Taco Night: Korean Fried Chicken Tacos

I've been studying at my mom's for the last couple of days because of the unlimited coffee, flowers and snack plates (thanks mom!). Last night, I was planning on heading back to LA when my mom offered to make me dinner, which turned into me making her dinner... and then cleaning the kitchen. Yeah, I don't know how that happened - she's good at what she does.

My mom had purchased gojujang (Korean chile paste) at the Korean store and I had been meaning to use it for something. When I realized we also had soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil (loving this well-stocked pantry), I got to work. 

The recipe turned out amazingly - if not a bit hot. I cut down on the honey and added another tbsp of the chile paste. The recipe here is for the more faint-hearted, don't worry.

Now back to my lavender coffee and my lecture (and watching the world cup game).

xx

Korean Fried Chicken Tacos:

Make the SLAW:

Two cups julienned green cabbage with two or three grated carrots and 1/2 a red onion, sliced.

Juice of two limes

1/2 inch grated ginger (for digestion people)

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

The CHICKEN:

Cut up trimmed chicken breasts into bite sized pieces.

Mix 1 cup flour with 1 tbsp cornstarch and enough water to make a pancake-like batter.

Coat the chicken.

Heat up pot with a few inches of oil.

Once it's hot (i.e. chicken sizzles when placed in), throw in some pieces

Fry for a few minutes (4-5)

Let drain while you fry your subsequent batches.

THEN FRY AGAIN (4-5 minutes)

It should become a more golden brown

Once chicken cools off so it doesn't blister your finger,

Throw the chicken bits in the SAUCE:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
2 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp gojunjang
2 tsbp rice vinegar
1/2 tsbp sesame oil (my mom is not a huge fan, I would add 1 tsbp if it was just me)
1 tbsp honey

THEN throw the SLAW and CHICKEN in a charred corn tortillas. Sprinkle with some CILANTRO and serve with LIME.

Yum.

A Night on the Ace

My best friend, confidante, savior, etc, Rob Chua, came into town this weekend for a conference and thank god, because I needed his chill vibe for my last two days of spring break.


After a couple of hiccups, we met up Saturday afternoon and hit up Red Lion Tavern for a pitcher (The Dunkle) and pretzels before heading to the Upstairs Bar at the Ace Hotel. (Pro tip #1: the elevator up is in the back of the restaurant, LA Chapter; otherwise you have to wait in the main lobby for someone with a keycard.)



The roof is gorgeous and separated into three parts: patio with awnings, candles, tapestries, etc.; the bar area by the main elevators with tattooed, bearded mixologists; and the the pool area. (Pro tip #2: this is where they play music, but its hella breezy so bring a cardigan.)

Rob and I got IPAs (duh) and the girls got a variety of of drinks. (Pro tip #3: the well cocktails are double-digits, so you might as well get a fancy one. ya know?)

Between Ellie, Jacy, Hannah, Lauren, Becky and I, Rob had his hands full :)


We then hit up Veronica's apartment, played some Beyonce and Grant met us. We checked out Spring Street Bar and then LA Cafe for some late night eats. (omg the lobster grilled cheese).

It was lovely to bring some of my closest friends from three parts of my life together (Fullerton, Santa Cruz, and the Boise crew), and I appreciate so much the warmth and kindness they show each other.

Yesterday deserves its own blog post, so I'll hold off on that update.

xoxo

Bootlegger's and Besties

Jacy and I went to my mom's for the last two days, which meant utter gluttony - mimosas, pate, fresh bread, cheeses galore, figs, dates... just for starters. Then we had a beautiful roast chicken and watched American Idol and it was great. And Lauren came over and it made my day even better. How did I get such amazing friends and such an amazing mom and aunt? Like I literally can't even start to rationalize how I deserve such wonderful people in my life.

After stressing my mom out with work and demanding crepes, Jacy and I met Lauren for beer flights and pizza from Two Saucy Broads and Bootlegger's. Lauren like the Golden Chaos, Jacy liked the Mountain Meadow and I liked the Rustic Rye. We got the Firecrackers from TSB - bread, cheese, jalapeño, siracha and chili flakes with ranch. Yum. And then we played Jenga. Seriously such a wonderful afternoon.

Jacy and I just headed back to LA and are preparing for a trip to Villains Tavern and for work tomorrow :)

More updates to come but can I just say that I am so happy right now?

International Trips and Visitors

I'm headed off to Brussels tonight for seven weeks (!!!!). I have a layover in London and arrive in Brussels at 8pm tomorrow night. Let's not talk about how much I'm freaking out.

Funny enough, as my craving for Europe started growing, London came to me last month. :-)

Last month, I got the insane pleasure of seeing both of my London besties within a few days of each other.

When Maya arrived, we did a champagne brunch at my house (thank you bevmo's 5 cent wine sale). There were six of us girls total. I made a chorizo frittata, pancakes, bacon, and bruschetta and mojitos after we finished off the mimosas. Scott gave an impromptu concert and it was just an insanely lovely and fun day. and I love Maya.

Then the next weekend, I picked up Leiley and Elena from their Weho hotel and we hit up intelligenstia and then artisan house for bottomless mimosas (do we see a theme here?) The girls had never had bottomless mimosas (refills are slightly uncouth in the UK). However, we had an amazing brunch with V and then did some tanning on the roof. It felt like I had seen Leiley recently, not two years(!) ago. She's on a whirlwind American trip, but I hope we can catch up again when I visit London in August.

Sophie + Stick and Other Things I Love

Back to work after this weekend. Sophie and I were up early destroying pink porcupines and reading about juvenile justice. I'm heading to school soon for office hours and business associations. I would like to squeeze a workout in, but we'll see how it goes. A few pics from this morning and a few things I'm liking in addition to my babybear. (I need to diversify, or otherwise, I'll be completely anti-social.)

Sophie with my dad. She is as big as his shoe. Still about a pound underweight, but she's eating like a horse:

Love this new Dior doc.

 

 I want everything from Hello Pretty, a new online store, including these endtables and totebag.

Finally found my new bedroom inspiration from StyleFile via SFGirlBytheBay:

 All these dresses via Mint:

Dinner with Amigos

This past Sunday, after Friday night in DT, Grant's amazing graduation party on Saturday, and an adorable bridal shower for Larissa, we finished up the weekend at mi casa. My mom made an amazing meal (as usual), with tandoori chicken, ground beef curry, aloo gobi, salad, raita, and daal. We finished up the night with mango lassis, tea, and my cookies, which I'll post the recipe for tomorrow. Great night with great friends. I don't know what I would do without them :-)

{10 Days}

I come home Sunday, March 27 at 2:50 pm. I don't have a ride home from the airport yet (any takers?) but I am sooooooo excited to be in sunshine and warmth... so let's talk plans - what am i excited for?

1. Seeing my family. Obvs. They are hard to live with, but even harder to live without.

2. Committing to law school - so I can sleep easy for the next three years

3. Coachella!!! Need I say more?

4. Santa Cruz - Verve, Westcliff, Betty's, etc...

5. Thrifting with NJ

6. Coffee in my mom's garden

7. The beach.

8. Driving. I miss driving.

9. Being reunited with... my DSLR... it's been too long.

10. Seeing you. And you know who you are. :-)

Things that will be hard for me:

being a billion miles away from Leiley, making plans with leiley, going out with leiley, drinking tea with leiley, laughing with leiley, singing with leiley, going to the library with leiley.... she made me write all this, but i will miss the little beeze and of course, maya, alina and elisa. obvs.

{Decor} My Dream House

It's a bit girly, but whatevs... I'm loving all these elements

{Inspiration} Bedroom/Workspace Inspiration

I'm currently recovering from a wonderful night out - stories to come later and packing for Oxford... And looking for bedroom/workplace inspiration for when I start law school!
Yay!
photos are from Pinterest - check out my board here.