REVIEW: HELLO, FRESH

People often ask me, do you cook a lot. I often respond with a snort and and a smile. Then something along the lines of, I'm better at eating. All snorts and retorts aside, I do want to cook. I honestly just have a hard time finding a block in my schedule to do so. Then there's the whole, I have to buy a WHOLE bag of spinach when I only NEED 2 handfuls. The remaining ingredients always go unused and I feel guilty. This is where Hello Fresh comes into the picture. 

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We source ingredients directly from independent producers to deliver you nothing but fresh, top-quality products. And, you don’t need to be home to accept a delivery. Our boxes are layered with an isolating wool and ice packs to keep ingredients farm fresh and cool until you get home.
— www.hellofresh.com

At this point, most people have heard of these meal delivery kits. Essentially, you get just enough ingredients to make delicious meals. Most places have different plans that range from dietary restrictions to family size. The meals are delivered to your door, three at a time, and typically take 30-40 minutes to prepare. Super simple instructions are included with step by step photo instructions. 

I chose the family meal plan and got 3 kits. The first one I made was the Shrimp Linguine.  

It may not seem like a lot, but the shrimp was deveined which is a HUGE deal to me. There's nothing worse than biting into your meal and realizing the shrimp wasn't properly cleaned. Also, the Oregano was so fragrant, it made my kitchen smell so good. 

I was very proud of the finished product! I ate it over the course of 3 days and it tasted just as good as day 1. You can use code DAILYJ35 for $35 off your first box! If you do end up trying it, let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

xx, jenny

ARTESIA: NEPTUNES RAW BAR & CAFE 86

I got a chance to try Neptunes Raw Bar and it did not disappoint. I was in the area and knew that I HAD to stop by. I'd seen too many lobster roll and oyster photos to not take advantage of the opportunity. It is located in a plaza with ample parking. Huge plus. 

The lobster roll had HUGE chunks of lobster in every bite. They really don't skimp on the portions! I would say - I would have loved some kind of sauce or condiment to accompany the roll but overall - really good! 

 

Cereal Crusted Stuffed French Toast & Lobster Mac N Cheese.

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The highlight of my meal was definitely the uni pasta. I'm a huge uni fan so keep that in mind for my next glowing remark. This dish features an uni cream sauce as well as chunks of uni. I've had uni pastas before but they often were too conservative with the urchin which makes for a very bland pasta. This one really doesn't. You get a burst of flavor in every bite. 

In the same plaza is a Cafe 86. By now, you must have seen their infamous flan topped ube cupcakes all over Instagram. With locations in Pasadena, Artesia, and Chino, this Filipino themed eatery has some very unique items. I of course had to try the flan/ube cupcake. I'm sad to report that I thought this was just ok. The flan was good but the cupcake lacked a rich ube flavor. Overall, I think it's more Instagram worthy than it is tasty. I did however really enjoy their boba. I'm curious to try other items next time!

xx, jenny

BEAUTY: Daniel Jordan Salon + Short Bob

For those who've known me since my adolescent years, they can recall a time when my hair was down my back and ended right above my waistline. But since my horrific ombre hair experience and the endless dye jobs to get back to my natural color, I've worn my hair shorter. The ombre turned my straight fine hair into a broomstick so I chopped off about a foot of hair one fateful day. And I just keep going shorter. 

I continuously bounce from salon to salon but I think I've finally found my home base. Daniel Jordan was opened by a husband & wife duo in the Encino Town Center. The open space, minimalist design, and friendly staff are just a few of the reasons why I love it there. I opted for a cut + conditioning treatment + blowout; except I don't do blowouts because I think they look weird on me so my stylist curled my hair instead. We took off about 2 inches of hair and I couldn't be happier with the results. 

I've been really into taupe nude hoodie lately and I just found this cozy piece at Forever 21. It is embroidered with the popular "Love is patient..." quote. Firstly, I love the quote. Secondly, it reminds me of A Walk to Remember. I paired it with my Forever 21 Skinny Jeans + Vagabond Combat Boots. The ultimate on the go outfit. 

x, jenny

EVENT: CRAVE EXPO + OOTD

What started as a Bridal convention, has now transformed into a food festival featuring eats from Los Angeles to the OC. Crave Expo was held at the The Phoenix Club in Anaheim this year and featured the likes of Belly Bombz, Halal Guys, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams & more. I attended the VIP hour from 11-1PM which means that all the vendors give you a free deluxe sample. Some vendors weren't participating in the VIP hour which I found a bit odd - but others like Califa Farms totally made up for it.

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Clockwise from top left, Norigami Tacos, Burger Monster, & Street Churros. The churros was absolutely delicious. It was a cold day so the fresh & warm sugary treat was definitely a great start to the morning. Burger Monster had delicious sliders. We got their Mighty Melt (Caramelized cheddar inside our white brioche bun, tempura onion strings, bacon, more cheddar cheese, coleslaw and BBQ sauce) & Carnivore (Hand sliced New York Deli Pastrami, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, OC sauce and Sriracha-Garlic on an angus patty).

Clockwise from top left, The Lobster Shack by Sunset Catering, Belly Bombz, Swami's Sandwiches, & Mad Dumplings. The mac & cheese was delicious so I was a little bummed it was a tiny spoonful. Nonetheless, delicious! I didn't get to try the Pork Belly Longanisa dumplings from Mad Dumplings but I did try the Vintage which I thought was ok. It had turkey & Chinese Chives. 

Clockwise from top left, Okamoto Kitchen, Califa Farms, & Helados Pops. Okamoto was serving up Katsu Sandwiches while Califa Farms was sampling their delicious Almondmilks and Cold Brews. The very nice guy working the Califa booth sent me home with 3 Almondmilk cartons and 3 cold brews. Bless you.

I've been following Helados Pops for a while now and was so excited to finally try their delicious ice cream and meet the brothers behind the brand. I ended up loving the Lucuma flavor, which is a subtropical fruit native to Peru, Chile & Ecuador. It tasted like a sweeter, orange avocado. 

It was a bit of a gloomy day so I opted for my F21 New York Never Sleeps Sweater + Tan Coat + Zara Ripped Jeans + Comfy Adidas Originals. My bag is from Topshop and my clear frame glasses are ZeroUV

Last, but definitely not least, I got to meet these two adorable pups who are in need of a loving home. They are currently at Best Friends Animal Society in Mission Hills. Jackson on the left is a calm senior dog who would be perfect for a family looking for a fellow couch potato. Baby on the right is a younger lovebug who enjoy playing and knows some basic tricks. Both did amazingly well with the large crowds and brought a smile to the Crave Expo patrons. Please share if you can!

x, jenny