My May Favorites

Things I Found Joy In Throughout This Month

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Woah.. we are really half way through 2021 already!

May really felt like we’re going back to some type of normalcy like pre-pandemic times for me. Indoor dinning, crowds, actual events… it’s all happening and I’m really enjoying it!!

I am 100% a homebody, but with the pandemic forcing us to stay indoors, it felt so good to actually dress up and go out. One of the first places that I went out to is actually a restaurant near me, where I find myself coming back week after week because it’s just that good, so I’m going to start my May Favorites list with it.

1. Bungalow Kitchen by Micheal Mina

This place is a whole VIBE!! The decor, the view, and most importantly the food were all phenomenal. I came back twice in the span of 2 weeks.. & I rarely do that. Here’s the items that I ordered both times that I was there,

Chili-Garlic King Crab brushed with Scampi Butter, Golden Garlic & Charred Lime

The picture speaks for itself, but really… what’s there to not like about chilli, garlic, butter and thiccc crab meat?? One order comes with 1 already split in half king crab leg, so I would recommend that you order 1 per person. Beautifully blended bold flavors that goes so well with the crab meat, this one is a MUST on the menu.

Jalapeño Shrimp Toast topped with mild Ginger Aïoli & Cilantro

I was pleasantly surprised with this one because I wasn’t expecting much from the name and by looking at it. It gave me a light mouth feel, the shrimp on op was soft and bouncy (not chewy) & the toast was crispy but light at the same time. The nuance of textures was what made this dish memorial for me.

Short Rib ‘Pop-Tart’ topped with Horseradish Cream & Crispy Shallots, drizzled with Sauce Au Poivre

I saw “pop-tart” and knew right away that I had to find out what it’s about. Right when I took the first bite of the pop-tart, I fell in love. The flakey-ness of the puff pastry was the right balance for the well seasoned short rib & what really tied this whole plate together was the horseradish cream.

Parker House Rolls perfectly warmed & served with a side of Whipped Ricotta with Black Pepper-Honey 

You’re probably going to have to order these 3-4 times throughout your dinner. They are SO addictive and delicious, the smell of these bad boys pull you right in and the ricotta honey dip keeps you coming back, even when your stomach feels like it can’t store anymore.

Bungalow Meyer Lemon Crêpe Cake
stacked with Crème Fraîche cream, Lemon Curd & local Raspberries

If you’ve ever had a crepe cake before, you would understand how magical they are. The feel of every layer hitting your tongue with heavenly cream in between is… *chef’s kiss* so this lemon crepe cake is no difference, but the one thing that makes this one stand out is the lemon curd. If you’re like me and you are a sour head (loves sour stuff) you would LOVE this dessert.

2. Red Boat Kho Sauce

In Vietnamese cuisine to “Kho” is to braise a protein in a mixture of caramelized sugar and fish sauce. The most common version of a kho would be Thịt kho or Cá kho and it’s fairly simple to make, but the process of caramelizing the sugar could get tricky so Red Boat Fish Sauce has developed a pre-made braising sauce with all the traditional flavors of a kho like the shallots, fish sauce & sugar and bottled it. I tested out the sauce by using one of the recipes that it came with, you can watch the video here and it was surprisingly SO GOOD. I ended up testing it on other proteins too and it really tasted like the real deal, this sauce is owned and developed by Vietnamese people so it easily became a favorite of mine.

3. The Sponge Bath

I found this through an Instagram ad & I knew right away that I had to have it. I run through a sponge in like 3-4 weeks because I throw it out when the scrubby side starts to get raggedy or when it smells even after I’ve cleaned in the dish washer. Sponges are SO GROSS because they hold so much bacteria and then you’re using that to wash the dishes that you eat off of, I didn’t know what other way to store/clean a sponge for it not to get nasty, but ever since I got this SpongeBath I have really been enjoying washing dishes because my sponge feels like a brand new sponge every time. The holder is convenient and easy to use, the cleaning solution removes oder, grease/ mold stains & keeps the sponge fresh AF. If you’re into having a clean sponge, consider investing in the SpongeBath.

4. reMarkable 2 Paper Tablet

This is a paper tablet, meaning it’s a tablet that’s meant to be your journal. I’m big on writing things down, it’s how I operate and survive. Throughout the day I journal my thoughts, write down random notes, make lists/reminders, plan projects, etc… so I usually cary around a notebook with me, so when I saw this, it just felt like it was made for me. I was hesitant at first because of the price range, but it was close to my birthday so I decided to buy it as a present to myself. I bought it closer to the end of April so during the month of May I really got the full use out of this. As a person that writes everything down, this paper tablet has not left my side ever since I first got it. I honestly love everything about it. My favorite feature has to be the pen and the different fonts that it comes with, if you are an avid viewer of my IG stories it’s what I have been writing my “Good Morning(:” and “Happy___(:” with. Totally worth the splurge for me.

5. Dr. Martens x Suicoke collab sandals

When I first got these, people were hating BIG TIME, but I get it… I can’t expect everyone to have the same taste and style that I’m into. I’ve been scouting for a good chunky sandals and when I saw these I knew that these were IT. It’s exactly what I’ve been wanting, everything about the sandals were perfect to me, so I had to get them. They’re open toed so it gives your toes some wiggle room, they’re definitely true to size. I’m a 5.5 in women’s and my sandals hug my feet so nicely. I feel like these shoes are so versatile and can be worn with anything and for everything.

I got them here

I hope you enjoyed this list of the things that I found joy in throughout the month of May. Leave a comment and share a few things that brought you joy this month (:

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