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2017 Illinois & Wisconsin Trip for Sarah’s & Jacky’s Wedding

October 2, 2017 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, September 20th, I packed my bags and bid farewell to Rizzo then headed over to Sissy’s with her and Tim. We spent the night and woke up a couple of hours later, Thursday, where I was devastated to find that I forgot to pack my jeans.

Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot stand sitting in many public seats without my legs covered up due to the nasty seats. But I prevailed – I put on my athletic shorts and we carried on for our five am flight where they gave out Stroopwafles as a snack.

We landed at eight and bought a day’s worth of public transportation.

After a fairly long train ride and a short walk later, we checked into our hotels, threw our bags in the room and headed off to breakfast.

After a short walk, we ended up at Yolk.

Yolk | Chicago, Illinois | Countryside Skillet

Countryside Skillet [seasoned potatoes, bacon, ham, sausage, mushroom, onion, green pepper, cheddar. Two eggs any style. Side of country sausage gravy. Toast, pancakes, or english muffin.] | $14

They messed up mine and BIL’s order but other than that, it was delicious! Too much food for one person!

We walked across the Chicago Riverwalk towards a Loft nearby just so I can buy a pair of jeans. Thank goodness! Such a beautiful view and look how scary it is that they all park backward in that garage!

Then we all headed to Millennium Park where we checked out the famous bean, The Cloud Gate. So many fingerprints were smeared all over that bean and I was sad to find that I couldn’t get a flawless picture because of it and I wasn’t about to wipe it down (shuddering at the thought of all the germs!).

And the Crown Fountain. I’m not too sure what the faces are about but there were so many little kids splashing around which was adorable.

After standing around for a while, we decided to hop on a bus to make use of our one-day transportation pass and headed to Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is right next to the Children’s Museum and therefore we saw a machine making many bubbles with little kids running through it.

Sissy and Tim played with the bubbles and said that it was super sticky so I can’t even imagine the parents having to clean these babies off!

We walked around the pier and due to the heat BIL got a margarita to go at Margaritaville while Tim and I got a cup of water.

I stopped into Making History Chicago, a souvenir shop for my usual postcard purchase before we headed outside.

Look at that view. I wish I lived somewhere where I can walk and see this. But I probably won’t enjoy it as much if it was at my fingertips, though.

As we were walking back to the bus stop, we noticed a lot of spiderwebs all over the beautiful flowers so I just had to get a snap … and also because Scruffy hates spiders and Sissy and BIL thought it’d be funny to send him some love this way.

I need to better my picture taking skills but you can make out that gorgeous spun web.

We hopped on the Nordiac bus and a short walk later, we were at Goose Island Tap Room.

Goose Island Tap Room | Chicago, Illinois | Sofie

Goose Island Sofie | Saison Beer

We sat and chatted for a long while since we were drenched in sweat and dying from the heat.

What a coincidence to see this sign. So much love coming all the way from Chicago.

We were recommended to have dinner at Au Cheval and decided it was time to check out the reviews where we found out that the wait was going to be horrific. The boys chugged their beers and we headed there just in time because when we got seated, people started piling in.

Au Cheval | Chicago, Illinois | Crispy Fries with Egg

Crispy Fries [mornay sauce, garlic aioli, and fried farm egg] | $9.95

Sissy’s order. I’ve never had garlic aioli I wasn’t a fan of until now and only because the mornay sauce was the bomb!

Au Cheval | Chicago, Illinois | 32 oz Pork Porterhouse

32 oz pork porterhouse [foie gras and roasted apples] | $38.95

Apparently, the porterhouse (a two to three serving) has limited availability and BIL just had to order it. Tim and I declined to share since we wanted the burger (what they’re known for) but we did hint we wouldn’t mind trying a small piece. Towards the end, BIL shared a bit more than intended. Though it was good, I’m not a big fan of pork (other than the bone area) so not something I’d recommend though BIL and Tim probably will.

Au Cheval | Chicago, Illinois | Single Cheeseburger with Bacon and Egg

Single Cheeseburger | $11.95; Add bacon | $3.50, Add egg | $1.00

Tim and I both got the single cheeseburger with added egg. Tim added bacon as well so just picture mine without bacon. It also comes with a pickle. Delicious. Maybe I was super hungry but it could pass as one of the best burgers I’ve had in forever.

Au Cheval | Chicago, Illinois | French Fries

French Fries [garlic aioli] | $6.25

I didn’t know Sissy got fries so I ordered the regular and I kept trying to steal some of her mornay sauce. Without that sauce the fries aren’t worth the money.

We walked to Walgreens for water and little knickknacks we didn’t pack before heading back to the hotel and calling it a night. We slept like babies due to lack of sleep the night before.

We woke up Friday morning and had breakfast at the hotel.

We played a couple rounds of some card game BIL brought with him (Gordon and Patsy stopped by to say hi since they had just landed) then packed up our bags, checked out, and checked in our bags at the concierge.

Then headed to Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. That was the reason for the card playing.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria | Chicago, Illinois | The Lou Personal Pizza

The Lou Personal Pizza [spinach mix (enhanced with garlic, basil & onion), mushrooms and sliced Roma tomatoes covered with three cheeses] | $10.25

Sissy being vegetarian got the personal pizza that served one and even then did not finish due to a heavier breakfast. It was good but the crust on the bottom was quite soggy due to all the veggies.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria | Chicago, Illinois | The Malnati Chicago Classic Large Pizza

The Malnati Chicago Classic Large Pizza [Lou’s lean sausage, some extra cheese and vine-ripened tomato sauce on Buttercrust] | $26.05

Tim, BIL, and I shared a large and though I am a lover of pan pizza, I will say, with all the ingredients in there, the crust on the bottom was still super crispy.

Look at how the ingredients pile up! And there was still leftovers — the boys tried so hard to shove it down their throats and did not complete the challenge.

We headed back to the hotel, got our luggage, and headed to Hertz to pick up our car.

We started our drive towards Madison, Wisconsin where I worked on updating and memorizing the wedding schedule and took a nap.

Soon enough, we were checking into the hotel where we received goodie bags from the bride and groom.

After dropping our luggage off at our rooms we went to The Great Dane, a pub and brewing company.

We ordered beers and snacks while playing Chinese card game.

The Great Dane | Madison, Wisconsin | Crop Circle Wheat

Crop Circle Wheat [60% wheat malt and imported German yeast and hops – refreshing and somewhat spicy, served unfiltered with a slice of lemon]

I got the sampler tasting cup size so it was only like a dollar something. So worth it since I don’t drink much. I wish more places did it that way!

The Great Dane | Madison, Wisconsin | Old Glory Cheese Curds

Old Glory Cheese Curds [over one-half pound of American Pale Ale hand-battered Ellsworth Wisconsin cheese curds served with a roasted Hatch green chili crema] | $9.25

It was nothing special. Tasted like fried mozzarella. No squeak, which is what I heard makes cheese curds, cheese curds.

The Great Dane | Madison, Wisconsin | Poutine

Poutine [fresh hot pub fries and Ellsworth Wisconsin garlic dill cheese curds finished with a rich gravy and minced chives] | $6.75

This was a better option, cheaper too than the cheese curds. We scarfed these down very quickly.

After, we dropped Tim off at Ichiban Sichuan for the wedding rehearsal dinner – without the rehearsal – and headed to the lake.

We walked around and I was able to capture some shots.

I tried to capture the ducks and only got this good picture since seconds after this shot some kids ran up to them telling them to shoo away.

We walked into Graze for dinner but due to a short wait, we took a walk around the capital.

Look how it lights up!

And how it reflects off the glass building across the street. Graze is located on the right of the building.

Bibimbap [choice of marinated: ground pork or tofu, crispy rice, sunny-side up egg, sauteed bok choy, market vegetables, spicy gochujang] | $16

Sissy ordered the bibimbap which was way better than I expected since I live in a city with a Chinatown.

Graze | Madison, Wisconsin | Pan Seared Gnocchi

Pan Seared Gnocchi [delicata squash, kale, chevre, honey crisp apples, cider redux, ground cherry brown butter] | $19

Though my gnocchi was to die for, especially the vegetables thrown in there, it was super expensive for the amount of food I got. I forgot that’s how fancy places are.

We walked into Walgreens for my usual postcard purchase before we headed back to the hotel where I got ready for tomorrow’s big day while Sissy, BIL, and Tim played more card games.

Saturday morning, Sarah and Jacky’s wedding day … but first breakfast at the hotel after a quick stop by Brudda’s and SIL’s room to pick up Emmy to join us.

After breakfast, Emmy, Sissy, Brudda, SIL, BIL, and Peggy all went to Dane County Farmer’s Market. We kept bumping into people and it took us a while to realize that everyone was going in one direction and that it looped around the capital.

Brudda and I took so many shots of sunflowers since the bees were buzzing. He has way better shots than mine (he has a better camera too) but it was fun getting to shoot alongside him since these moments are very rare now.

A bunch of various flowers was way cheaper than those we find here in Houston. I am not a lover of flowers but the colors captivated me.

And the tri-color cauliflowers! I wished so bad that we had an extra day and a kitchen so that we could buy ingredients and make a meal!

Everyone bough mango smoothies to beat the heat except for me. Does anyone else get even thirstier after drinking juices?

Soon enough we found a cheese curd stand worth stopping for, Schroeder Kase.

I went crazy and bought a few bags and Sissy and BIL bought a couple. So much squeak! Sadly the squeak was gone when we got it home but a few short seconds in the microwave put the squeak back (a bit).

One of the places I wanted to visit for cheese shopping was Fromagination so I was ecstatic to find out that it was at the same place as the market!

Look at all the cheese! SIL and I were able to try some before we made our purchases. Great customer service here.

We headed back to the hotel where I quickly picked up my things and headed to Olbrich Botanical Gardens with John, Tim, and Jo to set up the reception area. John and Tim got us Chickfila for lunch. Yum!

After much set back the wedding was on its way. I was able to catch a shot of the bride and father of the bride as they walked down the aisle toward the groom and pastor. Not to toot my own horn but I love this shot and what this shot symbolizes.

There was a buffet of food and I must say the best wedding food I’ve had ever … and I’ve been to many weddings!

The bride and groom even paid for everyone at the wedding to attend the Gleam: Art in a New Light Exhibit which the gardens held for the public.

There were lights hanging off and wrapped around trees and even lighted up sculptures. I love little lights! Sigh … so pretty. My photography skills are still lacking, but I am still going to share the pictures below.

After cleaning up and making sure everyone has left the location we headed back to the hotel, changed, and packed up. Then it was a long drive back to the Chicago airport.

Our flight was at five am Sunday so we didn’t get any sleep. We knocked out on the plane – I missed snack time! When we landed a little before eight am we stopped by Sissy’s and BIL’s house before heading home and dropping Tim off on the way.

Once home we all took showers then headed to New Pho Katy with the family and Tim and all head back to our house where we played a few card games before Scruffy and Luna came over.

We played a round of Camel Up before disbanding and calling it a day. We were all pooped and couldn’t wait to lay in bed and do nothing.

I accepted when Sarah asked me to be her day of wedding coordinator. I’ve done certain parts of other weddings in the past but to be in control of a whole day was something I never imagined especially coming from my cousin! I can only hope I did a good enough job to where the bride and groom had a swell time. It was a great experience and I had fun doing it!

Sarah and Jacky had their tea ceremony on Saturday, September 30th at her parents’ house and afterward, we all went to Sushi9. Scruffy got to experience how a tea ceremony kind of works and I was so thankful he showed up even though he was not feeling well. Trooper. Now that her wedding is over, who is next? Call me up. I can be your coordinator. hehe

Yolk
340 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654 | (855) 328-9655 | Website | Yelp

Chicago Riverwalk
400 E Lower Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 | Website | Yelp

Loft
51 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 | (312) 269-0301 | Website | Yelp

Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 742-1168 | Website | Yelp

The Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 742-1168 | Website | Yelp

Crown Fountain
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 742-1168 | Yelp

Navy Pier
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | (312) 595-7437 | Website | Yelp

Margaritaville
700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | (312) 496-3840 | Website | Yelp

Making History Chicago
700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | (312) 645-0062 | Yelp

Goose Island Tap Room
1800 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612 | (800) 466-7363 | Website | Yelp

Au Cheval
800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607 | (312) 929-4580 | Website | Yelp

Walgreens
151 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601 | (312) 863-4249 | Yelp

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 | (312) 828-9800 | Website | Yelp

Hertz
401 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 | (312) 372-7600 | Yelp

The Great Dane
123 E Doty St, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 284-0000 | Website | Yelp

Graze
1 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 251-2700 | Website | Yelp

Walgreens
15 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 257-3814 | Yelp

Dane’s County Farmers Market
2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 455-1999 | Website | Yelp

Fromagination
12 S Carroll St, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 255-2430 | Website | Yelp

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704 | (608) 246-4550 | Website | Yelp

Pho Katy
811 S Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450 | (281) 206-7933 | Website | Yelp

Last Week’s Shenanigans

March 8, 2017 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

03/03 – Dinner for Scruffy and the famsiciles. My own take on Ramen with generous sides. Soup base not pictured in fears it’ll mess up my picture. Ha!

03/04 – 10 year High School Reunion at Saint Arnold’s Brewery. Worth going to see how people turn out. I bumped into more people going to the restroom than being in the main room.

03/05 – Scruffy surprised me with a buttload of crawfish. I was such a happy camper. There were so many leftovers but I demolished it the next day … some with June. She said it was PERFECT and would like him to come make more for us one day soon.

03/06 – Emmy is finally born. I can cross being an auntie off my list! I’ll be making an eight hour round trip just to see her face in person this weekend! Eeep! Can’t wait to hold her.

Thuy’s & Vu’s Wedding

March 1, 2017 by Mellie Dee 1 Comment

L to R: Scruffy, Me, Amy, Andy, Vu, Thuy, Patricia, Rachel, Maria, Ryan

Last weekend, Scruffy and I drove up to Austin to witness Thuy and Vu tie the knot. It was one of the best weddings I’ve ever been to and it was all planned out by the newlyweds. Props. I cannot wait to see what their future holds. I’m hoping twins since it’s in his genes. hehe It was such a lovely, fun weekend, albeit I was super grouchy and tired.

Hope Outdoor Gallery
1101 Baylor St, Austin, TX 78703
Yelp

On Friday, February 24th, Scruffy and I woke up and bolted out the door. We made stops to Randall’s, McDonald’s, and Walgreens before making our way to the well known graffiti wall. I see so many people take pictures here and even have friends that tag so it’s been on my list of to-do’s.

Hope Outdoor Gallery | Austin, Texas | Artist Spray Paints Graffiti Wall

It was super sunny and the artist was drenched with sweat but he continued on. Dedication right there. I wish I got to see his finish product though and also wished we brought spray paint so we could leave our mark as well.

There was a lot of climbing on slanted, rocky ground and since I forgot to change into my trainers before we started, I only climbed up as much as I could – dang flip flops. Scruffy ventured out a little more and I was able to get some cool shots of him. After he had enough sweating we headed to lunch.

Michi Ramen | Austin, Texas | Sapporo Ramen, Michi Ramen, Green Tea Mochi, Pistachio Mochi

Michi [chashu slices, roasted nori, mayu oil, woodear mushrooms, green onions] | $9.72 ~ Sapporo [chashu slices, bean sprouts, corn/butter, woodear mushrooms, green onions] | $10.75 ~ Green Tea Mochi and Pistachio Mochi | 2 for $3 ~ Add Ons: Ajitama [marinated soft-boiled egg] | $1 ~ Spicy Homemade Chili Oil | $0.50 ~ Mayu Blackened Garlic Oil | $0.50

Michi Ramen
6519 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752
(512) 386-1908 | Website

Scruffy’s classic Michi Ramen had the perfect flavour while my Sapporo Ramen was a little salty probably due to adding the garlic oil which he opted out of adding. It was also a downer that they didn’t have bean sprouts but only a mixture of veggies. We went right around opening time so to not have something that you know is a staple is unacceptable.

For the mochis: Pistachio just doesn’t do well but the green tea was on point. Other than that the mochis weren’t anything to rave about.

There’s nothing much to say about this place. I thought it’d be the bomb dot com but walked out unsatisfied.

Oskar Blues Brewery
10420 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 243-7054 | Website

We decided to check into our hotel so that we can put our bags down before heading to a brewery. The traffic was starting so we found this one close by and it was not a let down.

I loved a select few and he liked practically all of them. The glass in the picture is a smaller glass for $3 which is great if you don’t drink much or want to try more. After a few more beers, Scruffy agreed to use the photo booth they had with me which made my day.

We bid farewell and headed towards Rock Rose Domain area. I dragged him into Paper Source, Francesca’s, Sephora and various other shops bumping into two of the bridesmaids.

Jack and Ginger’s Irish Pub
11500B Rock Rose, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 350-3738 | Website

We came in for a Irish Car Bomb and decided to get the wings as well. They were both equally delicious. I didn’t remember to take a picture of the wings but …

… I was able to snap a picture of this cutie. He’s probably going to hate this picture but I love his little smirk.

Adelbert’s Brewery
2314 Rutland Dr #100, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 662-1462 | Website

We headed to our last brewery, the one he’s been wanting to revisit again. We paid for the special they have that comes with 6 beers, a tour and glass per person. Naked Nun is still my favourite. Mmm …

The two kitties stole the show though. They just adopted them for mice catching purposes but I’m sure the one on the right is planning a getaway.

FryDeez Food Truck | Austin, Texas | Kardiac Arrest Eggroll

Kardiac Arrest Eggroll [steak fajita, bacon, chipotle pork combined with a blend of four cheeses with sweet potato chips] | Large $10

FryDeez
(512) 655-3907 | Yelp

They always have food trucks on site and we were lucky enough to try their giant eggroll. We didn’t know how hungry we were until we scarfed down our food in minutes. Sweet potato chips are 100% better than regular kettle chips places usually serve. All restaurants, take notice.

Rock Rose | Taverna | Austin, Texas | Fritto Misto

Fritto Misto [calamari, shrimp, shallots, zucchini, and carrots, with spicy tomato aioli] | $13.95

Taverna
3120 Palm Way #160, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 356-9384 | Yelp

We had a swift stop at the hotel before heading out to meet with Trisha and her friend, Christy. We ended up back at Rock Rose Domain where Trisha ate dinner and the rest of us drank. Scruffy and I shared the platter of fried goodness but stopped munching on it due to the super oily residue it kept leaving in our mouths and fingers.

After hours and hours of catching up, Trisha gave us some goodies and we bid farewell. Back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

On Saturday, February 25th, Scruffy and I sleepily made our way downstairs for our complimentary breakfasts. We bumped into Amy and caught up with her while we waited for our food. As we all made our way back to our rooms, we realized Amy was rooming right across from us! #winning Scruffy and I enjoyed our breakfast with a side of Lost. Those are hands down some of the best potatoes we’ve had.

We decided to pick up some liquor and drinks to pregame with.

#2 Meal [cheeseburger, french fries, medium drink]

In-N-Out Burger
12431 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78753
(800) 786-1000 | Website

And decided to pick up lunch to take back to the hotel so we could watch telly while eating. In-N-Out in Texas is a great big fail. It might be the best over in California but here, it’s always been a miss. The fries were so stale that Scruffy punctured his gums and started bleeding.

Marriot Hotel | Austin, Texas | Thuy's & Vu's Wedding | Patricia, Amy, Mellie Dee, Scruffy, Andy

L to R: Patricia, Amy, Me, Scruffy, Andy

I was so busy pregaming that when I went over to Amy’s room to hang out, I realize everyone else was almost done getting ready. We met up at the hotel lobby for a quick picture and to carpool to the festivities.

Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church | Austin, Texas | Thuy's & Vu's Wedding

Thuy & Vu tie the knot!

We waited patiently for the ceremony to start during which I noticed many familiar faces. After an hour later, the two were officially married. Look at them smiles! And her dress is to DIE for. Sigh …

Amy & Patricia

There was a two hour gap until the reception so we all headed to HEB for snacks and drinks, headed back to the hotel where we gathered in the lobby. After awhile, I started falling asleep and Scruffy and I went upstairs for a nap.

New Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant | Austin, Texas | Thuy’s & Vu’s Wedding | Reception Dinner

Crab Meat Fish Maw Soup, Scallop Fried Rice, Phoenix Tail Shrimp and Walnut Shrimp, Crispy Honey Chicken, Abalone with Black Mushrooms and Snow Pea Leaves, Wedding Cake, Seasonal Fruit, Black Pepper Steak Cubes, Steam Lobster Tail

New Fortune
10901 N Lamar Blvd #501, Austin, TX 78753
(512) 832-9992 | Yelp

The reception was off the hook. Vu’s dad was the best performer ever, singing and dancing! I see where Vu gets it from now. And the food was on point and perfectly catered to the different ethnicity present. I think the least favourite was the chicken. Cold chicken seems to put non-Asians off.

New Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant | Austin, Texas | Thuy's & Vu's Wedding | Mellie Dee

Vu & Thuy! — and Me

Just a picture to show the different garbs they changed into.

New Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant | Austin, Texas | Thuy's & Vu's Wedding | Amy, Mellie Dee, Patricia, Andy

Amy, Me, Patricia, Andy, Me!

And of course, it would not be complete without these signature pose pictures.

Punch Bowl Social
11310 Domain Dr, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 368-9070 | Website

When the lights turned on around eleven, it was time to head out. We stopped by at the hotel then headed to the after party. People slowly trickled in and we were able to talk to everyone who was to busy to before due to their wedding duties.

After a while the majority was crashing. We stopped by Whataburger before going back to the hotel.

On Sunday, February 26th, Scruffy and I overslept and missed the breakfast. I ate my leftover Whataburger, packed the rest of our stuff, and headed downstairs to bid Amy and Patricia goodbye while Andy was showering.

Bombay Grill | Richmond, Texas | Chicken Vindaloo, Lamb Roganjosh, Garlic Naan, Saffaron Rice, Raita

Chicken Vindaloo, Lamb Roganjosh, Garlic Naan, Raita, Saffaron Rice

Bombay Grill
1852 FM 359 Rd, Richmond, TX 77406
(832) 595-9400 | Website

We’ve both had Indian food the past couple of weekends but we were still craving it and had decided before the trip began we would come back for lunch. We ordered our usual and scarfed it down before heading back to his place for an episode of Lost. Then it was home for dinner with the family since Sissy and BIL were coming over.

Scruffy & Me

Especially thankful for this kid right here for hanging out with me and my friends, getting me dranks because my ass was too lazy to do so, taking various silly photo booth pictures, and still sticking around even though I was constantly grouchy. Yous a trooper!

2017 Asia Trip | Day 8

January 13, 2017 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Sissy and I woke up very early and got ready for the day. We weren’t really able to sleep much but I would say the pod wasn’t too bad.

The only incident was that when I went up to go pee in the middle of the night a lady claimed that she went to get a drink of water and came back and found out that someone had stolen her two passports. Thank goodness I got Sissy to watch my pod while I went. We weren’t sure if she ever got them back but I hope that she did.

We woke up too early for any places to be open for food so we walked around and found this massage chair. It cost only a dollar something for a 10 minute massage. Since there’s nothing else to do I dropped some coins in and sat down. My back felt so much better afterwards.

We walked back to Tatsu thinking it will be Ramen. But when we got there we realized they served udon. We didn’t know where else to go so we ordered our udon. One curry and one regular. It wasn’t the best but we made do.

We went and bought some souvenirs before going towards our gate. It’s a very big store with so much to look at!

We stopped by a sushi place since hello Japan. We ordered the $17 plate of sushi and shared it. My sister is vegetarian and I was surprised that she tried more than I thought she would.

We went to our last restroom break before the flight. One that cleans your bum and the other you squat at.

A snack was served a little after take off and dinner three hours in.

We were served a sandwich halfway through the flight but I didn’t get one. I was too full and knew we would be served breakfast soon. Two to three hours before landing we were served breakfast, just as I thought.

I was able to capture the sunrise which is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. So much cloudiness and so much brightness all in one. I was also able to see another plane fly alongside of us as you can see in the last picture.

Sissy and I took the Uber home. We showered and she took a long nap. Then we, along with Brett, Bruno, and Kato, went home to see Rizzo, June, and Rocky. Scruffy and Luna came over as well and we went to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. We came back for a couple games of Camel Up while tasting wasabi Kit Kat, Sake Kit Kat, and this crunchy noodle snack.

Though I wish I was still back in Hong Kong, I’m happy to be home. I have missed my pups and Scruffs.

2016 Summer Getaway | Day 4

August 18, 2016 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

There was early morning fog as we headed to Grouse Mountain. I wanted to go early so that it wouldn’t be hot and sticky when we climbed but I definitely didn’t take into account the fogginess that could occur.

McDonald’s
2601 Westview Dr
North Vancouver, BC V7M 0A3, Canada
(604) 985-0203

There weren’t many places opened on the way to Grouse Mountain and we actually had to turn around and stop at McDonald’s instead. He gave me a mean look when he couldn’t eat his food so that I could take a picture. hehe

Grouse Mountain
6400 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9, Canada
(604) 980-9311
http://grousemountain.com

We finally arrived but we didn’t end up climbing. Instead, we bought lift tickets. I shall climb a mountain next time so I can cross it off my list. Eeep.

The view from the lift was incredible and the fog surprisingly made it that much more breathtaking.

When we arrived, we walked into this cabin-like place. It reminded me of movies and telly shows where people will come inside for hot cocoa and coffee and warm up before going back out on the slopes. Maybe one day I’ll actually get to experience that.

Grouse Mountain | Vancouver, Canada | Scruffy & Mellie Dee

Scruffy & Me on top of Grouse Mountain

The fog sucked since we couldn’t see past much of anything but it was relaxing to be up there because the view was still as stunning.

We walked around for a bit … mostly because I wanted to get my steps in since we didn’t do the hike.

I like that they share the wilderness instead of taking away their homes. We were lucky to run into some bears. It may seem as if they are caged but in reality, they are living in their own habitat with the forest behind them.

The weather was so nice that there was a yoga session going on. They had mats laid out for anyone to join and I almost did.

Scruffy & Me taking in the last of the mountain air

But we just watched them instead and took in the mountain air before we headed back down. Having him with me up there made everything complete and I didn’t want to leave.

Going back down was a faster ride and once we did, we went back to our AirBnB to change out of our “workout” clothes and headed to lunch.

Meat & Bread
370 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4, Canada
(604) 566-9003
http://meatandbread.ca

We split the Porchetta [with salsa verde] | $9 and Sparkling Water | $2. They even added cracklins inside for that crispy texture. Although it is a simple sandwich, it was one of the best I’ve had which says a lot since I’m not a big fan of pork.

We walked into Chinatown for a bit just to see how it was.

And saw a lady using wood and a steamroller to make some kind of art. We didn’t stay the whole time to check out the entire process but I will say that the end products they previously made were pretty.

Scruffy and I had decided to jump around different food places again so our first stop was …

The Pint Public House
455 Abbott Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1S5, Canada
(604) 684-0258
http://thepint.ca

We both got drinks and thought it was pretty cool that the Grapefruit Mimosa I ordered came with a small bottle of champagne so that you can put in as much or as little as you want. I poured the whole thing in of course.

Pint Poutine [pint fries topped with cheese curds and pint gravy] | $10 to share. It didn’t live up to my expectations or memories of when I first had it in Toronto back in 2006 but at least Scruffy can now say he’s tried Poutine!

Tim Hortons
108 W Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6B 0K4, Canada
(604) 568-9262
http://timhortons.com

I also had great memories of this place back in 2006 so we bought an Eclair, Vanilla Dip Donut, Chocolate Glazed Timbits, Sour Cream Glazed Timbits, Apple Fritters Timbits, and Blueberry Timbits for breakfast the next day. It didn’t live up to expectations as well. Sigh … maybe it’s because it was a day old or maybe because it was just too sweet.

Sushi Itoga
1668 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7, Canada
(604) 687-2422
http://itoga.com

I thought it was pretty cool that they gave each person their own picture of Matcha Green Tea | free.

And they gave us Miso Soup | free as well. I was so excited for all the free things, especially because we only ordered one dish to share.

The Assorted Sashimi [11pc: tuna, salmon, hamachi, tako] | $18. So legit. I don’t ever want to leave the land of raw fish.

BC Liquor Store
1716 Robson St
Vancouver, BC V6G 2J7, Canada
(604) 660-9031
http://bcliquorstores.com

We stopped by the liquor store to pick up a whiskey made from Canada for Scruffy’s dad. It was crazy busy in there. We then walked back to our AirBnB to put it down before heading to our reservation at …

Guu with Garlic
1698 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7, Canada
(604) 685-8678
http://guu-izakaya.com/robson

This place gets packed so we had to put our names down while we went to the liquor store and AirBnB.

Sake Bombs. I’m not sure if I have already mentioned this but Seattle and Vancouver are a little more upscale to where they aren’t a fan of sake bombs so we did shots instead and used our beer for chasers.

Premium Garlic Beef Tongue [sliced beef tongue with garlic butter soy sauce] | $8.50 had some chewy pieces at the top but the middle was just right. Tender and juicy. Scruffy wasn’t a big fan but did enjoy those little gems.

Sockeye Salmon Carpaccio [thinly sliced sockeye salmon sashimi with onion & garlic dressing] | $8.80 was just as delicious. Ordering this helps donate money to some charity who builds schools? houses? or something which was pretty cool.

Green Panda Dispensary
1707 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6G, Canada
(888) 562-0848
http://greenpandadispensary.com

I saw this across the street and got very excited. I thought it was a cute little sushi place … but I was mistaken. No sushi. Just weed. Sigh … Super cute and clever name for a dispensary though.

Nero Belgian Waffle Bar
1703 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1C9, Canada
(778) 712-0694
http://nerobelgianwafflebar.com

This was right next door to Green Panda and since we hadn’t really had desserts, we went in.

Mini Liege Waffles [original, vanilla custard, almond, 2 mini Liege au chocolat] | 5 for $10 hit the spot. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I wish I could get more of the mini Liege au chocolats here in Houston. So freaking good.

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant
1709 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1C9, Canada
(604) 684-3444

Volcano Roll [8pcs: deep fried prawn, cucumber, avocado, topped with spicy tuna, green onion, spicy sauce, and sesame seeds] | $9

Hokikai [surf clam] | $2.25

Ama Ebi [sweet raw prawn] | $2.75

Scruffy ate most of the volcano roll and was getting full adding that when we go to our last food place, he won’t eat a lot but will only drink. He can’t hang. Nah, just kidding. It’s because he keeps drinking beer while I stick with water so I could eat more.

Dover Arms
961 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 2M3, Canada
(604) 683-1929
http://doverarmspub.com

Exhibit A. haha We had to make reservations to the next place so we stopped by here for him to grab a beer. He loved the glass and asked me to take a picture of it. So here it is. Looks like a grenade.

Kingyo
871 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 2L9, Canada
(604) 608-1677
http://kingyo-izakaya.ca

His, of course.

Stone-Grilled Kobe Beef [stone-grilled marinated Kobe beef with 2 kinds of Kingyo original sauce] | $24 was the BEST thing we ate that day. Oh my goodness gracious.

Look at that Kobe searing on that stone! Marbling perfection. My mouth is watering …

Stone-Grilled Beef Tongue [stone-grilled beef tongue served with Shio koji, red yuzu pepper sauce & green onions] | $ 9.80 is the same concept. And I about died. I’ve only eaten beef tongue in Hong Kong and Taiwan so having it here was like a dream.

Kingyo Japanese Izakaya| Vancouver, Canada | Mellie Dee & Scruffy Silly Faces

Me & Scruffy being silly

We took pictures while we waited for more food. This one’s my favourite.

I couldn’t leave without pigging out on this one last time. I would have gotten the Kobe beef if he was hungry but since he wasn’t and beef tongue was cheaper, I picked that instead. He had fun cooking it for me while I had fun eating it. Win-win.

They gave us Frozen Grapes | free as dessert. The flowers made a super cheap dessert super fancy.

While we were walking to Dover Arms we saw herds of people walking down the street with kids in tow. They were heading to English Bay to view the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks presented by The Walt Disney Company from the USA. While we walked back to Kingyo and after eating at Kingyo, they were still walking, like zombies. The fireworks haven’t even started!

We followed the crowd and watched the fireworks with them. I didn’t understand why they were all so excited to see fireworks and figured that they didn’t get to light fireworks like we do back in the states.

After a long walk back with the rest of the zombies, we reached our AirBnB. We finally opened up the Kinder Egg Surprise we got while we were in Chinatown earlier. He loved the chocolate and we tried playing with the toy that came inside.

That was the only form of coolness we got came from that standing fan. I was sweating so bad the day before and we decided to move it to the middle which was better. I thought everyone pretty much had air conditioning since we had it in Hong Kong but boy was I wrong.

Jumping to different sushi places made my heart smile and I’m thankful that he was willing to do so with me. At the end of the trip he flat out told me he was done with sushi/raw fish for a while. haha

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