Hey my fellow foodies! I have just uploaded my first podcast on Soundcloud. I invited my parents to join me while we discuss my blog and their food preferences. I wanted to uncover whether my blog posts can influence them to expand their tastebuds and try new dishes and restaurants. They both have very different opinions, but I don’t want to give too much away! Make sure to go check It out !!
#SupportLocal
The hashtag SupportLocal invites the people in their communities to help support their local businesses. Because my website is all about food, I want to get behind this hashtag because I believe It is so important and relevant considering the times we are in.
Rather than ordering in from chain restaurants or heading to a drive through, I challenge you foodies out there to order from your smaller local restaurants because they are struggling the most right now. There has got to be a decent pizzeria around the corner from you (don’t lie)! I also encourage you to tip your delivery drivers and workers as much as you can. I know many of us may be strapped for cash at the moment, but a little can go a long way.
You may also want to look up recipes from your favorite restaurants and try to make meals yourself from the comfort of your own home. This could be a fun way to dine and It allows you to stay home; and make sure to let me know how they turn out!
Let me know what your favorite local restaurants are in your area and what you order! Maybe I can support local if your recommendations are in my area!
COVID-19
As I am sure you know, there is a PANDEMIC happening right now. I wanted to make a quick and relevant post about the times we are living in and what we should be doing.
Most importantly, It is critical that you stay home as much as possible. This virus has spread so rapidly over the past month and a half and has caused many deaths all over the world. It is clear how serious corona virus is and no matter how old or young you are, for the safety of others and yourself, take proper precautions.
Whether we like It or not, there is a new normal and by now, people are either fed up with It, or have adjusted into a new routine. Many people are devastated for many reasons and are missing out on huge milestones in their life such as graduations, proms, birthdays, and more. However, as an online community, we can help support others and be there for the people who need It the most. Stay connected and remain safe!
Here are the things we should be doing to prevent the spread of the virus and to protect ourselves and others:
- remain 6 feet apart from those around you (when you leave the house)
- wear a face mask in public places/stores (required)
- cover your mouth and nose (cough and sneeze)
- wash your hands regularly / use hand sanitizer
- avoid touching your nose, mouth, and face
- avoid crowded areas
- stay home especially if you feel unwell
- If you need medical attention, CALL first
We are all in this together (yet apart). If we all follow these simple steps, we can stop the spread and return to normalcy sooner rather than later!
P.S. for my foodies: if we stick together, we can return to dining at restaurants faster:) I miss going out to eat! How about you??
The ins and outs OF In-N-Out
Personally, I think It is so rude that we don’t have an In-N-Out Burger anywhere near New Jersey.. anyone agree? Well if you have never tried It, its a must. And did you know there was a secret menu? well if you didn’t know.. you do now!!
Say what you want about fast food chains, but sometimes they hit just right whether you want to admit It or not. However, I never ever order burgers from fast food restaurants because personally It just grosses me out for some reason. I enjoy quality burgers from dine-in restaurants. However, I make an exception for this exceptionally amazing fast food chain. In-N-Out burger is so delicious and so exclusive to burgers, its literally the only item on the menu aside from shakes and fries. Im not kidding..
So.. lets talk about how to order my personal favorite. If you look at the picture to the right, you’ll see at the top there is a “Not so Secret Menu” which is their take on a secret menu. After clicking on this there will be a menu of a couple of Items.
“I would like a double-double animal style (secret menu).” Animal style is a special way they make the burger and what they include on It. Also don’t forget to add the cheese for my cheese lovers like myself because a true burger is not complete without It. I believe this is the best way to order your burger from here so if you have known about this and tried It, share your thoughts and opinions!! And if you haven’t, you know what to do !!!
Wine and Dine – the last experience
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA
It feels like forever ago that we were able to pick any restaurant in the area, sit down, order a drink and a meal, and have a full dining experience with good company. Now, our restaurant options are limited to delivery, takeout, and fast food, and not to mention some of your favorite spots may be temporarily closed. For my fellow foodies who love to go out and get that full dining experience like myself, how are you dealing with this? And do you even remember the last time you actually ate at a restaurant? Well.. heres mine.
The week that everything started closing, was spring break. College students all over were forced to make a decision, go on spring break still, or cancel and hope to get your money back. I was one of the stubborn ones. I had been planning my trip to California with my boyfriend for sometime now and I was not going to give It up. I made reservations for restaurants at SUR and Saddle Ranch and I could’ve given you guys reviews for these places but unfortunately, we never had the chance to go..
It felt like the second we landed in LA, we should’ve turned around and went home. Our reservations were being cancelled as well as activities we scheduled which was extremely disappointing. However, eager and hopeful that something would still be open, we found ONE place that was still open for dining in the first night we were there. It was the Daily Grill located inside of a Marriott hotel in Burbank, California. There must have been less than 10 people in the entire restaurant, so you can assume how the atmosphere was.. I ordered this cheesy pasta dish with jumbo shrimp (I don’t remember the name of It) and my boyfriend also ordered a pasta dish (different from mine). We also had wine and a loaded french fry appetizer. Although the food was delicious, I remember It being a little pricy and the overall experience was just gloomy.
Although we were upset with the circumstances of the times, we were still able to make the most of our trip and enjoy what we did do.
So.. do you remember your last restaurant dining experience? Share and comment below!! I’d love to hear about It!
P.S. – we ate a lot of fast food and delivery.. In Cali!!! so disappointing (WHOOPS)
Commercial Post
Hey my fellow foodies! posted above is a link to a quick commercial I made about my website. I have never made an audio like this before and I am very new to this software. I found this process to be challenging but that is not always a bad thing. The most challenging part was finding a sound and editing that to fit into the commercial. I wanted something that was light and positive and I think I did just that. Fading the sound was also a bit difficult but I figured It out with the help of youtube and a friend. Now deciding what to say was easy because my website is all about my journey being a foodie so I made It short and simple for anyone to understand.
This whole process was quite out of my comfort zone and made me particularly nervous. I didn’t know what I was doing which made me skeptical. I first attempted to use Garageband but that didn’t quite work out for me so I switched over to Audacity. I found a sound from a free website which I believe is okay to use. I found this software to be less difficult and easier to navigate. After the sound was completed I then uploaded It to Soundcloud to provide a link to the commercial on this blog post.
I am definitely relieved that I figured this out because I think my commercial turned out great. I definitely enjoy a bit of a challenge because It helps me grow and learn for the future and future projects. As I have mentioned, with the current pandemic It is difficult for me to post content right now, so this assignment helped to promote my website in a new and exciting way. I am happy that I was able to produce content that I am proud to post on my website for my fellow foodies and hopefully gain some more traction.
I hope you have a chance to listen and continue enjoying your own foodie journey! XOXO
OH RAT(S!)atouille
For this assignment, we were to find a meme to post on our website, something that may be beneficial.
Because of the recent pandemic happening in the world right now, It is hard for me to find content to post. I normally post about food that I eat at restaurants. Because I am unable to go out to a restaurant right now to give my input and normal reviews, aka rate the food as well as my overall experience, I am struggling to stay on theme. However, this meme is right on track!
A TikToker dresses his dad up as Anton Ego, food critic from Ratatouille, and he nailed It. I like to think of myself as a somewhat amateur food critic so this just seemed like the perfect meme to post. I am eager to get into some new restaurants and try some new foods, but because this is impossible right now, this meme makes light of the situation and makes me feel better.
I hope everyone is staying safe and staying home!!
look out! I powerpuffe’d myself
The assignment was to create myself on the Powerpuff Yourself website, I think I came out pretty cool. First I had to design myself through picking a skin color, eye color and eye shape, a smile, a hair style and hair color. I am surprised that there wasn’t an option to pick my own outfit. Then It took me through a series of questions, a quiz essentially, to determine what my superpower is and my traits. It asked questions like “what holiday would you want to be everyday?” and “if your friends were fighting what would you do?”, very simple questions and I think there were about 10. I guess that my powerpuff is fearless!! Overall this was an interesting task yet very light and fun. I am interested to see if I would get the same outcome if I did It again! What does yours look like?
SUSHI DATE ANYONE ? it’s half price..
Oyako Tso’s – Sushi and Hibachi
Freehold, NJ – OPEN 11 AM to 10 PM
If you asked me two years ago if I wanted to go out for sushi, I would have politely responded with a “HELL NO”.. Since then however, my palette has expanded in so many ways and sushi is one of the many reasons I am so happy It did. Oyako Tso’s doubles as a sushi bar and hibachi grill where you can enjoy one or the other, or both. There of course are many grills with hibachi chefs cooking in front of you as you order, and there is also the main restaurant area where you can order from the extensive sushi menu, or even hibachi. However, the sushi is what they pride themselves in with over twenty specialty rolls to order. There are so many rolls to choose from, there is something there to order for even the pickiest sushi eaters. The best part is, THE SUSHI IS ALWAYS HALF OFF!!
If you have a chance to visit Oyako Tso’s, which I highly recommend you do, you’ll see how they have their original prices crossed off next to the half off price. And these prices are amazing. You may be thinking that the price is a reflection of how the sushi tastes but I can assure you, I would have no problem paying full price for this sushi because It truly is one of the best sushi spots I have been to. Freehold is a bit of a hike from Rutgers but It is 100% worth the drive and I hope you have the opportunity to taste the experience.
Wait times may very from day to day in both the dining area and the hibachi area. The dining area is not very large and you may wait a while especially on the weekends. However, the service is always great and the environment is vibrant and fun. And for those who like to step outside of their comfort zone with flavors and sushi, you will definitely have the opportunity here at Oyako Tso’s.
HELPFUL TIP #1: BYOB!!!! bring your favorite wine and pair It with your favorite sushi rolls. (your dinner is sounding cheaper by the minute isn’t It?)
P.S. great spot for a first, second, or any date after that 🙂 enjoy !
#MORE_BRUNCH_PLEASE
Le Peep – breakfast, brunch, & lunch
Edison, NJ – OPEN 7 AM to 2:30 PM
To be completely honest, I had no idea what Le Peep was before my boyfriend told me about It, which is shocking because one of my favorite things to do is #brunch. My first impression was that the interior was much nicer than the location, given that It is in a shopping center on the highway. I am sure there are many other locations, however this was the closest to Rutgers. I went on a Friday and therefore It was not that crowded (I am not sure about other weekdays or weekends yet). The service as well as my overall experience was good and I will definitely be dining there in the future.
Now let’s talk food.. When I saw the menu and discovered the skillets, I had to try It. I wanted to see what Le Peep‘s version of the skillet was to compare with my favorite skillet from Turning Point. They had a similar version that included onions, but I had to add-on the avacado. For a cheese lover like myself, the skillet had entirely too much of It (and was hardly melted). Some of the potatoes were a bit hard, and my eggs were not runny enough. I am sure that if I did not have any other skillets to compare It too, I wouldn’t be this picky, but I know what I like. However, It was a larger portion and It was tasty.
Le Peep has a big menu with tons of options that include their own personal touches.The light dining area that also features a bar top is elegant and inviting. There are no special views from the parking lot but I am positive that I will be back again (just not for their skillet) LOL.
HELPFUL TIP #1: If ordering the Wanderer skillet and enjoy runny eggs, order the skillet the way It is on the menu.
hopefully I will have more helpful tips for you all the more I visit Le Peep.
foodie fun with liz 