOX OF CEREAL WERE AROUND $6 AND UP. I ONLY GOT IT OVER THERE WHEN THERE WAS A SALE. I ALSO THINK THAT THEY STARTED MARKETING MILK AND CEREAL TO PARENTS. IN KOREA, I MAINLY GOT THE KOREAN VERSION OF FROSTED FLAKES AND THEIR CHOCOLATE VERSION OF CHEERIOS.

EVENTS: HELLO KITTY AND ART AND CRAFT SHOW
WITH MY FIRST WEEK BACK IN THE STATES, I WENT TO SOME RARE EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON THIS WEEK. 

HELLO KITTY TRUCK WAS IN TOWN FROM CALIFORNIA. IT WAS AT THE FLORIDA MALL AND WAS ONLY GOING TO BE THERE UNTIL 8PM. I MADE IT THERE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THEIR CLOSING TIME. THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE FROM CALIFORNIA AND THAT THEIR NEXT STOP WAS GOING TO BE TEXAS.

THINGS WERE MEGA EXPENSIVE OF COURSE. I GOT THE $13 MUG THAT CAME WITH A STICKER AND PIN! YAY! 

             



FIESTA IN THE PARK @LAKE EOLA
I ALSO DROPPED BY CARR’S ART EVENT AT THE ORLANDO’S FIESTA IN THE PARK ART SHOW THAT WAS HELD AT LAKE EOLA.

LAKE EOLA, ORLANDO

HE HAD A KILLER SPOT AND THE LAKE SERVED A GREAT SILHOUETTE BACKDROP FOR HIS BOOTH.

QUICK RUNS FOR MY CRAVINGS: HUBBLY BUBBLY, KFC, TACO BELL
ON ONE OF MY DAYS DURING MY ERRAND RUNS, I ALSO MADE A QUICK STOP TO HUBBLY BUBBLY’S.  I WENT A YEAR WITHOUT HUMMUS AND FALAFEL. ALTHOUGH, THEY SOLD FALAFEL IN ITAEWON, I WASN’T GOING TO PAY AN ARM AND A LEG FOR SOMETHING THAT I COULD FIND AT HOME.

@ EDGEWATER / ORLANDO
Address: 3405 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804

I ORDERED THE CHICKEN PITA AND AN ORDER OF FALAFEL.

DURING MY FIRST WEEK BEING BACK IN THE STATES, I ALSO HAD TO SATISFY MY CRAVINGS. THIS INCLUDED THE MASH POTATOES THAT WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN KOREA. I WAS ALSO TOO LAZY TO MAKE THEM MYSELF FROM SCRATCH WITH THE LACK OF “ME” TIME.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE PLENTY OF TACO BELLS IN SEOUL, MY CRAVINGS INCLUDED TACOS. AND I DEFINITELY NEEDED SOMETHING CHEAP. BUT, 
5 TACOS AND 2 ROLLS OF ROLLED CHICKEN TACOS LEAD TO A $10 BILL! #THINGSADDUP

WEIGHT LOST FROM BEING ABROAD FOR A YEAR.

I'M ABLE TO FIT INTO LOTS OF MY CLOTHES FROM THE PAST! BEING WITHOUT A CAR AND HAVING TO RELY ON TRANSPORTATION HAS MADE ME WALK MY BUTT OFF FOR THE YEAR IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.
MY INCREASED APPETITE HAS MADE MY MOM WHIPPING OUT STUFF IN THE KITCHEN.

DINNER FROM MY MADRE:
1ST MEAL FROM MI MADRE AND A SIDE SCOOP OF KFC’S MASH POTATOES:

2ND MEAL FROM MI MADRE. SHE NOTED THAT THIS WAS MORE OF A WELCOME BACK DINNER. OH KAY!  I DO HOWEVER, MISS THE SWEET SOY SAUCE THAT SHE MAKES.

3RD DINNER FROM MADRE = HALLOWEEN DINNER:

DINNER ON 4TH DAY BACK IN USA:

THAT'S MY 1ST WEEK BACK IN A NUTSHELL!

~ your Photo Princess

RESPONSE FROM SMASHBURGER

SMASHBURGER RESPONDS!

WHILE MY LAST POST TAPPED INTO MY LATEST OBSESSION WITH SMASHBURGER, OF COURSE I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL TO THEIR PR DEPARTMENT.  I DON'T HAVE MUCH PATIENCE FOR THE WORLD OF THE UNKNOWN.

MY TASTE BUDS ARE JUMPING FOR JOY KNOWING THAT AROUND 2014, SOMEWHERE IN ORLANDO WILL HOUSE A SMASHBURGER!

I REALLY HOPE THAT THE QUALITY AND TEXTURE, AS I REMEMBERED GIVES ME THE SAME REACTION.  (THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER PLACES WHERE CONSISTENCY IN THE WAY FOOD IS COOKED, OR QUALITY OF HOW A PRODUCT IS MADE DIFFERS IN A DOWNWARD MODE.  AND THAT IS ANNOYING! ~ JUST SAYING.....)

ANYWAYS, I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY WERE QUICK IN THEIR RESPONSE AND ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATNESS IN A BURGER, ONCE AGAIN.

WAITING!

2013 10 22 MY TRIP TO HONG KONG LAYOVER THROUGH NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

TYPICALLY, I LOVE TO EXPLORE IN AIRPORTS AND LOOK AROUND IN THEIR SHOPS.
HOWEVER, WE HAD ONLY LESS THAN 3 HOURS BEFORE OUR FLIGHT TO HONG KONG SO THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH TIME TO WANDER WITH AN UNFED GROWLING STOMACH.

THIS AIRPORT WAS PRETTY BIG AND THE FOOD OPTIONS THAT WERE NEAR OUR NEXT FLIGHT DID NOT SEEM TO JUMP OUT AT ME.  WE WERE AROUND TERMINAL C.

TERMINAL C HAD:

Quick Meal

· Americo's Pizza
· Au Bon Pain
· Asian Chao· Auntie Anne's
· Balducci's: good to-go salads, pre-made entrees, sandwiches.
· Ben and Jerry's
· Brooklyn Deli
· Crumbs Bake Shop
· Dunkin' Donuts
· Famous Famiglia Pizza
· Hudson News/Euro Café 
· Jake's Coffee House
· Jamba Juice
· Juan Valdez: airport coffee 
· La Tapenade 
· McDonald's 
· Smashburger: Growing burger chain Smashburger serves up a very decent fast food patty. When there's no Shake Shack or Five Guys around, this is the chain to hit (post-security, Gates C120-139).*
· Starbucks 
· The Grove
· Treat Street 
· Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen
· Vito's Deli 
· Wok & Roll 

Fast Casual/Bars

· Greenleaf's Grill
· Hamachi Sushi
· Ruby's Diner
· Samuel Adam's Brew Club
· Caliente Cab: tacos and margaritas
· Garden State Diner: The closest thing in this airport to a true New Jersey diner experience. 
· Guinness Pub
· Heineken Lounge.
· Vino Volo:. A nice chain of airport wine bar

Leisurely Meal

· Le Grand Comptoir: chain of airport wine bars serving a great list of vino along with snacks (baked camembert, beef carpaccio), salads, sandwiches, and heartier mains
· Gallagher's Steakhouse: New York's Gallagher's Steakhouse is transported to Newark, complete with checkered tablecloths and old photos. The menu features steak, salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, onion soup, and other classics
· Grand Central Oyster Bar: Sure you're missing the ambiance that is 85% of what makes the original Grand Central Oyster bar so great, but hey, this is a great place for some crab cakes or fried calamari and a glass of wine pre or post flight. 

SPOTTED CRUMB'S CUPCAKES (IN WHICH I WANTED, BUT MY STOMACH WAS SCREAMING "REAL FOOD PLEASE!"

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I WANTED BURGER FOR SOME REASON.
PERHAPS I WAS WONDERING IF I WOULD GET SOME REAL TASTING BURGER IN HONG KONG.  I'VE NEVER HAD A SMASHBURGER BEFORE AND WAS CURIOUS.  THIS COULD BE THE LAST "AMERICAN TYPE MEAL" BEFORE I GO ALL HONG KONG FOODIE ON MY TRIP!

                    

WE DECIDED ON THE MUSHROOM SWISS.  AND AFTER THE FIRST BITE, I THINK I YELPED OUT, "HOLY HEAVEN!"

TRUFFLE MUSHROOM SWISS

Truffle mayo, sauteed baby portabella mushrooms and aged Swiss on an egg bun.

OKAY.  I KNOW THAT MUSHROOM SWISS IS POPULAR AND SEEN ON LOTS OF MENUS EVERYWHERE.  BUT, WHERE IS THIS IN ORLANDO?????

FIVE GUYS AND STEAK AND SHAKE, PLEASE STEP ASIDE BECAUSE THIS IS BEYOND GREAT!  EVERY ITEM THAT MADE UP THIS BURGER WAS PERFECT.  THE TEXTURE, THE TENDERNESS AND THE JUICINESS OF THE MEAT, THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF BUTTER AND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME THE BUTTERED BUN WAS TOASTED ON THE GRILL,  THE MAYO MELTED WITH THE CHEESE WAS A PERFECT BALANCE. AND THIS "TRUFFLE MAYO" HAD SOME SORT OF SWEETNESS TO IT.  THE OIL FROM THE MAYO AND MEAT WAS SOAKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BUN.  I ALMOST LICKED THE BOX.  I WOULD HAVE ORDERED ANOTHER TO BE INDULGED LATER ON THE PLANE, BUT I KNEW THERE WOULD BE NON STOP SERVINGS OF FOOD ON THE FLIGHT UPON TAKE OFF.

I REALLY HOPE THIS GREATNESS IS NOT RANDOM BECAUSE I HATE RETURNING TO PLACES WHERE TASTES CHANGES AND MAKE ME QUESTION MY FORMER EXPERIENCE.

SIGH.....I NEED TO STOP TALKING ABOUT SMASHBURGER BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST IN ORLANDO.  ACTUALLY,  I NEED TO WRITE TO THEM TO SEE IF FUTURE SMASHBURGER IS IN THE PLANS.

(SIDE NOTE: FROM PREVIOUS ORLANDO OUTINGS, RED ROBINS IS PRETTY GOOD TOO!)

FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES, ASIAN CHAO WAS ALSO ORDERED.  I FIGURED, THIS WOULD BE THE TEMPORARY FAREWELL TO THE "AMERICANIZED" CHINESE FOOD BEFORE THE REAL DEAL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. WAIT, WHAT ETHNICITY DO I SEE COOKING THE FOOD?  I GUESS THIS OFFICIALLY CONSTITUTES THE "AMERICANIZED" CHINESE FOOD.

EGG ROLL WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CRISP.  LO MEIN AND CHICKEN TASTED AS EXPECTED.  TYPICAL. SLIGHTLY ON THE SALTY SIDE.

EGG ROLL, BOURBON  CHICKEN, LO MEIN

2012 08 18 ORLANDO FOOD FIND_SUSHIOLOGY AND FUN SIGNS

SUSHIOLOGY
6400 International Dr. Orlando, FL 32819
(Thank goodness for the GPS, they were sort of hidden in a back lot of a busy touristy street)


Cool web site:  Sushiology

I OFTEN GO TO PLACES TO EAT AND SNAP INTERESTING FINDS. THESE ARE HILARIOUS:

AND THEN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEVER THOUGHT OF BUT FIND IT VISUALLY INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING.

2012 08 12 YELPING ABOUT BURGER KING ON JOHN YOUNG PARKWAY

IMAGES ABOVE FROM BURGER KING WEBSITE

REPOST FROM YELP
DAY AT LOCATION- 8/3/12_TIME AROUND 3:30PM
LOCATION  = 8409 South John Young Parkway Orlando, FL 32819-9039
2 OF 5 STARS VOTING FOR  - BK OF JOHN YOUNG PKWY

FALSE ADVERTISEMENT VS STAFF COMMUNICATION INEFFICIENCIES.
ALL THE HYPE OF THIS NEW PRODUCT
(SERVICE)
THEIR SERVICE WAS NOT THE GREATEST AND BRIGHTEST GIVEN THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 2-3 CUSTOMERS IN LINE, ALONG WITH 2-3 CARS FOR DRIVE THROUGH.

EXCITED ABOUT THE NEWLY ADVERTISED SWEET POTATO FRIES, AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT THE SWEET POTATO FRIES WERE DISCONTINUED.
STAFF RECOGNIZED THAT THE POSTER OF THE PRODUCT WAS STILL ON THE WINDOW WITH THE LISTED DATE OF THE TEMPORARY PRODUCT LASTING UNTIL SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.  HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS DISCONTINUED.  PERHAPS SHE MEANT THAT THEY WERE SOLD OUT?
STAFF ALSO POINTED TO THE SIGNAGE ON THE WINDOW AND ADMITTED THAT IT WAS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT WITHOUT MY MENTIONING OF THAT IDEA.

I THEN ORDERED ONION RINGS INSTEAD WITH ANOTHER STAFF.
QUESTIONED IF THE ONION RING SAUCE WAS STILL AVAILABLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A .25 CHARGE. REALLY? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN.
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LANGUAGE BARRIER WITH THIS PARTICULAR STAFF. I RE-PHRASED MY QUESTION, AND SHE STILL NOTED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTRA CHARGE WITH THIS SAUCE.

BETWEEN THE SLOW SERVICE WITH THE LOBBY THAT WAS NOT FULLY OF PEOPLE AND CONFUSING COMMUNICATION, IT WAS REALLY TAKING TOO MUCH OF MY TIME FOR A FAST FOOD JOINT.

TIME TO PEACE OUT WITH A DISAPPOINTED VIEW WITH BK.

WENT HOME AND COMMENTED ON MY FACEBOOK, AND IT TURNED OUT THAT MORE PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE!