Flying and Eating

My two favorite places growing up were the airport and staying at a hotel. Now, as a United Airline’s flight attendant, I get to do both, A LOT. I enjoy racing through the terminal trying to make my connection home (only to find out that it’s been delayed for an hour, bummer). But when I do get the chance, the best way to spend time at the airport is to EAT (and people watch at the same time).

Yes, eating at the airport is expensive (heck, even with my crew discount, its still a bit steep). But ask any flight attendant, and we will tell you places that are definitely worth your money.

I go through some of our bases more frequently since we have more flights going in and out of there. I spend the most time in SFO (San Francisco), DEN (Denver), ORD (Chicago) and IAD (Washington D.C.).

Right now, I’m writing this in Boston, waiting for my flight to D.C. (first time in Boston..), and I’m having a not-so-great clam chowder – such a disappointment (I thought Boston was known for it!) and a total waste of money.

So, to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you, here are my favorite GOOD EATS.

DEN (Concourse B):
I enjoy being in Denver the most. I make my way upstairs to Paradise Bakery & Café. I always luck out and the soup of the day is Fire Roasted Tomato Soup (maybe its always the soup of the day). It’s piping hot, topped with garlic sour cream and tortilla strips. YUM! Their cookies are really delicious too. I’ll sneak a couple sample pieces while I’m in line.

ORD (Concourse C):
I think Chicago has the most options since it is United’s biggest hub. We have a employee cafeteria that serves a mean omlette, but if I don’t get there, my hands-down favorite food is Café Zoot!’s Italian sub. It’s humongous, but I could eat one in one sitting.

As a side note, Eli’s Cheesecake and Garrett’s popcorn is also available and always yummy. For the budget conscious, there’s a Mc Donald’s too.

IAD (C&D Gates):
When I’m in IAD, I always wish its morning time. California Tortilla makes the best breakfast burrito. I also like the sandwiches from Pot Belly. I enjoy Wendy’s and Dunkin’ Donuts too! I think all of these food joints are available outside the airport, but Dunkin’ Donuts doesn’t exist in L.A. so I always get excited when I see one.

SFO:
One word, the most expensive airport to eat at (in my experience). I go to Subway because they have a daily $5 sub special. But they also have a Boudin’s that serves good clam chowder in its famous sourdough bowl and a take-out Gordon Biersch that has really good garlic fries.

So it’s not about eating, but I must share this shopping tip: If you really have a long layover at SFO, you can walk over to the international terminal (the bridge that you go through has a great view of planes at the gate) and peek at high-end stores like Coach and Gucci. If you only have time to stay in the domestic terminal, there’s a Mango store (women’s boutique) with some cute things in front of the main food court. I also enjoy the cushy moving walkways, and you’ll know what I mean when you step onto one.

So recently, I’ve noticed that I have three favorite places to be – the airport, hotel and eating at restaurants. Wow, I think I’ve hit the jackpot with this job (Although I love being home the most).

So the only catch to this story is that these places only exist if you fly United Airlines.. and pretty soon Continental Airlines (since we are merging to become the world’s biggest airline! Impressive, huh?).

See you at an airport near you!

Valentines Mini Cupcakes

I don’t really cook or bake, so the fact that I went to the effort to make these tiny cupcakes is close to a miracle.

I just used Pillsbury cupcake mix. But I got the tiny baking tin, tiny cupcake cups and a heart sprinkles set all from target. The silver tray was from Crate and Barrel, and it’s nice because it came with a plastic lid. I liked baking these smaller cupcakes because they bake so much faster. They’re so easy to frost too! Coming from a complete amateur like myself, these mini cupcakes are the way to go!

I’m a little late to post but better late than never right? Happy Valentines Day~ Hehe.

Best Gourmet Fast Food Burgers

Scarfing down a big juicy burger may not be so cute, but heck! A good burger makes me and my tummy feel good!

Recently, I visited my boyfriend’s work in Cypress during his lunch break. He took me to this burger place called Paul’s Place. We went in, and there was a sign that said “We’re a gourmet fast food place.”

Gourmet?

As I sat in the cozy burger joint eating a fabulous hot pastrami sandwich, I had a revelation. I want to go on a burger adventure. (Why was I thinking about more food while I was eating food?)

I’ve already had my share of cheap burgers from McDonald’s to Carl’s Jr.
Check!

I’ve had slightly fancier burgers like Steve’s Burgers and restaurant burgers like Red Robin.
Check!

I’ve also had expensive Kobe burgers and even made my own trendy burger at The Counter.
Check!

Well then. Now, I will create a new genre in between Wendy’s and Denny’s burgers.. and I will name it.. Gourmet Fast Food Burgers! (Oh oh! In-and-Out totally belongs in this genre!)

Perfect. Now, after some extensive research and burger munching, here are my top three:

1. Five Guys Burger (restaurant pictured in beginning of post)
Indulge in your dream burger! It’s kind of exciting when there are 16 different sauces and toppings to choose from, and they are all free. The fries are a little salty, but you can get them regular or cajun (we tried the cajun). It’s so big one order easily feeds two.

20700 Avalon Blvd
Carson, CA, 90746
11:00am-10:00pm Daily
www.fiveguys.com

2. The Habit Burger
Onion rings are to die for.. (and I dont even like onions!) It’s perfectly seasoned and super crunchy ($1.95). Their Charburger ($2.95) tastes fresh and juicy, the fries are thick cut and yummy! I liked how they have peppers like jalapeno to crunch on, and they have malt vinegar for the fries.

3829 West Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, CA(310) 316-4048‎
Mon-Sat: 10:30am-9:00pm
Sun: 11:00am-8:00pm
www.habitburger.com

3. McCormicks and Schmicks Burger
I know, this is probably considered a restaurant burger, but I included it in this category because during happy hour, this plate of cheeseburger and fries is only $2.95! This juicy burger (one bite and you’ll know what I mean!) was the highlight of my day. The really hot wings ($3.95) were quite spicy and the zucchini fries ($1.95) were piping hot and delicious!

2101 Rosecrans Ave.
El Segundo, CA 90245
Prices only available during Happy Hour!
Mon-Thurs: 3:30pm 6:30pm & 9:00pm-11:00pm
Fri: 3:30pm-6:30pm & 9:30pm-11:00pm
www.mccormickandschmicks.com

Ahhhh.. With a tummy so happy, who cares if it’s pouring rain outside and your car just ran out of battery and won’t start… (btw, this really happened the day I was burger tasting)

p.s. All these burger places have other locations besides the ones I’ve listed, so peek at their website to find out if there is one near your area!

Hello Kitty Exhibit

It’s the final week of the Hello Kitty exhibit at ROYAL/T Cafe, and we were there to experience history in the making. It was a celebration of 35 years of Hello Kitty, and it was simply amazing. The exhibit itself was collaboration with a multitude of artistic talent. You were able to see anything from Lady Gaga dressed up in a playful dress made of Hello Kitty plush dolls, six foot tall Hello Kitty with BOOBS and even a Mona Lisa Kitty. There were tons to look at , and I was even able to see some old school Hello Kitty items I had when I was 10 years old.

Since the event was held at the ever-popular cosplay cafe ROYAL/T, we were even able to devour some Hello Kitty dishes, specially made for this fabulous event. I had the ham and cheese Hello Kitty Tramezzini and some ROYAL/T Milk Tea. I even had some dessert, the Super Yummy Waffles (the waffles were ehhhh, but the syrup was delicious and what are you gonna do, they were HELLO KITTY SHAPED!)

Also, each night of this event was themed, and tonight was GYARU Beauty Parlor night! The literal translation of GYARU is simply GAL. GYARUs are typically super tan, crazy hair curled to the max, wear super trendy outfits and are often seen with an insane amount of thick mascara. Therefore, tonight, you could have gotten glammed up and done up by professional hair/makeup artists, get your nails done and pictures taken. Didn’t participate in any of this, but it was certainly entertaining to watch.

Anyhow, it was a fun, sweet night. It was an honor to celebrate Kitty-chan’s 35th year. Yay!

Enjoy all my photos below ^^

Bling Kitty…It’s like the music player.

Lady Gaga with anime eyes.

Lady Gaga in Hello Kitty Plush Doll Dress

This was super tall and had a busty chest!

We love UFO Catchers! (aka crane game)

Cute Hello Kitty Figure

My Hello Kitty Dinner

And Dessert!

Hello Kitty Appliances

More Hello Kitty appliances and gadgets

Do you see the Hello Kitty Eva Airplane in the background?

Mini Hello Kitty Food

Hello Kitty and Toki Doki

I like the skulls and kitty.

Cute Japanese Pastries

Bake and Break is a super cute Japanese baking blog with the most adorable, little homemade pastries! The creator, Sakura, is a young Japanese lady making anything from swan shaped cream puffs, green tea caramel and fresh cream scones to name a few. I’ve included a bunch of pictures below, but be sure to check out her full blog because it’s pure awesomeness!  You’ll get tons great ideas for your upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s parties.

What bakery might these lovely buns be from?

It’s no bakery; it’s Sakura’s home!  Amazing!

Drool for choco scones…

Love Muffin tops!

Cutie bear cookie

More scones…with fresh cream!

Homemade caramel?  Green tea flavor?! Want want want!

I’ll only eat cream puffs if they’re shaped like swans from now on.

Source: Bake and Break

My 7-Eleven Domo Straw Figurine Action Shots!

I just went to the 7-Eleven on Olympic and La Cienega, and I was surrounded by Domo!

Although I was hoping for a more crazy look and feel (as per my previous post), I must say, I was quite pumped and excited — as you can see from all the pictures I took of the Domo figurines that come with the straw (cost $1.99 and I bought three…).

There are tons more pics below of the actual 7-Eleven store experience with Domo all around.  Enjoy!

Domo Trio on my laptop…aren’t they cute?  The hip-hop Domo cracks me up.  Look at him, so gangsta, haha!

Domo Coffee Cup for 99 cents which I didn’t buy.  If it looked exactly like it did in ceramic form, I would have bought 100.

Domo Goods

Spotted the Domo Manga behind a yellow “caution: wet floor” sign…

Spiced Pumpkin Latte by Domo. Perfect for October

Domo Slurpees of course!

Ahhhh, I just love this guy…<3

Domo invades 7-Eleven…TODAY!!!!

Domo, the big, brown furry ball of super cuteness invades 7-Eleven stores starting today!  This will be similar to the time the simpsons (another love of mine) turned the convenience store into a kwik-e-mart.  This time around, 7-Eleven will feature DOMO FUJI FROST FLAVORED SLURPEE (yummmmmm), DOMO COFFEE CUPS (kyaaaa!), and even itty bitty hot dog containers (OMG) and much, much more! Read the press release below and see more pictures/videos from slurpee.com, 7-Eleven and Domonation   Check out my personal Domo/7-Eleven experience too!

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Domo, the fuzzy brown creature with a trademark enigmatic open-mouth expression, takes 7-Eleven® stores by storm this fall. From collectible Slurpee® cups filled with Fuji Frost by Fanta, and flocked Slurpee character straws to Big Bite® hot dog containers, coffee cups and even an exclusive Domo Attack! Energy drink, Domo will have 7-Eleven customers seeing brown, interrupted by red and sharp white teeth.

Created by Japanese illustrator and director Tsuneo Goda as the mascot for Japanese public television station NHK in 1998, Domo has a unique look and personality that quickly catapulted the character into one of the Internet’s biggest sensations. Domo has achieved pop culture super-status through user-generated content and thousands of viral videos on popular websites like YouTube, Facebook and Flickr.

“Fuji Frost has a sweet red-apple taste, which is a tongue-in-cheek choice since apples are the one food Domo doesn’t like,” said Jay Wilkins, 7-Eleven category manager for proprietary cold beverages. “Because Domo loves Slurpee drinks and appears everywhere in our stores, theoretically Fuji Frost Slurpee drinks are Domo-proof.” Fuji Frost is named for Mount Fuji, Japan’s most well-known landmark.

A new three-part webisode, which can be viewed exclusively online at www.slurpee.com and www.domonation.com, tells the story of Domo and his friends on a quest for a Slurpee beverage. Each of the 30-second segments will debut weekly on the two websites starting Oct. 1. The stop-action animated Domo video was created and produced exclusively for 7-Eleven by dwarf inc., the Japanese animation company that originally created Domo and all his friends.

Collectible cups feature Domo and his furry sidekicks enjoying Slurpee drinks and one showing Domo experiencing a Brainfreeze™. For Domo fans, a tiny flocked Domo character is affixed to premium Slurpee straws, selling for $1.99. From hip hop to wrestling themes, each of the four Slurpee straws features Domo sporting a different costume and accessories.
Coffee and Big Bite hot dogs, two of 7-Eleven’s best-selling proprietary items, also get ‘Domo-nized’ as a limited offering through Nov. 15. To reach younger coffee drinkers, 7-Eleven is offering coffee in a special brown Domo cup for just 99 cents. Store signage promoting the coffee deal urges customers to “Obey the Domo.” Likewise, the Big Bite hot dog also will retail for 99 cents and be served in a cardboard “clam-shell” carrier resembling Domo’s face, with the mouth opening to reveal the food.

“You won’t be able to go to a 7-Eleven store in October and miss Domo,” Wilkins said. “We’ve let Domo fans know he’s coming with notices on Facebook and Twitter, and the online buzz about his 7-Eleven debut has already been building.”

A larger-than-life Domo candy display will feature Snicker’s and Reese’s candy bars in the open mouth of the character as well as a shelf to display Domo DVDs ($15.99), where available. Collectibles like Domo Qee* miniature action figures in cup-like packaging ($9.99), Domo Manga comic books ($3.99), plush characters and apparel, like caps and T-shirts are also available. 7-Eleven has even emblazoned special-edition gift cards with Domo’s likeness. Domo is also front and center on much of the in-store product signage and storefront banners.

Big Tent Entertainment, the marketing and licensing company behind Domo, helped broker the deal with 7-Eleven. “Because Domo has such a hugely devoted, cult-like following among kids, teens and young adults, we believe he’s a perfect match for 7-Eleven and its iconic Slurpee brand,” said Big Tent Chief Executive Officer Rich Collins. “7-Eleven has created some very cool collectible items that will have Domo fans and Slurpee drinkers alike coming back for more.”

Read a sample of the DOMO manga that will be at 7-Eleven too!

Lomo Arigato – Gourmet Peruvian Food Truck

There are not a lot of cuisines where condiments have more fans than the main dish. When most people think of Peruvian food, I wouldn’t be surprised if the first thing that comes to their mind is the mmm.. green sauce. Don’t get me wrong, Peruvian food is absolutely fabulous! But this secret blend makes me sigh, I’m so in love..

(Snap!!)

So the reason why I’m ranting and raving about Peruvian food is because our friend, Eric Nakata has been working on a project called Lomo Arigato, a mobile food truck full of delicious Japanese-inspired Peruvian food, including my long time favorite – the Lomo Saltado. With thin strips of beef, onions, french fries and tomatoes all pan-fried and tossed in red wine vinegar and soy sauce, this steamy dish is sure to make your tummy smile with happiness. AND! Let’s not forget that it includes the (drum roll) Aji sauce, a.k.a. the green sauce. He’s currently working on two kinds, so I’m excited to try them both.

This food truck will be running all throughout Los Angeles and the South Bay (our home town!) and is scheduled to start operating in mid-August.

Tune into www.lomoarigato.com to see where Lomo Arigato will be making its first appearance. They are also busily updating their facebook and twitter so that fans like me can figure out where the heck they are.

Don’t we all enjoy a little chase when we’re in love?

Also, Lomo Arigato was featured in Good Day LA so check it out here!

Keep your eyes peeled for this logo!!

i <3 lomo arigato

Jin Patisserie

Before I landed my current job as a flight attendant, I had the cutest job ever.  I forgot how spoiled I was until I recently looked at their website. I used to be the assistant for Kristy Choo, a chocolatier and owner of Jin Patisserie. I had access to all the chocolates, cakes and cookies in every flavor you could ever dream of.

My absolute, hands-down favorite is the sea salt caramel chocolate. I could not get enough of gooey caramel mixed with just the right amount of sea salt and dusted with bitter-sweet chocolate. The cakes are like art, all adorned with pieces of chocolate, fruit and edible flowers. Words cannot describe how wonderful these sweet treats are.

Hidden away in the city of Venice, this super cute garden café is located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. If you don’t have your peepers wide open, you may just miss this place. But even if you don’t live in Venice Beach, you can order them online (no cakes, however).

I’m surprised I didn’t gain weight while I did this job. Well, maybe I did, but I sure didn’t notice because I was so darn happy there. While regular jobs get regular brewed coffee in the morning, I got freshly ground Italian coffee, steamed milk and a brown sugar cane stick. Then, I’d prance around looking for chocolate shavings and little pieces of butter cake. That’s how spoiled I was.

I will never take anything for granted. EVER!

Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291
310.399.8801
Tues–Sun 10:30am to 7:00pm
Mondays closed
www.jinpatisserie.com

Outdoor sitting area…enjoy afternoon tea!

What?! That’s a CAKE??

About a month ago, Mari came to me and said I MUST see these cakes made by her friend, Laurie. It was really cute because Mari said her words would do no justice to just how amazing the cakes were. She tried earnestly to describe it and got really flustered because I guess she saw I wasn’t getting it.

That is until I actually saw the cakes myself. Holy crap, UNBELIEVABLE!! When I saw that purse cake, I was completely baffled. How can that be a cake?!?!?! I mean, look at it. It looks like real leather to me. And the detail!!  Then I saw the next picture – the purse was cut, and yes, that is definitely a cake.

From that point on, I could not stop talking about these amazing desserts. I made everyone look at the cakes and forced them to guess what they were. I loved everyone’s reaction upon realizing that it was a cake (try playing the guessing game with your friends – you’ll love their reaction too).  So I finally decided it’s something that really needs to be shared with the masses.

The talented individual behind these masterpieces is Laurie, a super cute artist and a self-employed cake designer, making custom cakes (among other things) from scratch. I absolutely love how she incorporates items all girls love  – designer purses and even the coveted light blue box from Tiffany, with a lovely white ribbon turned perfectly into a cute bow. These cakes are every girl’s dream.

I’d like to say more, but Mari’s right – Laurie’s cakes are too cute for words.

Please check out her profile and more custom cake pictures on her Facebook Page.  If you have any inquiries or would like to order, email her at laurie.sanae@gmail.com.  Mention you saw it at LIVINGcute!

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