Change is always constant

So! New banner and new blog name. It was an impulsive decision. I was sitting in front of my laptop last night, waiting for the cupcakes Steph and I were baking, when I just got tired of my old banner. Not that it wasn't nice. I just wanted it to be different. And with the layout change came the name change. Actually, I take that back. I came up with the new blog name before I changed the banner. I think it was the smell of the chocolate cupcakes that inspired the change. I think I'm going to bake next weekend. I haven't done anything baking wise since school started. Last night's cupcakes don't count in my book because they were from a box. I want to do something cool. And time consuming. I don't know, I'm weird.

I am currently sitting in Java's at RIT, doing absolutely nothing. I was studying Chinese before, but the lighting in here is terrible and I feel like if I continued to study my Chinese, I'd be blind by the time I leave here. But anyway, since I have nothing better to do (though there is this unsettling feeling that there is something I'm forgetting to do), I figure right now is the best time to post up more pictures of my favorite topic, FOOD :)

One thing I miss about NYC is Republic. It's this great Asian noodle restaurant in Union Square. Their food is delicious and cheap (on NYC standards)! They not only have yummy noodle dishes, but their entire menu is good. The layout of the restaurant is special in the sense that the seating is modeled after a cafeteria. It's nice to go with friends, but not a very romantic atmosphere for a first date. I went twice over the summer with Vivian and I'm sad that I didn't go more often.


BBQ pork over noodles. I really liked the pickled carrots & daikon they give on the side.

Grilled pork chop over rice. I really liked this one. The rice was light and fluffy. So good.

I actually didn't get to bake much over the summer due to the fact that my house was under construction for a good three months or so. I did do a lot of eating though. I got to go to two different restaurants with my parents for Restaurant Week in NY. The first restaurant I went to was Payard Patisserie & Bistro and the second was Water's Edge in L.I.C. Both were quite nice; Water's Edge had a lovely view of the NYC skyline and Payard's decor was beautiful.

This is what I had at Payard.

Cheese souffle with an alfredo sauce. It was nice, not too heavy and the sauce didn't overpower the flavor of the cheese.

Roast chicken over mashed potatoes. The chicken was stuffed with mushrooms, and something else, I don't remember what.

Key Lime tart. It was yummy - it was very tart, but had just the right amount of sweetness to balance it out.

Peach creme brulee. I didn't like this as much as the key lime tart. I like my creme brulee just straight up creme and caramelized sugar. Mmmkaythx.

And this is what I ordered at Water's Edge.

Potato, leek and goat cheese terrine. I couldn't finish this because the flavor of the goat cheese was very heavy and it was my first time eating goat cheese. My dad really enjoyed this one though. He likes the gamey flavor.

Steak with potato tart and swiss chard. I don't remember much about this dish, but I do remember liking it.

Flourless chocolate cake. Yummy =)

Wow, blogging makes me tired. Uploading pictures and writing about those pictures takes a lot out of me. Haha. A nap would be nice right about now...