Category: #foodie

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#foodie

Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s


So I actually got word of this event yesterday through one of the online forums I frequent: today, Ben & Jerry’s was offering free one-scoop of ice cream in either a cone or cup.

To me, it sounded rather too good to be true; after all, who gives away free ice cream like that without losing a ton of profit?

Well, later on I found out that this event was for their 30th birthday; I guess that makes sense. Plus, while I was waiting in line, the workers were actually taking donations, too.

I went to the Ben & Jerry’s in downstairs Macy’s and the line wrapped around part of the food court area. I felt a little bad for the other businesses there–Jamba Juice, Tom’s Cookies, Boudin, etc.–they were getting really little business due to the frenzy for free Ben & Jerry’s.

Actually, I found something amusing before I went and got my own cone: while working at the hot dog cart outside of Macy’s, around noon I noticed a huge slew of Cantonese kids walking by with some chaperones. All of them were headed towards Macy’s–no doubt for the ice cream. I pointed this out to one of my co-workers and she responded: “Man, that’s so cheap. Taking a field trip to Ben & Jerry’s to get free ice cream.” I had to laugh at that, since, despite my parents/relatives coming from the Canton/Guangdong region in China, I had to admit that it was so true that most people from that region are rather cheap when it comes to certain things. Why else do you think Chinatown prices are so marked down? And where else do you think I get this whole “must save money…this/that is too expensive for me!” mindset? (I jest, really).

Anyway, I felt like all the people walking out of Macy’s were mocking me with their free cones, so after my shift ended, I had to go get myself a free cone. Instead of getting my usual (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough), I decided I would try something new since I wasn’t even going to pay for the ice cream this time. I tried the Cheesecake Brownie: yummy combination. I feel like I should have discovered this flavor earlier! Well, I was also wanting this yellow-looking flavor that I saw several people eating, but I didn’t have enough time to look over the full menu. I guess next time I’ll order that flavor, just to see how it tastes like.

I was tempted to go to another Ben & Jerry’s by the Wharf, but I decided I shouldn’t be such a pig, haha. After all, despite how yummy ice cream is, it’s still junk food, haha.

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#foodie American Culture fast food restaurant

Re-entry into the American lifestyle–

What better way to “get back into the groove” of American life than to go eat breakfast at IHOP?

Yes, I went to eat breakfast at IHOP today:

1) I was craving it when I woke up
2) I have no food in my apartment at the moment due to my month-long vacation away from the apartment
3) IHOP is just one block away from my apartment.

This was the first time I was able to venture outside since I arrived back in San Francisco on Wednesday. It felt strange to enter into a restaurant and not have someone say to me “Welcome!” in Japanese. The service was faster, the people were still polite, but ah-ha–today I finally had to leave a tip (in Japan, it’s not part of their custom to leave tips). Well, the meal was good, all-American: stuffed French toast, sausage, eggs, hash browns.

Yes, I’m back in America, and today I finally can feel it from this experience.

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#foodie Japan

Zaru soba and oyako don.

Simple words for the day:

Zaru soba – cold buckwheat noodles with shredded seaweed on top. Eaten with the sauce/soup on the side.

Oyako Don – chicken, egg, onions served over rice.

These two are some of my favorite Japanese foods. More, please!

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#foodie drink Japan sweet treats

Red bean desserts.


I had my filling of red-bean desserts today. Red bean is a very Asian sweet–I know there are red bean breads in China as well–so, I decided to eat some desserts with red bean to experience the flavors.

Granted, I have had red bean before, but not in the way that I had it today. First, for lunch, I had the dessert pictured on the far left–I forget the exact name of it, but it was warm and the white balls were similar to mochi textures. Apparently this dish was rather healthy.

When I met up with my former classmate in the evening, I tried this “Frozen Green Tea Drink” at Doutor Coffee. It came with red bean and the same mochi bit on top.

I really need to learn how to make these desserts for myself! I imagine they’re a bit complicated, but probably not impossible.

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#foodie Japan Japanese food restaurant

Haiti Cafe in Shinjuku.


Spent the day out with friends; I basically had an “International” meal day. For lunch, I met with some friends and we ate Indian food. For dinner, I was with another group of friends, and we were walking around the streets of Shinjuku, trying hard to find a decent/fun place to eat. We came upon this restaurant called Haiti Cafe; Haitian food. This was a new one for all of us!

So we walked in, and the atmosphere was very island-like with some voodoo statues and such. The menu was probably a fusion of Japanese and Haitian flavors–I ordered a curry actually–but, it was still new and interesting to us all. We felt really amused by the experience; at the end of the meal, we were served coffee, which came with rum to mix in. Interesting!